Risk factors for enlargement of cardiac silhouette on chest radiography after radiotherapy for esophageal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the incidence and risk factors of enlargement of cardiac silhouette on chest radiographs after radiotherapy for esophageal cancer.


METHODS
We analyzed 67 patients with esophageal cancer who received external beam radiation therapy with a total dose of >or=50 Gy and were followed for >or=6 months. Sixteen patients received radiation alone, and the remaining 51 received chemoradiotherapy. The difference between the cardiothoracic ratio (CTR) on the pretreatment chest radiograph and that on the posttreatment radiograph with maximum cardiac silhouette for each patient was used for the analysis.


RESULTS
The average maximum increase in CTR for the entire group was 4.5%, which was statistically significant. Only the area of the cardiac silhouette in the initial radiation field was a significant risk factor for enlargement of the cardiac silhouette. Pericardial effusions were observed in all patients who underwent computed tomography with severe enlargement of the cardiac silhouette.


CONCLUSIONS
The CTR value significantly increased after radiotherapy for esophageal cancer. Radiation-induced pericardial effusion may be the main cause of enlargement of the cardiac silhouette. The irradiated cardiac area was the only significant risk factor for enlargement of the cardiac silhouette; the use of chemotherapy was not.
Sasamoto
Ryuta
R
Department of Radiation Oncology, Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital, 1-757 Asahimachidori, Niigata 951-8510, Japan. rsasa@med.niigata-u.ac.jp
Tsuchida
Emiko
E
Sugita
Tadashi
T
Matsumoto
Yasuo
Y
Abe
Eisuke
E
Sasai
Keisuke
K
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005556:Form Perception; D005720:Gamma Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017619:Hemibody Irradiation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome