Cardiac Toxicity of Thoracic Radiotherapy: Existing Evidence and Future Directions

The impact of radiotherapy on the heart has become an area of interest in recent years. Many different cardiac dose-volume constraints have been associated with cardiac toxicity and survival; however, no consistent constraint has been found. Many patients undergoing treatment for lung cancer have risk factors for cardiovascular disease or known cardiac comorbidities; however, there is little evidence on the effects of radiotherapy on the heart in these patients. We aim to provide a summary of the existing literature on cardiac toxicity of lung cancer radiotherapy, propose strategies to avoid and manage cardiac toxicity, and suggest avenues for future research. (C) 2020 International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The impact of radiotherapy on the heart is a growing area of interest, with no consistent cardiac dose-volume constraints identified. While many lung cancer patients undergoing treatment have cardiovascular risk factors, there is limited evidence on the effects of radiotherapy on the heart in these patients.