Heart Valve Injury Induced by Mediastinum Radiotherapy in Cancer Treatment

Radiotherapy as monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy, has contributed to the drop in mortality rates related to neoplasms in the last 60 years. However, irradiation may promote heart damage and involvement is very common. As a result, VHD (valvular heart disease) is one of the earliest cardiovascular events post-radiotherapy. What it concerns to valve disease induced by chemotherapeutics, there are still only few studies. However, patients treated with chemotherapy in combination with radiotherapy had twice the risk of developing the disease when compared to those treated by radiotherapy alone. The heart injury caused by radiotherapy begins with damage to the endothelium and results in fibrosis and diffuses calcification primarily of the mitral and aortic valves. The echocardiography is the tool of choice to the patient's assessment and follow-up after exposure. Prevention is the best option to face the valve damage induced by radiation.