Radiation-Induced Heart Disease: From Diagnosis to Prevention

Abstract

Radiotherapy has become an important component of multimodal treatment of malignancy. After 50 years, there was a drastic increase in outcomes of patients with malignancy. However, improvement of the survival is also accompanied by some inevitable complications on cardiovascular system which are often called radiation-induced heart disease (RIHD). RIHD comprises a spectrum of heart disease including pericardial disease, coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, conduction system abnormalities, cardiomyopathy, and medium or large vessel vasculopathy. The underlying mechanisms include direct effects on function and structure of the heart, or accelerate development of cardiovascular disease, especially with the presence of previous cardiovascular risk factors. Recent studies have identified non-invasive methods for evaluation of RIHD. Furthermore, potential options preventing or at least attenuating RIHD have been developed. This review provides an overview of pathogenesis, clinical manifestation, diagnosis, management, and prevention of RIDH.

Keywords: malignancy, radiotherapy, radiation - induced heart disease.