From the Guidelines
Echocardiography (echo) is used for B-cell lymphoma because it is a noninvasive, safe, and highly portable imaging modality that provides valuable information regarding cardiac function, particularly in patients receiving cardiotoxic therapies.
Key Points
- Two-dimensional echocardiography is the preferred imaging modality for monitoring asymptomatic patients due to its ability to assess left and right ventricular structure, systolic and diastolic function, and valvular disease 1.
- Echocardiography can detect early signs of cardiac dysfunction, such as changes in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), diastolic function, and global longitudinal strain, which can precede symptoms of heart failure 1.
- The use of cardiac biomarkers, such as troponin and natriuretic peptides, in combination with echocardiography, can provide additional diagnostic and prognostic information in patients with cancer receiving cardiotoxic therapies 1.
- Serial monitoring of cardiac function using echocardiography and biomarkers can help identify patients at high risk of developing cardiac dysfunction, allowing for early intervention and potentially improving outcomes 1.
From the Research
Echocardiography in B-cell Lymphoma
Echocardiography (echo) is used in the diagnosis and management of B-cell lymphoma due to its ability to non-invasively evaluate cardiac involvement. The key reasons for using echocardiography in B-cell lymphoma include:
- Detection of cardiac involvement: Echocardiography can detect cardiac involvement in B-cell lymphoma, including pericardial effusion, cardiac masses, and valve involvement 2, 3, 4, 5.
- Assessment of cardiac function: Echocardiography can assess cardiac function, including left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and right ventricular (RV) function, which is important in patients undergoing anthracycline-based chemotherapy 6.
- Monitoring of treatment response: Echocardiography can monitor the response to treatment, including the regression of cardiac masses and improvement in cardiac function 3, 4.
Types of Echocardiography Used
Different types of echocardiography can be used in the assessment of B-cell lymphoma, including:
- Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE): TTE is a commonly used modality for detecting cardiac involvement and assessing cardiac function 2, 4.
- Two-dimensional (2D) strain echocardiography: 2D strain echocardiography can assess RV function and detect early changes in cardiac function 6.
- Three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography: 3D echocardiography can assess RV function and provide more accurate measurements of cardiac volumes and function 6.
- Doppler tissue imaging (DTI): DTI can assess systolic and diastolic function and detect early changes in cardiac function 4.
Clinical Implications
The use of echocardiography in B-cell lymphoma has important clinical implications, including:
- Early detection of cardiac involvement: Early detection of cardiac involvement can improve outcomes and guide treatment decisions 2, 5.
- Monitoring of treatment response: Monitoring of treatment response can help guide treatment decisions and improve outcomes 3, 4.
- Assessment of cardiotoxicity: Assessment of cardiotoxicity can help guide treatment decisions and improve outcomes in patients undergoing anthracycline-based chemotherapy 6.