Effects of radiation on cardiac shadow

Effects of irradiation on the heart were roentgenologically examined in 113 patients with cancer of the esophagus, 22 with cancer of the cardia, and 103 with cancer of the breast. Anterior and posterior two fields irradiation with tele-/sup 60/Co was performed in the patients with cancer of the esophagus and the cardia. Tumor dose of radiation was more than 4000 rads, and over onethird of the heart was included in the irradiation field. The size of irradiation field was less than 80 cm/sup 2/ in 77 patients, 80 cm/sup 2/ to 100 cm/sup 2/ in 31 patients, and more than 100 cm/sup 2/ in 18 patients. In the patients with cancer of the breast, tele-/sup 60/Co was irradiated to the supra- and sub- clavicular fossa and over 2000 rads of 200 kVp x ray was irradiated to the chest wall. Forty to 100% of the tumor dose was irradiated to the heart. In three patients with cancer of the esophagus or the cardia, the cardiac shadow was changed during the period of the treatment, showing acute pericardiac efiusion. Of them, one patient was complicated with pleural effusion. Irradiation field of these three patients was more than 100 cm/sup 2/. Radiogramsmore » of 62 patients were examined for 3 months after the treatment was finished, and acute secositis was found in one patient. In two patients out of 10 cases followed for 1 year, enlargement of the cardiac shadow was observed. Irradiation fields of these were less than 80 cm/sup 2/ or more than 100 cm/sup 2/. No patient with cancer of the breast showed changes in the cardiac shadow during the period of treatment. However, 78 patients, including 38 cases with cancer of the right breast and 40 cases with cancer of the left breast, were followed up for 6 months and in two cases with cancer of the left breast radiation pneumonia was found, and at the same time the findings of acute pericarditis was also showed. Radiograms of 38 patients, including 17 cases with cancer of the right breast and 11 cases with cancer of the left breast, were followed up for over 4 years, and one case with cancer of the right breast caused cardiac collapse and a sudden death due to myofibrosis of the heant. In addition, the radiograms of four cases were demonstrated in this report. (JA)« less