Evaluating Right Ventricular Function To Reveal Cancer Therapy Cardiotoxicity

Abstract

Advances in cancer treatment resulted in augmented patient survival rate. However, anticancer therapy often causes heart damage in the form of a progressive systolic heart failure. Echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular function were conventionally used to detect early manifestations of cancer therapy cardiotoxicity. Improved diagnosing of the right ventricle condition revealed that it is negatively affected by chemotherapy as frequently as the left ventricle, and sometimes even earlier than the latter. Hence, currently, the right ventricle function and mechanics assessment techniques are actively developed for the chemotherapy cardiotoxicity diagnostic, primarily employing 3D echocardiography and speckle tracking analysis. The presented review provides relevant information on the matter and highlights insufficiently developed issues and fields of further research.

Right Ventricular Dysfunction in the Cancer Patient

“…4 Evidence has suggested that the RV is affected as frequently as the LV, 4 and even earlier in some situations. 18 To confirm the possibility of assessing the RV to early detect subclinical cardiotoxicity and to define its criteria, larger studies, preferably multicentric ones, are still warranted. 18 CMR and echocardiography are the techniques of choice to evaluate right ventricular systolic function in cancer patients.…”

“…18 To confirm the possibility of assessing the RV to early detect subclinical cardiotoxicity and to define its criteria, larger studies, preferably multicentric ones, are still warranted. 18 CMR and echocardiography are the techniques of choice to evaluate right ventricular systolic function in cancer patients. 16 CMR is the gold standard to assess right ventricular diameter and function.…”

“…An accurate evaluation of the RV by conventional echocardiography is still challenging. 18 Right ventricular shape and geometry limit the capacity of conventional echocardiographic indexes like right ventricular ejection fraction, fractional area change (FAC), and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), to reliably detect subtle changes in right ventricular systolic function in cancer patients. 4 Right ventricular strain seems to be a reliable, robust and easy-to-use indicator in cardio-oncology.…”