Advanced Cardiac Imaging of Radiation-induced Injury - a Review

The radiation exposure to cardiac tissues often result in severe form of cardiac injuries whose underlying mechanisms are not well understood till date. The most obvious choice to determine the extent of radiation-induced damages in cardiac tissues is via imaging. We searched the electronic database PubMed for pre-clinical as well as clinical reports pertaining to the importance of imaging modalities during radiation induced cardiac toxicity. It was observed clearly that various imaging modalities are now available for the above purpose and each having different pros and cons. Imaging modality offers non-invasive ways for the visualization of radiation induced toxic changes. The potential effects of radiation on the heart could be imaged non-invasively through echocardiography, Computed Tomography (CT), nuclear tomographic imaging, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), each with relative strengths in assessing different parameters of radiation- induced injury. The latest in the line of various options of imaging is hybrid technology of imaging that allows functional imaging with highest resolution. The present review article is aimed to discuss all these imaging modalities with respect to their advantages and disadvantages. Also, their potential role for studying radiation-induced cardiac toxicity is discussed.