Cardiovascular Toxicity as a Result of Radiological Imaging

The increasing use of medical imaging in cardiology practice, especially with increasing utilization of nuclear cardiology, mandates the importance of awareness of cardiac toxicity from radiological imaging. Radiation can be ionizing from X-ray or computed tomography (CT) or nonionizing from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Ionizing radiation can alter the structure of cells and induce cell damage; however, nonionizing radiation does not. Cardiologists are exposed to more radiation during procedures such as pacemaker implants, angiogram, and electrophysiological studies. There are strategies to minimize the exposure to radiation and one among them is the ALARA principle. It is vital for physicians to be aware of the radiation-induced effects, and it is important to routinely employ them in practice to reduce radiation-induced hazards.