title: Cardiovascular imaging in the diagnosis and monitoring of cardiotoxicity: role of echocardiography.
abstract: The evaluation by cardiovascular imaging of chemotherapy patients became a central topic in the last several years. The use of drugs for the treatment of cancers increased, and new molecules and protocols were developed to improve outcomes in these patients. Although, these novel approaches also produced a progressive increase in side effects, particularly myocardial dysfunction. Imaging of the heart was highly accurate in the early diagnosis of cancer therapeutics related-cardiac dysfunction. Echocardiography is the first-line method to assess ventricular function alterations, and it is required to satisfy the need for an early, easy and accurate diagnosis to stratify the risk of heart failure and manage treatments. A careful monitoring of cardiac function during the course of therapy should prevent the onset of severe heart impairment. This review provides an overview of the most important findings of the role of echocardiography in the management of chemotherapy-treated patients to create a clear and complete description of the efficacy of conventional measurements, the importance of comprehensive heart evaluations, the additional role of new echocardiographic techniques, the utility of integrated studies using other imaging tools and the positions of the most important international societies on this topic.
authors.affiliation: aDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Cardiology, University of Messina, Messina bDepartment of Medical Sciences 'Mario Aresu', University of Cagliari, Cagliari cDepartment of General Surgery and Medical-Surgery Specialties, Section of Cardiology, University of Catania, Catania dChair and Division of Cardiology, University of Palermo, Palermo eU.O.C. Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Fondazione G. Monasterio C.N.R., Pisa fInstitute of Cardiology, Center of Excellence on Aging, 'G. d'Annunzio' University, Chieti gDipartimento di Scienze Mediche Traslazionali, Universita' degli Studi di Napoli Federico II hCardiology Unit, University Hospital of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Concetta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zito
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Longobardo
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cadeddu
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Monte
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Novo
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dell'Oglio
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pepe
authors.forename: Rosalinda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Madonna
authors.forename: Carlo G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Tocchetti
authors.forename: Donato
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mele
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D066126:Cardiotoxicity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D016276:Ventricular Function / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents