[New trends and novel possibilities in the diagnosis of lymphomas]

Successful treatment of lymphomas requires classical morphological diagnosis and also immunophenotyping as well as cytogenetics and molecular genetic examinations. The expansion of pathogenetic knowledge resulted in new classifications, new disease entities, and subtypes that are identified with distinct genetic aberrations bearing prognostic value as well and also serving as potential targets for new targeted therapies. The more detailed molecular background is explored the more precise personalized treatment options can be utilized nowadays and in the near future. Thus new up-to-date hematopathology is the key to successful oncohematological treatment. The imaging diagnosis has also evolved during the last decade in the diagnosis of lymphomas. This can also help us to monitor response to therapy by using positron emission tomography. This enables us to monitor therapy and make decisions based on efficiency of the therapeutic regimen. Survival data of lymphoma patients can further be improved by avoiding under- and overtreatment, which is achieved by using PET/CT as a "biomarker" or response indicator besides conventional biologic and clinical prognostic markers.