The Role of Echocardiography in Cardio-oncology Patients: Contemporary Indications and Future Directions

Abstract

This review discusses the latest advances, guideline recommendations, and limitations of the use of echocardiography in evaluation of cancer therapeutics–related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) and highlights advances in cardio-oncology that have the potential to augment the echocardiographic assessment of CTRCD. Cardio-oncology is a rapidly evolving field aimed at improving the quality of life of cancer patients by preventing and treating the adverse cardiovascular complications of cancer therapy. Cardiac imaging tools, in particular transthoracic echocardiography, play a pivotal role in the early detection and monitoring of CTRCD. Recent studies have indicated the potential benefit of a number of echocardiographic parameters in addition to left ventricular ejection fraction in the evaluation of CTRCD. We anticipate that echocardiography will continue to play a central role in the field of cardio-oncology over the coming years. The utility and predictive value of echocardiographic indices will continue to improve with advances in imaging technology and development of novel biomarkers to supplement imaging parameters. Ensuring equitable and easy access to cardio-oncology services, especially in remote and disadvantaged communities, remains an area of ongoing investigation and will undoubtedly be assisted with new innovations in image acquisition, transmission, and analysis. Lastly, machine learning is likely to revolutionise the evaluation of CTRCD in light of the rapid progress of artificial intelligence–driven automation for the analysis and interpretation of echocardiograms.