Speckle-Tracking Echocardiography in Cancer Patients: Preventing Mortality from Heart Failure

Heart failure caused by the cardiotoxicity of chemotherapy agents and/or radiation therapy in cancer treatment is one of the main causes of mortality in oncology patients. However, modern diagnostics, such as speckle-tracking echoCG (echocardiography), allow for the timely detection of heart abnormalities and the implementation of necessary tactical steps in treatment.

At "Oberig" Clinic, we use the speckle-tracking echoCG method as a mandatory component of the therapeutic approach in cancer treatment. Furthermore, this examination is performed at the following stages:

• before the start of chemotherapy (to determine the baseline level);

• during chemotherapy (for the rapid detection of cardiotoxicity);

• after the completion of the chemotherapy course.

The main advantage of speckle-tracking is the detection of myocardial contractile dysfunction even before these abnormalities cause a reduction in the ejection fraction, and, consequently, the onset of heart failure symptoms. 

This method of heart monitoring allows our cardiologists, in collaboration with oncologists, to promptly adjust the cancer treatment regimen, minimizing cardiotoxic risks without halting the fight against the primary disease.

Speckle-tracking echoCG is non-invasive, completely safe, and performed like a standard heart ultrasound.

In European countries, speckle-tracking echoCG is a mandatory standard for the examination of patients undergoing cancer chemotherapy. Now this service is available at the "Oberig" Clinic. Our cardiologists — Tetiana Dolina and Olena Holubovska — attended the first ESC Cardio-Oncology 2025 Congress (Florence, Italy) in the summer of 2025 and became pioneers in the implementation of speckle-tracking echoCG in Kyiv.

The cardiologists at "Oberig" Clinic are proficient in the use and interpretation of this extremely valuable additional diagnostic method and work closely with oncologists for the sake of patients' long and high-quality lives.

To schedule an examination, please call: +38 044 521 30 03!