Article Text

Download PDFPDF
Radiation induced valvulitis with late leaflet rupture
  1. N M Katz,
  2. A W Hall,
  3. M D Cerqueira
  1. Departments of Cardiology, Surgery, and Medicine, Georgetown University School of Medicine, 3800 Reservoir Road, NW, Washington, DC 20007, USA
  1. Dr Cerqueiracerqm{at}concentric.net

Abstract

Various cardiac sequelae of mediastinal irradiation have been reported, from pericarditis to conduction defects. Despite the potentially fatal nature of some of these abnormalities, many may present with few or no symptoms. In this case report, the patient, who had received 4000 rads to the mediastinum 24 years previously, presented with worsening shortness of breath and two episodes of lightheadedness. Subsequently, he was found to have aortic valve rupture associated with fibrosis. A review of the literature indicates that valve rupture is a novel consequence of mediastinal radiation.

  • mediastinal radiation
  • valvulitis
  • aortic valve
  • rupture

Statistics from Altmetric.com

Request Permissions

If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.

Footnotes