Radiotherapy to the neck is believed to predispose to atherosclerosis
(Carpenter et al. 1996). The progression of the
atherosclerotic process may be due to a long history of
cervical irradiation (>6 years) and to the total dose of
radiation administered. This may be true of cancer of the
head and neck, but we do not know whether it also applies
to lymphoma or not, on which there are contrasting opinions
and only indirect reports.