Open Access

The 1, 2, 3, 4 of carcinoid heart disease: Comprehensive cardiovascular imaging is the mainstay of complex surgical treatment (Review)

  • Authors:
    • Dinu Valentin Balanescu
    • Teodora Donisan
    • Juan Lopez-Mattei
    • Saamir Hassan
    • Peter Kim
    • Arvind Dasari
    • Daniel Halperin
    • James Yao
    • Biswajit Kar
    • Igor Gregoric
    • Serban Mihai Balanescu
    • Cezar Iliescu
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: November 19, 2018     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2018.9732
  • Pages: 4126-4132
  • Copyright: © Balanescu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Carcinoid heart disease (CHD) is a rare complication of neuroendocrine tumors, most commonly involving the tricuspid and pulmonary valves. The mitral and aortic valves can also be affected, albeit rarely, in certain circumstances such as the presence of a patent foramen ovale. Transthoracic echocardiogram is generally considered the key imaging modality, but cardiac magnetic resonance can add valuable information, particularly in the assessment of pulmonary valve function or multivalvular disease. Previously, surgical management of CHD carried high mortality, as a result of less advanced surgical techniques and of late intervention, reserved for cases of severely symptomatic heart failure. Modern approaches are associated with significantly improved survival rates, even in multivalvular, complex cases. Valve replacement can provide survival benefits in patients with CHD, but the optimal timing for the intervention is uncertain, with data suggesting a trend of improved survival with earlier intervention. A comprehensive imaging assessment may contribute to establishing optimal surgical timing. This approach may shift the main driver of mortality from the cardiac involvement to the primary malignancy and lead to improved outcomes. We present a series of imaging findings in CHD patients who have successfully undergone simultaneous surgical replacement with bioprosthetic valves of 1 to 4 heart valves. The surgical decision in these patients was based on a multimodality cardiovascular approach, including transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance. The patients had uncomplicated postoperative courses, significant symptomatic relief from heart failure symptoms, and there was no cardiovascular mortality. Early recognition of CHD with a multimodality approach may improve outcome, even in complex cases. Bioprosthetic valves are generally preferred in CHD due to decreased need for anticoagulation, despite concern for premature degeneration. A collaboration between the Oncology and Cardiology teams is essential for the long‑term management of CHD patients.
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May-2019
Volume 17 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
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Spandidos Publications style
Balanescu DV, Donisan T, Lopez-Mattei J, Hassan S, Kim P, Dasari A, Halperin D, Yao J, Kar B, Gregoric I, Gregoric I, et al: The 1, 2, 3, 4 of carcinoid heart disease: Comprehensive cardiovascular imaging is the mainstay of complex surgical treatment (Review). Oncol Lett 17: 4126-4132, 2019
APA
Balanescu, D.V., Donisan, T., Lopez-Mattei, J., Hassan, S., Kim, P., Dasari, A. ... Iliescu, C. (2019). The 1, 2, 3, 4 of carcinoid heart disease: Comprehensive cardiovascular imaging is the mainstay of complex surgical treatment (Review). Oncology Letters, 17, 4126-4132. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2018.9732
MLA
Balanescu, D. V., Donisan, T., Lopez-Mattei, J., Hassan, S., Kim, P., Dasari, A., Halperin, D., Yao, J., Kar, B., Gregoric, I., Balanescu, S. M., Iliescu, C."The 1, 2, 3, 4 of carcinoid heart disease: Comprehensive cardiovascular imaging is the mainstay of complex surgical treatment (Review)". Oncology Letters 17.5 (2019): 4126-4132.
Chicago
Balanescu, D. V., Donisan, T., Lopez-Mattei, J., Hassan, S., Kim, P., Dasari, A., Halperin, D., Yao, J., Kar, B., Gregoric, I., Balanescu, S. M., Iliescu, C."The 1, 2, 3, 4 of carcinoid heart disease: Comprehensive cardiovascular imaging is the mainstay of complex surgical treatment (Review)". Oncology Letters 17, no. 5 (2019): 4126-4132. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2018.9732