The Use of Impedance Cardiography for Detection of Early Cardiac Effects of Radiotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients

This study was conducted to determine the effect of radiotherapy (RT) on heart functions in the early period in patients with breast cancer. The hemodynamic parameters showing heart functions of patients were recorded by impedance cardiography (ICG), a noninvasive method for monitoring heart function before and after RT. Some hemodynamic parameters of patients compared to before RT increased significantly after RT. Hemodynamic parameters that increased significantly following RT, compared with baseline: cardiac index (CI) (l/min/m²), before radiotherapy 3.21 ± 0.71, after radiotherapy 3.75 ± 1.01; stroke volume index (SVI) (ml/min/m²), before radiotherapy 37.32 ± 8.87, after radiotherapy 44.49 ± 10.85; thoracic fluid volume (TFC) (kohm^-1), before radiotherapy 35.43 ± 7.70, after radiotherapy 39.52 ± 10.37. The findings suggested that short-term effects of RT on hemodynamic parameters in breast cancer patients were not due to deterioration in heart functions, but could be due to radiodermatitis, which can be seen in patients up to 42 days after RT. As a part of the treatment plan of patients receiving RT, it may be recommended to determine changes in heart functions with ICG and to plan new studies in which patients will be followed for a longer period.