RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Radiation-induced valvular heart disease
JF Heart
JO Heart
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Cardiovascular Society
SP 269
OP 276
DO 10.1136/heartjnl-2015-308765
VO 102
IS 4
A1 Gujral, Dorothy M
A1 Lloyd, Guy
A1 Bhattacharyya, Sanjeev
YR 2016
UL http://heart.bmj.com/content/102/4/269.abstract
AB Radiation to the mediastinum is a key component of treatment with curative intent for a range of cancers including Hodgkin's lymphoma and breast cancer. Exposure to radiation is associated with a risk of radiation-induced heart valve damage characterised by valve fibrosis and calcification. There is a latent interval of 10–20 years between radiation exposure and development of clinically significant heart valve disease. Risk is related to radiation dose received, interval from exposure and use of concomitant chemotherapy. Long-term outlook and the risk of valve surgery are related to the effects of radiation on mediastinal structures including pulmonary fibrosis and pericardial constriction. Dose prediction models to predict the risk of heart valve disease in the future and newer radiation techniques to reduce the radiation dose to the heart are being developed. Surveillance strategies for this cohort of cancer survivors at risk of developing significant heart valve complications are required.