Key result
Post-operative left breast radiation therapy yields 0% serious cardiotoxicity at 5 years despite minor LVEF reduction.
Why the study?
Radiation treatment for left breast cancer using outdated techniques without CT simulation may cause cardiotoxicity, but its long-term effects on cardiac function were unclear.
Does outdated 2D planned radiation therapy without a CT simulator cause significant cardiotoxicity in women under 65 with stage II left breast cancer?
Cohort (n=62)
Does outdated 2D planned radiation therapy without a CT simulator cause significant cardiotoxicity in women under 65 with stage II left breast cancer?
Outdated 2D planned radiation therapy for left breast cancer without a CT simulator was not associated with significant serious cardiotoxicity at 5 years, though minor decreases in ejection fraction were observed.
No serious cardiotoxicity seen with outdated left breast RT at 5 years; leaves open relevance of minor EF drop and needs prospective confirmation.
Introduction: Radiation treatment has been associated with radiation induced cardiotoxicity, especially with older, long-outdated, techniques. Such complications include pericarditis, myocardial fibrosis, valvular injury, ischemic heart disease, and myocardial infarction. Aim: To assess the effect of outdated breast radiation therapy (RT) – using a diagnostic CT scanner in the absence of a CT simulator – on cardiac function in women with stage II left breast cancer. Patients and Methods: Sixty-two women under 65 with stage II left breast cancer who received post-operative RT using a diagnostic computed tomography scanner were studied between 1997 and 2001. Participants underwent a clinical interview, ECG, and echocardiography before and 6 months and 5 years after RT. Results: There was no serious cardiotoxicity at 6 months and 5 years after radiotherapy. A 23% increase in hypertensive patients, and a slight decrease (2.3%) in ejection fraction was observed after 5 years, with 3 patients (5%) developing abnormalities. Two patients presented abnormal electrocardiographic findings within 6 months of RT. Conclusion: Our study showed that RT for left breast cancer was not associated with significant alteration in heart morbidity or mortality within 5 years of treatment, despite the lack of a simulator.
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George Ntaios (2008) conducted a cohort in Stage II left breast cancer (n=62). Post-operative radiation therapy using a diagnostic CT scanner (outdated RT) was evaluated on Serious cardiotoxicity. Outdated post-operative radiation therapy for left breast cancer resulted in 0% serious cardiotoxicity at 5 years, alongside a 2.3% decrease in ejection fraction.
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