Severe coronary artery disease after radiation therapy of the chest and mediastinum: clinical presentation and treatment.
OBJECTIVE
To define the clinical and angiographic features and the therapeutic problems in patients with coronary artery disease after therapeutic irradiation of the chest.


METHODS
An observational retrospective study.


METHODS
The cardiac catheterisation laboratory, university medical school.


METHODS
15 subjects (8 men and 7 women, aged 25-56 years, mean 44) examined in the cardiac catheterisation laboratory, who had significant coronary artery disease years after having radiation treatment to the chest and anterior mediastinum. In the early stages of the study angiography was performed because of typical symptoms of ischaemic heart disease. Later on it was performed because of a high index of suspicion in people with signs of extensive radiation heart damage.


METHODS
Clinical and electrocardiographic evidence of ischaemic heart disease; echocardiographic signs of pericardial, myocardial or valvar involvement; angiographic evidence of coronary arterial stenosis, with special attention to the ostia; haemodynamic and angiographic signs of pericardial, myocardial, and valvar disease. Survival and symptomatic and functional status were ascertained after medical or surgical treatment.


RESULTS
The patients were relatively young and had no risk factors. Seven patients had no signs or symptoms of ischaemic heart disease. Ten patients had ostial stenosis, which was associated with extensive involvement of other cardiac structures in nine of them. Seven required surgical treatment for coronary artery disease. Two died, one at surgery and the other one six months later. Five patients had complications associated with irradiation.


CONCLUSIONS
Coronary arterial disease can be reasonably ascribed to the effects of chest irradiation when the patients are young and free from risk factors, especially if the obstructions are ostial and there is important damage to other cardiac structures. In patients with damage to other cardiac structures angina and infarction are often absent and coronary angiography seems to be mandatory. Patients often require surgical treatment and postoperative complications are common.
Orzan
F
F
Istituto di Medicina e Chirurgia Cardiovascolare, Università degli Studi di Torino, Italy.
Brusca
A
A
Conte
M R
MR
Presbitero
P
P
Figliomeni
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MC
D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000532:radiotherapy; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000532:radiotherapy; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy