Dose-dependent cardiac effects of collateral cardiac irradiation: Echocardiographic strain analysis in patients treated for extracardiac malignancies

Abstract

Cardiac radioablation is a new treatment modality for the treatment of patients with ventricular tachycardia.1 The time course and magnitude of subsequent myocardial changes are unknown but seem to occur within weeks to months.2 There is ongoing uncertainty about the relationship between radiotherapy dose and efficacy and safety of radioablation. Detailed cardiac investigations comparing pre- and post-thoracic radiotherapy may provide insights into functional effects. In this study, the effects of cardiac irradiation on the left ventricle were evaluated by correlating radiotherapy dose to echocardiographic changes.