The investigators will identify 10 patients in the department of radiation oncology who will receive standard of-care radiation therapy, and the treating radiation oncologist anticipates a mean left ventricular dose of at least 5 Gy. Patients will be evaluated by CMRI before and within one week of the completion of RT. We will compare the pre- and post-RT CMRI scans to identify changes related to radiation exposure. Our primary endpoint will be changes in myocardial strain. Secondary endpoints will include other CMRI parameters.
Cardiac toxicity is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer survivors after radiation therapy (RT) to the chest. Typically, cardiotoxicity is identified years after radiation exposure. Emerging clinical data show that subclinical injury can be identified immediately after treatment. Early identification of subclinical injury may enable intervention to reduce the risk of progression to clinically significant toxicity. The investigators hypothesize that cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) will detect early cardiac injury after RT and that imaging changes will be associated regionally with cardiac radiation dose.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
6
A cardiac MRI is a painless imaging test that uses radiowaves, magnets, and a computer to create detailed pictures of the heart.
University of Colorado Hospital
Aurora, Colorado, United States
Change in myocardial strain
Assess for a change in myocardial strain, as measured by CMRI scans performed before and after RT
Time frame: 2 years
T1 pre- and post-contrast values
Measured by scans performed before and after RT
Time frame: 2 years
Extracellular volume fraction
Measured by scans performed before and after RT
Time frame: 2 years
T2 values
Measured by scans performed before and after RT
Time frame: 2 years
Late gadolinium enhancement
Measured by scans performed before and after RT
Time frame: 2 years
Left ventricular ejection fraction
Measured by scans performed before and after RT
Time frame: 2 years
End diastolic volume
Measured by scans performed before and after RT
Time frame: 2 years
End systolic volume
Measured by scans performed before and after RT
Time frame: 2 years
Left atrial volume
Measured by scans performed before and after RT
Time frame: 2 years
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Wall thickness
Measured by scans performed before and after RT
Time frame: 2 years
Left ventricular mass index
Measured by scans performed before and after RT
Time frame: 2 years