Key result
Breast cancer radiation linked to ECG changes and echo-detectable LV dysfunction.
Why the study?
Does radiation therapy cause cardiovascular complications in individuals with breast cancer, and how can they be detected?
Does radiation therapy cause cardiovascular complications in individuals with breast cancer, and how can they be detected?
Radiation therapy for breast cancer, particularly left-sided, increases the risk of cardiovascular complications which can be monitored and detected using ECG and advanced echocardiography techniques like global longitudinal strain.
May support ECG and echocardiography surveillance after breast radiation; leaves open need for prospective studies on causality and outcomes.
One of the most prevalent cancers in women is breast cancer, which is typically treated with radiation therapy (RT) which can lead to cardiovascular (CV) disease. The severity of these complications depends on the amount of radiation to the heart. In addition to hurting the cardiac tissue, RT also damages the blood vessels. Individuals with left breast cancer have a higher risk of developing CV disease as a result of RT than those with right breast cancer. Furthermore, women with risk factors for heart disease, such as diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, and family history, are more likely to develop CV disease side effects from RT.
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Teimouri et al. (2023) conducted a review in Breast cancer. Radiation therapy was evaluated. Radiation therapy in breast cancer patients can affect the cardiovascular system, causing ECG changes and reduced left ventricular function that can be detected via echocardiography.
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