Pericardial irritation in breast cancer patients treated by curative postoperative radiotherapy--early results

Authors prospectively examined 54 breast cancer patients treated by postoperative telecobalt, or electron therapy. They studied the cardiological side effects caused by ionizing radiation. ECG, echocardiography and measurement of systolic time intervals were performed before, immediately, six weeks, six months, one and 1.5 to two years after the completion of radiotherapy. 23 symptom-free patients were found to have signs of transitory pericardial irritation, more after telecobalt, than electron therapy (17/6). T-wave inversions were seen on the ECG of 20 patients. In six and three patients small amounts of pericardial effusion could be detected by echocardiography with, or without ECG alterations, respectively. Other side effects mentioned by the literature could not be found yet, further follow-up is recommended, however. In the authors' opinion the effect of ionizing radiation, mainly of telecobalt therapy is possibly a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, it is suggested to be considered at the planning of radiation therapy accordingly.