Radiation-Induced Cardiac Dysfunction: Optimizing Radiation Delivery and Postradiation Care

Abstract

Radiation therapy (RT) is part of standard-of-care treatment of many thoracic cancers. More than 60% of patients receiving thoracic RT may eventually develop radiation-induced cardiac dysfunction (RICD) secondary to collateral heart dose. This article reviews factors contributing to a thoracic cancer patient's risk for RICD, including RT dose to the heart and/or cardiac substructures, other anticancer treatments, and a patient's cardiometabolic health. It is also discussed how automated tracking of these factors within electronic medical record environments may aid radiation oncologists and other treating physicians in their ability to prevent, detect, and/or treat RICD in this expanding patient population.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Cancer; Deep inspiration breath hold; Electronic medical record; Implementation science; Lung cancer; Radiation; Radiation-induced cardiac dysfunction.