REVIEW

Role of palliative radiotherapy in cardiac metastasis: A review

Sharma Neha1* Chauhan Ashok1
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1 Department of Radiation Oncology, Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana, India
CP 2024, 6(2), 2921
Submitted: 12 February 2024 | Accepted: 11 May 2024 | Published: 24 June 2024
© 2024 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
Abstract

Cardiac metastasis (CM) is a rare but clinically significant manifestation of advanced cancer, occurring when malignant cells originating from a primary tumor in a distant organ infiltrate and colonize the heart. This condition presents unique challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating a multidisciplinary approach involving cardiology, oncology, and surgical teams. Understanding the mechanisms, clinical presentation, and management of CM is vital for health-care professionals to provide effective care and improve the quality of life for patients facing this challenging condition. Radiotherapy can be utilized as a primary treatment option for localized cardiac metastases or as part of a multimodal approach, often combined with surgery, chemotherapy, or other systemic therapies. In this review, we delve into the intricacies of CM, from its underlying causes to its clinical implications, and discuss the role of radiotherapy as a therapeutic option.

Keywords
Cardiac metastasis
Radiotherapy in heart
Palliative radiotherapy
Funding
None.
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Conflict of interest
The authors declare no conflict of interests.
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