Poor outcome in radiation-induced constrictive pericarditis

Journal Article · Fri Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 1993 · International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0360-3016(93)90356-Z· OSTI ID:6592933

Karram, T; Rinkevitch, D; Markiewicz, W ^[1]

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1. Technion Medical School, Haifa (Israel)

The purpose was to compare the outcome of patients with radiation-induced constrictive pericarditis versus patients with constiction due to another etiology. Twenty patients with constrictive pericarditis were seen during 1975-1986 at a single medical center. Six had radiation-induced constrictive pericarditis (Group A). The etiology was idiopathic in ten subjects and secondary to carcinomatous encasement, chronic renal failure, purulent infection and tuberculosis in one patient each (Group B, N = 14). Meang age was 53.4 [+-] 15.5 years. Extensive pericardiectomy was performed in 3/6 Group A and 13/14 Group B patients. All Group A patients died, 4 weeks - 11 years post-diagnosis (median = 10 months). Two Group A patients died suddenly, one died post-operatively of respiratory failure, another of pneumonia and two of recurrent carcinoma. Thirteen Group B patients are alive (median follow-up = 72 months). The only death in this group was due to metastatic cancer. The poor outcome with radiation-induced constriction is probably multi-factorial. Poor surgical outcome is to be expected in patients with evidence of recurrent tumor, high-dose irradiation, pulmonary fibrosis or associated radiation-induced myocardinal, valvular or coronary damage.

• OSTI ID: 6592933
• Journal Information: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology and Physics; (United States), Vol. 25:2; ISSN 0360-3016
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
PERICARDIUM
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
THERAPY
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
INFLAMMATION
SURGERY
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
EVALUATION
HEART
MEDICINE
MEMBRANES
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
RADIATION EFFECTS
SEROUS MEMBRANES
SYMPTOMS
560151* - Radiation Effects on Animals- Man