Cardiotoxicity of mediastinal radiotherapy

ConclusionsStudies uniformly show a linear radiation dose-response relationship between mean absorbed dose to the heart (heart-Dmean) and the risk of dying as a result of cardiac disease, particularly when heart-Dmean exceeds 5 Gy. Limited data are available regarding dose-volume predictors for heart substructures and the risk of subsequent cardiac toxicity. An individual patient’s cardiotoxicity risk can be modified with advanced treatment planning techniques, including deep inspiration breath hold. Proton therapy is currently showing advantages in improving treatment planning parameters when compared to advanced photon techniques in lymphoma, thymic malignancies, malignant mesothelioma and craniospinal irradiation.
Source: Reports of Practical Oncology and Radiotherapy - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research