Around 4 years after radiation my ENT had a baseline ultrasound done on my carotid artery. The results should nothing significant. Then at 6 years, he pronounced me cured and set me free from his care. I'm now at 9 years post treatment. The only doctor monitoring me is my super dentist (prosthodontist), and endocrinologist (growing thyroid nodules). I'm going to call the ENT's office and ask, but I'm curious if others have had follow-up ultrasounds on their carotid artery, and at what intervals.

Kris is 5 years post radiation now. I have asked about getting an ultrasound scan of his Carotids, but was told that he did not meet the criteria. Given that he doesn't have any symptoms, dizziness/fainting, I guess I'm ok with this.
Tammy

After my second fight, when I got to five years out my surgeon told me he would now see me just once per year and nothing like that even came up. Of course two and a half years later it all started over again.....

I called the ENT's office, and was told unless I'm having symptoms they don't do anything more. They monitored me for six years, which was one more than usual, and there was no reason to return. I guess the "baseline" is only used as a reference if there are future issues or perhaps to pick up problems that present within the baseline.

I had a doppler ultrasound a year ago, upon my request, at my cardiologists office being I only have one side with blood flow since the left internal and external carotid arteries were removed during cancer surgery, which came back with no blockage.

I have read literature that suggests this test maybe should be done yearly, 3 or 5 years after treatment, when stenosis may begin, and risk increases as we age, and the further we are out from radiation, and depending on where you were radiated, amount of radiation, and other risks, and some maybe sooner that are at higher risk for artherosclerosis who smoke, have diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and such.

That's my brief understanding, and guess it's something to discuss with your health team, but here is the OCF page on Carotid Artery Stenosis that explains it better.

http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/complications/carotid-artery-stenosis.php