Endovascular Irradiation in the Therapy of Intimal Hyperplasia.

stented vascular segments causes injuries to the vascular wall, almost always resulting in intimal hyperplasia, even after stents.1-22 A possible alternative is to combine the methods available for treating intimal hyperplasia. The results obtained in treating keloids by means of irradiation therap y2 3 3 4 was the basis for our therapeutic concept for the prophylactic irradiation of hyperproliferative vascular wall reactions. The development of small–caliber probes for afterloading therapy in the biliary tract35 allowed us to use these for therapy in the vascular system. Together with H.D. Böttcher, our considerations were converted into a clinical trial. Before proceeding further, all risks and problems, together with ethical reservations in the context of using afterloading methods for treating arterial occlusive disease in the peripheral vascular system, were discussed in detail when planning the procedure.