Cardiotoxicity of antineoplastic agents: what is the present and future role for imaging?

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Oncology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Antineoplastic treatments, while expanding, are limited by cardiotoxic effects.
• Cardiotoxicity can lead to severe outcomes like heart failure and death, hindering cancer treatment.
• Early detection of cardiotoxicity is crucial for intervention and prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current and future role of cardiac imaging in assessing antineoplastic agent cardiotoxicity.
• To highlight imaging's ability to detect cardiac effects before clinical symptoms manifest.
• To focus on imaging strategies for early diagnosis of chemotherapy-induced cardiac damage.

Main Methods:

• Review of current and emerging cardiac imaging modalities.
• Discussion of echocardiography, MUGA, and cardiac MRI capabilities.
• Analysis of imaging's role in identifying myocardial cellular damage and electrophysiological abnormalities.

Main Results:

• Cardiac imaging can identify cardiotoxicity before functional decline becomes apparent.
• Several imaging techniques show promise in early detection of cardiac effects.
• Imaging facilitates assessment of prevalence and potential for pharmaceutical interventions.

Conclusions:

• Cardiac imaging is vital for early diagnosis of antineoplastic-induced cardiotoxicity.
• Advanced imaging techniques offer potential for proactive management of cardiac risks.
• Improved early detection through imaging can enhance cancer treatment efficacy and patient outcomes.