Open AccessRole of palliative radiotherapy in the management of mural cardiac metastases: who, when and how to treat? A case series of 10 patients
Author(s) -
Fotouhi Ghiam Alireza,
Dawson Laura A.,
Abuzeid Wael,
Rauth Sarah,
Jang Raymond W.,
Horlick Eric,
Bezjak Andrea
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
cancer medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.403
H-Index - 53
ISSN - 2045-7634
DOI - 10.1002/cam4.619
Subject(s) - medicine , radiation therapy , palliative care , cancer , incidence (geometry) , palliative treatment , radiography , radiology , nursing , physics , optics
Cardiac metastases (CM), although a rare manifestation of metastatic cancer, are increasing in incidence with the improved prognosis and increased longevity of many patients with cancer. This condition may be life‐threatening, especially for bulky rapidly growing tumors. Such cancer presentations may be amenable to palliative radiotherapy to improve symptoms and to prevent further cardiac function decline. Here, we report on our experience with 10 patients with mural CM who received radiotherapy (RT) to the heart with palliative intent. The radiation treatment was given in different clinical situations using different dose and fractionation, and with a variety of outcomes. Palliative RT was a reasonably effective treatment, leading to good radiographic response in five patients who were evaluable for radiologic response. The mean duration of response in responding patients was 6.3 months (range: 3–11 months). This report describing clinical dilemmas around CM radiation therapy summarizes the previous experiences with radiation in treatment of CM and may assist in the considerations of palliative treatment for these patients.