Carotid Artery Cancer: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Surgery, Death, Prognosis, Management

Carotid Artery Cancer

Carotid Artery Cancerrefers to a rare type of malignant tumor that develops in the carotid artery. Because the carotid artery is a major blood vessel that plays a crucial role in supplying blood to the brain in the head and neck area, cancer in this area can have very serious consequences. Carotid artery cancer can occur as a result of metastasis from malignant tumors in other areas, and there are also primary tumors that originate directly from the carotid artery wall. Because carotid artery cancer is extremely rare, it is often diagnosed late or confused with other diseases.

The development of carotid artery cancer usually begins in the cells of the inner lining of the blood vessel. As these cells grow abnormally, they invade the blood vessel wall and metastasize to surrounding tissues. As a result, carotid artery cancer can cause various serious complications depending on its location.

Characteristics of Carotid Artery Cancer

Carotid artery cancer is a malignant tumor that occurs in blood vessels. Its characteristics are summarized as follows:

1. Location:

• Carotid artery cancer can occur mainly in the internal carotid artery or the external carotid artery.
• However, primary tumors originating from the carotid artery itself are extremely rare, and it is often the case that cancer that has metastasized from other areas invades the carotid artery.

2. Malignant Tumor:

• Carotid artery cancer can mainly occur in the form of squamous cell carcinoma, smooth muscle tumor, or adenocarcinoma. These originate from the inner wall cells of blood vessels, invading the blood vessels and spreading to nearby tissues.

3. Metastatic Cancer:

• Most cancers that occur in the carotid artery are cancers that have metastasized from other areas. For example, lung cancer, breast cancer, or stomach cancer can metastasize to the carotid artery, causing carotid artery cancer.
• When metastatic cancer invades the carotid artery, malignant cells proliferate in that area, interfering with the function of the blood vessel and potentially blocking blood flow.

Causes of Carotid Artery Cancer

The exact cause of carotid artery cancer has not yet been clearly identified, but several risk factors can affect the development of cancer. The main causes are as follows:

1. Metastatic Cancer:

• Most carotid artery cancers develop as a result of metastasis from cancer in other organs. Lung cancer, breast cancer, thyroid cancer, and stomach cancer can metastasize to the carotid artery, usually through cancer cells reaching the carotid artery via the bloodstream.

2. Vascular Disease:

• If there is continuous damageor inflammationin the blood vessel wall of the carotid artery, cancer can develop in that area. Vascular diseases or atherosclerosis can affect the carotid artery, increasing the risk of cancer development.

3. Genetic Factors:

• Some cancers can be caused by genetic factors. Carotid artery cancer may also occur more frequently in individuals with specific gene mutations or a family history.

4. Smoking and Alcohol Consumption:

• Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption can negatively affect the carotid artery, increasing the risk of cancer development. Smoking, in particular, can act as a factor that promotes the metastasis of other cancers, such as lung cancer.

5. Immunosuppression:

• When the immune system is weakened, the body's ability to suppress cancer cells is reduced, increasing the likelihood of cancer development in areas such as the carotid artery. Individuals in an immunosuppressed state, such as organ transplant recipients or those receiving immune therapy, may have an increased risk of carotid artery cancer.

Symptoms of Carotid Artery Cancer

Carotid artery cancer can manifest with various symptoms depending on its location, size, and stage of progression. In most cases, carotid artery cancer is not noticeable in its early stages, and symptoms may appear that are easily confused with other diseases. Typical symptoms are as follows:

1. Swelling of the Neck or Face:

• When carotid artery cancer is located near the carotid artery, as the tumor grows, swelling of the neck or facecan occur. This can cause the neck to swell or become painful.

2. Headache:

• If the cancer interferes with blood flow to the brain, headaches can occur. In particular, chronic headachesor sudden, severe headaches may occur.

3. Loss of Consciousness and Coma:

• If carotid artery cancer affects the cerebral blood vessels, blocking or restricting blood flow, loss of consciousnessor a comamay occur.

4. Speech or Vision Problems:

• If carotid artery cancer interferes with blood flow to the brain, slurred speech or visual impairmentmay occur. This is a neurological symptom caused by insufficient cerebral blood flow.

5. Difficulty Breathing:

• If the tumor is large, it can compress surrounding tissues, leading to difficulty breathing. This can occur if the tumor compresses the airway.

6. Weight Loss and Fatigue:

• As the cancer progresses, general cancer symptoms such as weight loss, fatigue, and loss of appetite may appear.

Treatment and Surgical Methods for Carotid Artery Cancer

Carotid artery cancer is often difficult to diagnose and requires caution in treatment. Treatment methods vary depending on the type, size, location, presence of metastasis, and the patient's overall health.

1. Surgery:

• The main treatment method for carotid artery cancer is surgeryto remove the tumor. Surgery aims to remove cancerous tissue while preserving as much of the normal blood vessel as possible. The surgical method may vary depending on the extent to which the cancer has invaded the carotid artery, and surgery may be difficult if the tumor is large or there is extensive metastasis.
• Bypass surgeryor synthetic graftmay be used to restore carotid artery function.

2. Radiation Therapy:

• If surgery is difficult, radiation therapycan be used. Radiation can be effective in shrinking tumors or suppressing metastasized cancer cells.
• Radiation therapy is particularly useful when the tumor is adjacent to important structures in or around the carotid artery, making surgery impossible.

3. Chemotherapy:

• If the carotid artery cancer has metastasized, chemotherapycan be used. Chemotherapy is effective in killing cancer cells or inhibiting cancer growth. However, chemotherapy can cause systemic side effects and should be used cautiously.

4. Targeted Therapy:

• If specific gene mutations or proteins promote cancer growth, targeted therapymay be effective. Targeted therapy selectively attacks cancer cells to reduce side effects.

Prognosis and Management of Carotid Artery Cancer

The prognosis of carotid artery cancer depends on the size, location, presence of metastasis, and timing of treatment. Early detection and treatment of carotid artery cancer can lead to a good prognosis, but the survival rate can be low in advanced cases.

1. Prognosis:

• The prognosis of carotid artery cancer, like other cancers, depends on the stage of cancer progression. Early-stage carotid artery cancer can often be completely removed surgically. However, if the cancer has metastasized to other areas, treatment becomes more difficult and the prognosis worsens.
• Metastatic cancer can be life-threatening, and there is a risk of recurrence even after treatment.

2. Management Methods:

• Regular Follow-up Examinations: After treatment for carotid artery cancer, regular examinationsand follow-up are necessary. MRI, CT, and ultrasound can be used to check for recurrence.
• Healthy Lifestyle: To prevent recurrence of carotid artery cancer and maintain overall health, it is important to avoid smoking, maintain regular exercise, and have a balanced diet.
• Stress Management: Since stress can affect the immune system, stress management and mental health care are necessary.

Conclusion

Carotid artery cancer is a very rare cancer, and most cases are due to metastasis from other areas. Since cancer invading the carotid artery can lead to serious consequences, prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment are essential. Treatment for carotid artery cancer includes surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, and regular checkups and management are necessary after treatment. To prevent and manage carotid artery cancer, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, early detection, and aggressive treatment are important.