Key result
Prior chest irradiation linked to severe, delayed cardiovascular complications requiring intervention decades after exposure.
Why the study?
Thoracic irradiation can cause acute inflammation and progressive fibrosis of cardiac structures leading to cardiovascular complications in cancer survivors, necessitating increased awareness.
Case Report (n=5)
No
Patients with a history of chest irradiation are at risk for severe, delayed cardiovascular complications including valvular, coronary, and conduction system disease, necessitating long-term periodic screening.
May warrant lifelong cardiac surveillance after chest radiation; leaves open incidence and optimal protocols.
Background: The heart and great vessels were once thought to be relatively resistant to the damaging effect of radiation therapy. There is now clear evidence that thoracic irradiation may cause acute inflammation and progressive fibrosis of different structures, including the heart valves, the myocardium and the pericardium, the coronary arteries and the conduction system. As new therapies have improved survival, many patients with cancer (mostly Hodgkin’s disease and breast cancer) are now at risk of cardiovascular (CV) complications following radiation therapy. Objectives: To raise awareness of CV complications following chest irradiation. Method: We present 5 patients that we treated during a short period of time (between June 2013 (6/2013) and February 2015 (2/2016)), who suffered CV involvement that needed therapy, following chest irradiation. Conclusions: Patients after chest irradiation should be followed periodically, in order to diagnose and treat CV complications, in time.
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Yahalom et al. (2016) conducted a case report in Cardiovascular complications following chest irradiation (n=5). Chest irradiation was evaluated on Cardiovascular complications (coronary artery disease, valvular disease, conduction abnormalities). Chest irradiation was associated with severe, delayed cardiovascular complications—including coronary calcification, valvular stenosis, and atrioventricular block—requiring intervention years to decades after exposure.
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