Tissue Doppler Imaging as a predictor of therapy-related cardiac dysfunction in breast cancer patients

Although early detection and prediction of cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) have been widely studied in the literature in breast cancer patients, little is known about the potential predictive role of Tissue Doppler Imaging (TDI) as a risk factor. The purpose of this study is to assess the predictive role of Pulsed-waved TDI in predicting cardiotoxicity in breast cancer patients. In total, 270 breast cancer patients, 27 of whom experienced CTRCD during the follow-up period, were enrolled. Echocardiography was performed at baseline (before the beginning of the treatment), and TDI images were obtained. Other clinical variables were also measured. Significant differences were found between the TDI images of patients who developed cardiotoxicity and those of patients who did not, particularly around the [Formula: see text] wave. Specifically, patients with CTRCD had a smoother and later [Formula: see text] wave. The variable [Formula: see text], which accounts for both the peak velocity of the [Formula: see text] wave and the timing within the cardiac cycle when this peak is reached, was found to be highly informative. Patients with a [Formula: see text]​ value above the threshold of 0.052 have a higher risk of CTRCD, which supports its potential as an early indicator of the risk of cardiotoxicity. The [Formula: see text] in the baseline TDI is significantly associated with the CTRCD. Specific characteristics of the [Formula: see text] wave, such as the moment in the cycle when its peak occurs and its velocity, may be used in clinical practice to predict cardiovascular side effects in patients undergoing breast cancer treatment.