Department of Ultrasound, Affiliated Rehabilitation Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China , wjfzyy2018@163.com
Abstract: (11 Views)
Background:Radiotherapy (RT) for thoracic malignancies, such as breast and lung cancer, can induce cardiac injury, leading to ventricular remodeling and heart failure (HF), which negatively impacts long-term health outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of color Doppler echocardiography in detecting early signs of ventricular remodeling and cardiotoxicity in patients undergoing thoracic RT. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 80 patients with thoracic cancers who underwent RT between June 2022 and December 2024. Patients were divided into high-dose RT (n=49) and standard-dose RT groups (n=31). Serial color Doppler echocardiography was conducted before, immediately after, and at a 6-month follow-up to assess changes in cardiac structure and function. Results: Post-RT, both groups showed an increase in left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVI), with the high-dose group showing significantly greater changes (P<0.05). Eleven patients in the high-dose group showed signs of HF, including increased left ventricular diameters and reduced ejection fraction (LVEF) (P<0.05). Color Doppler echocardiography demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity in detecting RT-related cardiotoxicity. Conclusion: Color doppler echocardiography is a valuable, non-invasive tool for monitoring ventricular remodeling and detecting early cardiotoxic effects of RT in thoracic cancer patients, enabling timely interventions and improved cardiac outcomes.