Radiotherapy-induced Early ECG Changes and Their Comparison with Echocardiography in Patients with Early-stage Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND

Early electrocardiogram (ECG) changes after breast cancer radiotherapy (RT) have been reported, but their characteristics and associated factors are largely unknown. This study aimed to explore early RT-induced ECG changes and to compare them with echocardiography changes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixty eligible patients with chemotherapy-naïve left-sided and 20 with right-sided breast cancer were evaluated with echocardiography, blood samples and ECG before and after RT.

RESULTS

RT-induced ECG changes in the anterior leads. T-Wave changes were most frequent. T-Wave decline was associated independently with patient age (β=-0.245, p=0.005), mean heart radiation dose (β=1.252, p=0.001) and global systolic strain rate change (β=7.943, p=0.002). T-Wave inversion was associated independently with mean heart radiation dose (β=0.143, p<0.001), global longitudinal strain change (β=0.053, p=0.017) and posterior calibrated integrated backscatter (β=-0.022, p=0.049).

CONCLUSION

RT-induced ECG changes were prevalent and associated with functional and structural changes in echocardiography. ECG could be used for post-RT cardiac screening.