title: Is cardiac toxicity a relevant issue in the radiation treatment of esophageal cancer?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In recent years several papers have been published on radiation-induced cardiac toxicity, especially in breast cancer patients. However, in esophageal cancer patients the radiation dose to the heart is usually markedly higher. To determine whether radiation-induced cardiac toxicity is also a relevant issue for this group, we conducted a review of the current literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search was performed in Medline for papers concerning cardiac toxicity in esophageal cancer patients treated with radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall crude incidence of symptomatic cardiac toxicity was as high as 10.8%. Toxicities corresponded with several dose-volume parameters of the heart. The most frequently reported complications were pericardial effusion, ischemic heart disease and heart failure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cardiac toxicity is a relevant issue in the treatment of esophageal cancer. However, valid Normal Tissue Complication Probability models for esophageal cancer are not available at present.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: j.c.beukema@umcg.nl.
authors.forename: Jannet C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Beukema
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van Luijk
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Widder
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Johannes A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Langendijk
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Christina T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Muijs
mesh_terms: D066126:Cardiotoxicity / Q000209:etiology; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage
keywords: Cardiac toxicity; Esophageal cancer; Radiotherapy