Ultrasonic analysis of anthracycline-induced myocardial damage using cyclic variation of integrated backscatter.

To test the feasibility of integrated backscatter (IB) for detecting anthracycline cardiotoxicity, we performed conventional echocardiography and IB analysis. For interindividual comparison, 32 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and 14 control subjects were selected. Of the patients, 10 had been treated with doxorubicin doses of </=200 mg/m(2) (low dose), 15 with </=400 mg/m(2) (moderate dose), and 7 with >400 mg/m(2) (high dose). In intraindividual comparison, 8 patients were examined before doxorubicin therapy and at a dose of 100 mg/m(2) and 8 were examined before and at a 300-mg/m(2) dose. Cyclic variation of IB (CV-IB) was obtained at the left ventricular posterior wall, using a modified, commercially available system in M-mode format. In interindividual comparison, CV-IB in high- and moderate-dose groups was smaller. In intraindividual comparison, CV-IB decreased after treatment with 300 mg/m(2) of doxorubicin. CV-IB was affected in some patients treated with a moderate dose of doxorubicin. IB analysis may be helpful for detecting early anthracycline cardiotoxicity.