Clinical research progress in diagnosis, prevention and treatment of radiation-induced heart disease

Radiation therapy is one of the necessary and effective treatment methods for the patients with thoracic tumors. However, the heart will be inevitably affected by irradiation simultaneously, leading to radiation-induced heart disease(RIHD). As the radiotherapy technology improving, the survival period is significantly prolonged in patients with tumor, the RIHD incidence increase as well, especially the delayed heart damage, reaching 50% or even higher. Unfortunately, there′s no effective means about the prevention and treatment for RIHD currently. Therefore, early detection and treatment about RIHD is very essential for improving curative effect and quality of life of the patients. This review discussed the diagnosis, prevention and treatment methods for RIHD.