Evaluation of the functional heart condition during radiation therapy for lung cancer

The functional heart condition was evaluated in patients with lung cancer by means of echocardiography using ultrasonic ACUSON CV-70 device. 110 patients were examined. The control group consisted of 76 patients, the main group consisted of 34 patients. Systolic and diastolic functions were evaluated prior to radiation therapy and at radiation doses of 20, 40 and 60 Gy. Modern equipment enabled to detect some cardiac abnormalities from a total tumor dose of 20 Gy. With increasing the dose load, negative changes of systolic and diastolic function of the left ventricle become more evident.