A Study Of Femoral Elasticity In Female Patients With Pelvic Cavity Cancer Treated With Radiotherapy

Objective: To explore the value of E-tracking(ET) technology in evaluating the elasticity of the femoral artery in patients with pelvic cavity cancer treated with radiotherapy; To explore the bigger vascular injury after radiotherapy that hope to benefit early diagnosis, early therapy and prophylaxis.Methods: 30 patients of the cervical cancer(with a mean age of 47.86±5.62 years) were selected and observed before and after radiotherapy who need to received radiotherapy in the fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University between Dec.2008 and Dec.2009.The stiffness parameter (β), pressure strain elasticity modulus(Ep), arterial compliance(AC),argumentation index(AI),and one-point pulse wave velocity (PWVβ)of femoral arteries in 30 cases were calculated automatically by ET technique before radiotherapy and after radiotherapy as the first course of treament was completed. The resistance index (RI) and the pulsatility index (PI) and intimamedia thickness (IMT) in femoral arteries were measured. Apply paired t-test to compare with pre-radiotherapy and post-radiotherapy group. Another 43 patients(with a mean age of 53.96±9.78 years) who received radiotherapy after 6 months to 6 years were selected, dividing into edema of lower extremties (29 cases) and non-edema of lower extremties (57 cases) to calculate. The 30 patients also were include before radiotherapy as the control group. Apply two-sample t-test compare with three group. The parameters of each group were analyzed using SPSS 13.0 statistic software.Results:1 There were no significant differences (atherosclerotic plague existenced in only one case ) in IMT of lower limb arteries in the pre-radiotherapy and post-radiotherapy patients.2 Compared with the pre-radiotherapy group, the post-radiotherapy group was different inβ,Eρ,PWVβ,AC (P<0.01)except AI (P>0.05). The data was increased withβ,Eρ,PWVβin post-radiotherapy group, while decreased with AC in post-radiotherapy group.3 There were no different in RI and PI (P>0.05) between pre-radiotherapy group and the post-radiotherapy group.4 There was no thrombus in the vasculurs neither in the low extremity edema group nor non-edema group.5 There were no different inβ,Eρ,PWVβ,AC,AI (P>0.05) of femoral artery between non-edema and control group.6 The elasticity index of the femoral artery were significant different in edema group than that in control group.7 Compared with the non-edema group, the edema group was different inβ,Eρ,PWVβ,AC (P<0.05) except AI (P>0.05). The data was increased withβ,Eρ,PWVβin post-radiotherapy group, while decreased with AC in edema group.8 Compared with the normal control group the non-edema group There were no different in the resistance index and the pulsatility index between control group and the edema group and the non-edema group.Conclusions:1 E-tracking technique may provide an accurate and feasible method to detect the femoral elasticity in post-radiotherapy patients. In the femoral elasticity indexes, in contrast to the pre-radiotherapy ,we find thatβ,Eρ,PWVβare increasing, but AC is decreasing .2 The elasticity of arteries has been damaged in post-radiotherapy patients who have no morphological changes.3 Radiotherapy injury may be occoured early and always development.4 The study indicated that the incidence of vascular edema of the lower extremities caused by thrombus was low.5 Compared with the non-edema group, the femoral elasticity index of the edema group was significant different.6 The fibrosis may be the main reason of edema of lower extremities.7 Elasticity of the femoral artery lower and fibrosis may be caused by the same pathology progress.