A prospective study was initiated to assess the side-effects of postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy in patients with left-sided early breast cancer. Twelve patients with early breast cancer were examined before and a year after radiotherapy. Echocardiography, ECG and bicycle ergometry stress test with technetium-99m sestamibi myocardial perfusion scintigraphic were carried out to assess changes in regional myocardial blood flow. Six of the 12 patients had new fixed scintigraphic defects after radiotherapy (as compared with the preradiation examination). The localization of the defects corresponded well with the irradiated volume of the left ventricle. These defects were probably due to microvascular damage to the myocardium. Neither ECG changes nor left ventricular segmental wall motion abnormalities could be detected by echocardiography. To our knowledge this study is the first to show that radiation-induced micro-vascular damage to the myocardium may be detected by perfusion scintigraphy. This may limit the use of scintigraphy in diagnosing coronary artery disease in patients treated with thoracic radiotherapy. Long-term follow-up is necessary to assess whether the presence of microvascular damage is a prognostic sign for the development of radiation-induced coronary artery disease.

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The safety and efficacy of SonoVue (also referred to as BR1), a new contrast agent for delineating endocardial border of the left ventricle after intravenous administration, was assessed. Two hundred and eighteen patients with suspected coronary artery disease undergoing fundamental echocardiography for the assessment of left ventricle were enrolled in a prospective multicenter, single blind, cross-over study with random sequence allocation of four different doses of SonoVue. Endocardial border definition in the apical and parasternal views was scored as 0 = not visible, 1 = barely visible, and 2 = well visualized before and after contrast enhancement. Analysis was performed by two pairs of off-site observers. Safety of SonoVue was also assessed. Results of our study indicated that the mean improvements in the endocardial border visualization score were as follows: 3.1 +/- 7.8 (95% CI, 2.5 and 3.7) for 0.5 ml, 3.4 +/- 8.0 (95% CI, 2.8 and 4.0) for 1 ml, 3.4 +/- 7.9 (95% CI, 2.8 and 4.0) for 2 ml, and 3.7 +/- 8.0 (95% CI, 3.1 and 4.3) for 4 ml (P < 0.05 for all doses from baseline). Changes from baseline in endocardial visualization scores were also seen in the apical views (P < 0.05) and they were dose-dependent (P < 0.001). Similar enhancements of endocardial visualization scores were observed in the apical views in patients with suboptimal baseline echocardiographic images. Diagnostic confidence for assigning a score and image quality also were significantly better following contrast enhancement. No significant changes in the laboratory parameters and vital signs were noted following contrast enhancement, and the side effects were minimal. It was concluded that SonoVue is safe and effective in delineating endocardial border, including in patients with suboptimal baseline images.