Radiation Therapy and The Heart

Abstract

Background: Radiation therapy represents a cornerstone in the management of breast cancer, contributing significantly to improved local control and survival outcomes. However, exposure of cardiac structures during thoracic irradiation has been increasingly recognized as a source of both early and late cardiovascular complications. Advances in radiotherapy techniques have reduced cardiac exposure, yet radiation-induced heart disease remains a clinically relevant concern, particularly in patients receiving left-sided breast irradiation or combined modality treatment. This review aims to summarize the mechanisms, clinical manifestations, risk modifiers, and dose-related parameters associated with radiation-induced cardiac toxicity, with emphasis on contemporary radiotherapy practices and long-term cardiovascular outcomes.