Volume 42, Issue 3 e70131
INVITED REVIEW

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor–Related Myocarditis

Matthew Hammer

Corresponding Author

Matthew Hammer

Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

Correspondence: Matthew Hammer([email protected])

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Maciej Tysarowski

Maciej Tysarowski

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

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Cristina Fuss

Cristina Fuss

Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

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Anna S. Bader

Anna S. Bader

Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA

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First published: 11 March 2025
Citations: 1

Funding: The authors received no specific funding for this work.

ABSTRACT

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized oncologic treatment, offering a novel and effective approach to personalized cancer immunotherapy. By targeting immune tolerance pathways, ICIs enhance T-cell-mediated tumor cytotoxicity. Despite their therapeutic efficacy, ICIs are associated with immune-related adverse events (irAEs), including severe cardiovascular complications like myocarditis, pericarditis, and vasculitis. ICI-related myocarditis, although uncommon, carries a high mortality rate of up to 50%, particularly in patients receiving combination therapies. This review examines the mechanisms of ICIs, highlights the clinical presentation of cardiac irAEs, and underscores the utility of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) in the diagnosis of ICI-associated myocarditis. Through case studies, we illustrate the diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for ICI-related cardiac complications, highlighting the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration in mitigating morbidity and mortality.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Data Availability Statement

No data were analyzed for or in support of this review.

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