Radiation-Associated Cardiac Disease: From Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Management

Radiation-associated cardiac disease (RACD) is an increasingly recognized latent manifestation of chest and mediastinal radiation therapy. The delayed presentation reflects increased survival rates from malignancies successfully treated decades previously. However, individuals are now presenting with multiple coexistent manifestations of RACD and pulmonary disease as a consequence of high-dose radiation administered prior to the routine institution of modern dose-modulating regimens. Increased awareness of RACD is critical for implementation of appropriate screening algorithms and for specific management strategies involving the timing and strategies of intervention in these patients.

Recent advances in multimodality cardiac imaging have demonstrated pathognomonic findings of RACD, which can predict outcomes including mortality. Accurate diagnosis of these typically concurrent manifestations is critical and should prompt referral to a center experienced in managing RACD as surgical risk is significantly increased for this patient cohort, particularly for those undergoing redo operation. The latent effect of RACD and its unique combination of manifestations means that these patients will increasingly present with challenging management issues, resulting in increased rates of morbidity and mortality. Timing of treatment intervention must be carefully considered, although percutaneous options may provide alternative future strategies for this higher risk cohort.