Cardiovascular Imaging

Doxorubicin

a glycoside antibiotic with antitumour action by inhibiting nucleic acid synthesis. A side effect of a total dose exceeding 500 mg/m2 is dilated cardiomyopathy. The cardiotoxicity can be considered acute consisting of arrhythmias, pericarditismyocarditis syndrome and acute ECG changes, while the chronic form is characterized by cardiomyopathy. Plain radiography in doxorubicin cardiomyopathy demonstrates cardiomegaly and pulmonary venous hypertension or oedema. Identification and monitoring of patients with doxorubicin cardiomyopathy is usually done with echocardiography or radionuclide imaging, which show increase in left ventricular (LV) volumes and reduced ejection fraction. Radionuclide cardiac blood pool imaging has been recommended at specified cumulative doses of the drug starting at 250 300 mg/m2. The drug is discontinued when the LV ejection fraction declines by 10% or more.

CBH