腫瘍循環器学における核医学検査の役割

The role of nuclear cardiology imaging in cardio-oncology

腫瘍循環器学（cardio-oncology）は，がんと心血管疾患という二大疾患が重なり合う領域を包括的に扱う新しい臨床・研究分野である。この分野は，2000年にMD Anderson Cancer Centerにonco-cardiology unitが設立されたことを契機に国際的な発展を遂げ，日本では2017年10月に日本腫瘍循環器学会が設立されるなど，近年急速に注目を集めている。

Cardio-oncology has emerged as an important multidisciplinary field addressing cardiovascular complications in patients with cancer. While echocardiography, cardiac CT, and cardiac MRI remain central imaging modalities, nuclear cardiology offers unique advantages by visualizing myocardial perfusion, metabolism, inflammation, and microvascular dysfunction. These functional and molecular abnormalities often precede overt structural or functional impairment. In addition, hybrid imaging with SPECT/CT and PET/CT provides valuable CT-derived incidental findings, such as coronary artery calcification and extracardiac abnormalities, which may influence cardiovascular risk stratification in cancer patients. This article summarizes the current and potential roles of nuclear cardiology imaging in cardio-oncology, emphasizing its contribution to early detection, risk assessment, and comprehensive patient management.