Radiologists and treatment response assessment: conventional and functional radiological criteria for predicting therapeutic response in virus-related and non-virus-related cancers.

Abstract

Precision medicine, which emphasizes individualized patient care rather than targeting a specific type of neoplasm, is becoming increasingly prevalent in oncology. Furthermore, the ability to combine multiple treatment modalities either concurrently or at different stages of the disease is enhancing both the safety and effectiveness of therapies. This, in turn, leads to improved patient outcomes, not only in terms of overall survival (OS) but also in physical well-being. Nevertheless, oncologic therapies can induce both local and systemic changes, as well as complications that are closely related to the type of treatment administered. Accurate interpretation of post-treatment imaging is therefore essential for timely and appropriate patient management.In this context, it is evident that radiologists specializing in oncology must be well-versed not only in the effects of various therapies but also in the different assessment criteria used to evaluate treatment efficacy accurately.The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the various response evaluation criteria, beginning with conventional, size-based methods and progressing to functional approaches that rely on metabolic activity and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), while highlighting the respective advantages and limitations of each.