Abstract
While radiation therapy has made a significant impact in the treatment of cancer over recent decades, its implementation has led to unintended consequences. Radiation-induced cardiovascular disease (RICD) represents a broad spectrum of such sequelae with varying degrees of severity, and has been seen with the treatment of lymphomas, breast cancers, and other thoracic malignancies. Onset can be early or late, and can present with various symptoms including chest pain, dyspnea, and palpitations. Echocardiography represents the most common tool for detection and monitoring. Mechanistically, the most common mediator of RICD is fibrosis of the various cardiac tissues. Treatment depends on the clinical manifestations, and can involve the use of pharmacological agents; however, prevention remains as the optimal approach by limiting dose to the heart as well as the volume of heart irradiated.