Echocardiographic left ventricular functions after radiotherapy of thoracic malignancies

ABSTRACT

Twelve patients having intrathoracic malignant tumours presented for radiotherapy were studied for cardiac sequaela of irradiation. Electrocardiography and echocardiography which were followed only in ten cases. Echocardiographic assessmentt has revealed a significant impairment of left ventricular performance and minimal deterioration of left ventricular contractility while clinical criteria were evidently short of detection of such early impairment. On the other hand pericardial thickening was observed in all our patients, while minimal pericardial effusion was observed in 4 out of 10 cases without demonstrable clinical finding. A nonsignificant E.C.G. changes were observed possibly due to a relative smaller dose of radiation. In conclusion it is disclosed that echocardiography is accurate and sensitive tool in early detection of the effects of irradiation on the heart. The use of a smaller dose of radiation and at more longer intervals in those patients with high risk of cardiovascular insults is recommended whenever the malignant lesion allows for that. This can be combined with the use of prophylactic digitalisation in those with clinically evident cardiac disease subjected to radiation therapy