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New Imaging Methods for Detection of Drug-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Cancer Patients

  • Cardiac Nuclear Imaging (A Cuocolo and M Petretta, Section Editors)
  • Published:
Current Cardiovascular Imaging Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

In the last decades, there have been great advances made in cancer diagnosis and treatment, giving a reduction in mortality, an increase in survival, and a better quality of life in cancer patients. In addition, the progress made in cancer treatments has resulted in increased exposure to the cardiotoxic effects of chemotherapies. Screening for the occurrence of cardiotoxicity (CTX) is highly recommended before, during, and after the end of chemotherapy.

Recent Findings

A number of methods and diagnostic indexes have been recommended for detecting CTX and planning therapeutic strategies. Measuring left ventricular ejection fraction through a conventional echocardiogram is the most used strategy, although it is a poorly refined parameter, often detectable only in the later stages.

Summary

In this article, we will focus on new imaging methods and more specific parameters for early detection of CTX in cancer patients, including nuclear imaging techniques and molecular radiotracers, strain and speckle tracking echocardiography, three-dimensional echocardiography, and cardiac magnetic resonance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Scientific Initiation Program (PIBIC), Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, Brazil

    Lucas José Carvalho Simoni

  2. UFPE Clinical Medicine Department, Hospital das Clínicas of the UFPE, Av. Beira Rio, 360, apt 201, Ilha do Retiro, Recife, Pernambuco, 50750-400, Brazil

    Simone Cristina Soares Brandão

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Correspondence to Simone Cristina Soares Brandão.

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Simoni, L.J.C., Brandão, S.C.S. New Imaging Methods for Detection of Drug-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Cancer Patients. Curr Cardiovasc Imaging Rep 10, 18 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12410-017-9415-3

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