ROLE OF CARDIOVASCULAR IMAGING IN CARDIO-ONCOLOGY: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Antitumor drugs are toxic to the cardiovascular system and directly affect cardiac function and anatomy. During the treatment of oncology, patients may experience complications in the form of asymptomatic myocardial dysfunction, severe heart failure, exacerbation of symptoms of coronary heart disease, thromboembolic complications, arterial and pulmonary hypertension, pericardial complications, valve defects and arrhythmias. A number of diagnostic tools are currently available to cardio-oncologists to detect cardiotoxicity, and the choice of imaging method depends on the availability of the specific diagnostic modality and its resolution. The main method for assessing the condition of the heart in cancer patients is echocardiography - a widely available method that enables to assess the structure of the heart and hemodynamics without exposing the patient to an additional dose of ionizing radiation. If imaging is insufficient, the recommended method for assessing cardiac structure and function is magnetic resonance imaging. Computed tomography of the chest, heart and coronary arteries is also used to diagnose complications of cancer treatment. In addition, nuclear medicine techniques, including gated radionuclide ventriculography, are also used to diagnose cardiotoxicity. Electroanatomical mapping systems combined with remote navigation are promising. Early detection of subclinical left ventricular myocardial dysfunction in cancer patients receiving potentially cardiotoxic drugs is advisable and aimed at secondary prophylaxis and prevention of mortality from cardiovascular diseases.