The British Society of Echocardiography (BSE) has collaborated with the Childhood Cancer and Leukaemia Group (CCLG) and the British Cardio-Oncology Society (BCOS) on a new position statement on echocardiographic surveillance in childhood, teenage and young adult (CTAYA) cancer survivors.
The position statement aims to summarise recent changes in guidance on echocardiographic surveillance and propose a UK specific approach to long-term monitoring for the cohort in line with previous BSE and BCOS guidance for the adult population. This alignment will ensure continuity of care for CTAYA and bridge the gap between paediatric and adult services.
It explains how to risk stratify survivors from a cardiac viewpoint and what is the appropriate long-term surveillance strategy for these patients. This statement aligns closely with the International Guidelines Harmonization Group (IGHG) guidelines on late effects monitoring and changes in these guidelines from 2015 to 2023 are reviewed and then applied to the UK context. This statement will help bring UK practice in line with international survivorship monitoring.
Professor Dan Augustine, President of the BSE said, “This collaborative position statement represents a significant step forward in our mission to standardise high-quality care for cancer survivors across the UK. By integrating the expertise of the BSE, CCLG and BCOS, we have created a roadmap that empowers echocardiographers to use the right test at the right time. We hope that this will ensure that the success of modern cancer treatment is not overshadowed by long-term cardiac complications, providing survivors with the best possible quality of life from childhood into adulthood.”
Read the position statement