Incident Atrial Fibrillation and Survival Outcomes in Esophageal Cancer following Radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: Radiation therapy (RT) associates with long-term cardiotoxicity. In preclinical models, RT exposure induces early cardiotoxic arrhythmias including atrial fibrillation (AF). Yet, whether this occurs in patients is unknown. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Leveraging a large cohort of consecutive patients with esophageal cancer treated with thoracic RT from 2007 to 2019, we assessed incidence and outcomes of incident AF. Secondary outcomes included major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), defined as AF, heart failure, ventricular arrhythmias, and sudden death, by cardiac RT dose. We also assessed the relationship between AF development and progression-free and overall survival. Observed incident AF rates were compared with Framingham predicted rates, and absolute excess risks were estimated. Multivariate regression was used to define the relationship between clinical and RT measures, and outcomes. Differences in outcomes, by AF status, were also evaluated via 30-day landmark analysis. Furthermore, we assessed the effect of cardiac substructure RT dose (eg, left atrium, LA) on the risk of post RT-related outcomes. RESULTS: Overall, from 238 RT treated patients with esophageal cancer, 21.4% developed incident AF, and 33% developed MACE with the majority (84%) of events occurring ≤2 years of RT initiation (median time to AF, 4.1 months). Cumulative incidence of AF and MACE at 1 year was 19.5%, and 25.7%, respectively; translating into an observed incident AF rate of 824 per 10,000 person-years, compared with the Framingham predicted rate of 92 (relative risk, 8.96; P < .001, absolute excess risk 732). Increasing LA dose strongly associated with incident AF (P = .001); and those with AF saw worse disease progression (hazard ratio, 1.54; P = .03). In multivariate models, outside of traditional cancer-related factors, increasing RT dose to the LA remained associated with worse overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with esophageal cancer, radiation therapy increases AF risk, and associates with worse long-term outcomes.

Utility of Repeat MRI in Patients With Degenerative Cervical Disease.

Existing guidelines regarding indications for initial cervical spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) do not indicate when to perform repeat MRI in patients with previously documented degenerative disease. This study evaluates the efficacy of repeat MRI in patients with previously diagnosed degenerative cervical disease. Between 2013 and 2018, 153 patients (102 women, 51 men; mean age, 55 years; range, 19-81 years) without a history of trauma or surgery underwent cervical spine MRI 2 or more times at our institution indicated for symptoms of neck pain with or without radiculopathy. The MRI reports of repeat studies were reviewed and compared with index studies for notable changes. Notable radiographic changes were defined as any progression of the existing degenerative disease. Fifty-three of 153 (35%) patients demonstrated progression on repeat MRI. Forty-nine of the 53 patients demonstrating progression had new or worsening symptoms prior to their follow-up study (P=.03). Twenty-nine of 35 (83%) patients with new or worsening radiculopathy progressed on MRI (P<.01). Nine of 10 (90%) patients with new upper motor neuron findings demonstrated progression (P=.01). Axial neck pain alone was not statistically linked to MRI progression (P=.1). Twenty-five (16.3%) patients underwent operative management for their disease. Only 12 (48.0%) of the surgical patients presented MRI progression (P=.1). In the absence of new or worsening degenerative cervical symptoms, additional MRI studies are unlikely to reveal any radiographic progression or change clinical management from nonoperative to operative. [Orthopedics. 2023;46(2):98-102.].