Vascular toxicity associated with chemotherapy and molecular targeted therapy: what should a radiologist know?

Venous and arterial thromboembolic events and rarely hemorrhage are complications of chemotherapy and, more recently, of molecular targeted therapy in patients with solid and hematologic malignancies. This article will use a drug-based approach to illustrate, with examples, vessel damage and end-organ damage induced by molecular targeted therapy and chemotherapy in cancer patients and will provide a clinical perspective.

Imaging plays a key role in the detection of complications of cancer therapies. A high index of suspicion and an awareness of modern-day drug toxicities are key to the early diagnosis and management of these complications.