Objective:

To evaluate the value of color Doppler ultrasound in diagnosis of vertebral artery stenosis in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy.

Methods:

56 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy who were followed up at least 2 years (radiation group) and 27 newly diagnosed patients before radiotherapy (control group) were enrolled in the study. Color Doppler ultrasound was used to examine the vertebral artery lesions.

Results:

The incidence rat

es of vertebral artery stenosis and plaque formation were significantly increased in the radiation group than the control group (37.5%

vs

. 11.1%; 26.8%

vs

. 7.4%)

particularly in the V1 segment of radiation group. There were significant differences in the following parameters in V1 and V2 segments between the radiation group and control group: vascular diameter [(2.940.37) mm vs. (3.760.45) mm

]

; peak systolic velocity (PSV) [(65.910.3) cm/s

vs

. (50.18.4) cm/s

]

; mean velocity (Vm) [(34.26.4) cm/s

vs

. (29.66.1) cm/s

]

; pulsatility index (PI) (1.690.27

vs

. 1.180.21); resistance index (RI) (0.710.06

vs

. 0.580.07).

Conclusion:

The occurrence of vertebral artery stenosis and plaque formation in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy is increased. Color Doppler ultrasound has great value in the diagnosis of vertebral artery stenosis.