Risk Management for Radiation-Induced Cardiovascular Disease (RICVD)

Advances in cancer management have significantly improved survival in patients with cancers. Cardiovascular complications of cancer treatment are becoming significant competing causes of death in these patients. Radiotherapy is an indispensable component of cancer treatment, and irradiation of the heart and vasculature during cancer radiotherapy is now recognized as a new risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. It is important to involve multidisciplinary expertise and provide practical recommendations to promote awareness, recognize risks, and provide adequate interventions without jeopardizing cancer control. In this consensus paper, experts from the Taiwan Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology and Taiwan Society of Cardiology provide a focused update on the clinical practice for risk stratification and management of radiation-induced cardiovascular disease (RICVD). We believe that implementing RICVD care under a collaborative cardio-oncology program will significantly improve cancer treatment outcomes and will facilitate high quality clinical investigations.