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Review
. 2023 Oct 31;10(11):447.
doi: 10.3390/jcdd10110447.

Cardiovascular Toxicities of Radiation Therapy and Recommended Screening and Surveillance

Gabriela Narowska  1 , Sakshi Gandhi  1 , Allison Tzeng  1 , Eman A Hamad  1
Affiliations
Review

Cardiovascular Toxicities of Radiation Therapy and Recommended Screening and Surveillance

Gabriela Narowska et al. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis. .

Abstract

Radiation therapy is a key part of treatment for many cancers. Vast advancements in the field of radiation oncology have led to a decrease in malignancy-related mortality, which has uncovered some of the long-term side effects of radiation therapy. Specifically, there has been an increase in research looking into the cardiovascular side effects of chest radiation therapy for cancers of the esophagus, breast, and lung tissue as well as lymphomas. The manifestations of cardiac injury from irradiation range from short-term complications, such as pericarditis, to long-term damage including cardiomyopathy, valvular disease, and conduction disturbances. The aims of this article are to describe the cardiovascular side effects and the associated risk factors, to discuss risk reduction strategies, and to provide guidance in pre-radiation screening, post-radiation surveillance, and the management of these conditions.

Keywords: cardiotoxicity; constrictive pericarditis; coronary artery disease; prevention; radiation; screening; surveillance; valvular disease.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Risk factors associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular complications of mediastinal radiation.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Algorithm for cardiovascular complication surveillance post mediastinal radiation therapy.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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