RADIATION THERAPY INDUCED CARDIAC TOXICITY

Course overview

CARDIAC TOXICITY IS A KNOWN SIDE EFFECT OF RADIATION THERAPY DELIVERED TO THE THORACIC REGION. THERAPEUTIC RADIATION PLAYS A ROLE IN THE TREATMENT OF MANY MALIGNANT AND A FEW BENIGN CONDITIONS. AS OVERALL SURVIVAL FOR CANCER PATIENTS IMPROVES WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW THERAPIES AND DETECTION OF DISEASE AT EARLIER STAGES, LONG-TERM TOXICITIES OF TREATMENT BECOME MORE RELEVANT. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF RADIATION-INDUCED CARDIAC TOXICITY, CARDIAC TOXICITY MITIGATION TECHNIQUES, AND THE NEED FOR TEAM-BASED MONITORING AND IDENTIFICATION OF UNDESIRED CARDIAC TOXICITY TO IMPROVE LONG-TERM PATIENT OUTCOMES.