Predictive factors for pericardial effusion identified by heart dose–volume histogram analysis in oesophageal cancer patients treated with chemoradiotherapy

Objective:To identify predictive factors for the development of pericardial effusion (PCE) in patients with oesophageal cancer treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy (RT).Methods:From March 2006 to November 2012, patients with oesophageal cancer treated with chemoradiotherapy (CRT) using the following criteria were evaluated: radiation dose >50 Gy; heart included in the radiation field; dose–volume histogram (DVH) data available for analysis; no previous thoracic surgery; and no PCE before treatment. The diagnosis of PCE was independently determined by two radiologists. Clinical factors, the percentage of heart volume receiving >5–60 Gy in increments of 5 Gy (V5–60, respectively), maximum heart dose and mean heart dose were analysed.Results:A total of 143 patients with oesophageal cancer were reviewed retrospectively. The median follow-up by CT was 15 months (range, 2.1–72.6 months) after RT. PCE developed in 55 patients (38.5%) after RT, and the median time to develop PCE was 3.5 months (range, 0.2–9...