Nuclear cardiology in the context of multimodality imaging to detect cardiac toxicity from cancer therapeutics: Established and emerging methods

J Nucl Cardiol. 2020 Aug;27(4):1210-1224. doi: 10.1007/s12350-019-01671-6. Epub 2019 Mar 13.

Abstract

The complexity of cancer therapies has vastly expanded in the last decade, along with type and severity of cardiac toxicities associated with these treatments. Prevention of pre-clinical cardiotoxicity may improve cardiovascular outcomes and circumvent the decision to place life-sustaining chemotherapeutic agents on hold, making the early detection of cancer therapeutic related cardiac toxicity with non-invasive imaging essential to the care of these patients. There are several established methods of cardiac imaging in the areas of nuclear cardiology, echocardiography, computed tomography, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging that are used to assess for cardiovascular toxicity of cancer treatments, with several methods under development. The following review will provide an overview of current and emerging imaging techniques in these areas.

Keywords: Multimodality; cancer therapeutics related cardiac dysfunction; cardiac imaging; cardio-oncology; cardiotoxicity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Cardiotoxicity / diagnostic imaging*
  • Echocardiography / methods
  • Gated Blood-Pool Imaging / methods
  • Heart / diagnostic imaging*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Multimodal Imaging / methods*
  • Myocardial Perfusion Imaging / methods
  • Stroke Volume / physiology
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / diagnostic imaging

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents