Analysis of patients with substitutes of arteries after irradiation - casuistics from the GDR

5 patients were found in 15 radiotherapy centres of the GDR, who had substitutes of blood vessels, which had to be included in the region, irradiated for a malign process. In 4 cases the substitutes were Dacron prostheses with a total dose of 24-72 Gy, in one case the replacing material could not be identified. In this patient the total dose was 23 Gy in the area of blood vessel reconstruction. The observation period was 6 months up to 4 years after radiotherapy. In all patients there were no injuries in blood vessel substitutes. 2 of the patients, still alive at the date of examination, had been observed for a period of 9 months and 4 years, respectively. (author)