[Endoluminal, cardiovascular radiotherapy: a new standard]

The treatment for cardiovascular disease, especially the treatment of coronary stenosis, has been continuously improving during the last decades. Routine use of angioplasty was improved by the use of coronary stenting further reducing cardiac morbidity. However, the incidence of restenosis after cardiovascular angioplasty remains high. The restenosis process is mainly explained by neointimal proliferation. Therefore, the utility of ionizing radiation has been systematically investigated in order to reduce proliferation of the neointimal tissue. Radiation therapy turns out to be a very efficient approach in reducing the rate of both de novo lesions as well as of instant restenosis. Recent clinical data from randomized trials confirm the utility of intracoronary radiation therapy and change the treatment standards in interventional cardiology.