Theranostic: A Primer for Radiologists

Theranostic represents a transformative approach in precision medicine, integrating diagnostic imaging with targeted radiopharmaceutical therapy to enhance individualized disease management. Rooted in nuclear medicine, this approach uses molecular targeting agents labelled with diagnostic radioisotopes for imaging and therapeutic radioisotopes for treatment, ensuring a seamless transition from diagnosis to therapy. The field has evolved significantly in the last decade, with prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-targeted radioligand therapy transforming prostate cancer patient management and somatostatin receptor (SSTR)-targeted agents revolutionizing neuroendocrine tumour (NET) treatment. Considering its interdisciplinary nature, collaboration between nuclear medicine specialists, oncologists, radiologists, and other healthcare professionals is critical to refining clinical applications and improving patient outcomes. As prominent members of the theranostic team, radiologists play a pivotal role, from patient selection and imaging-based eligibility assessment to response evaluation and long-term monitoring. In this regard, advanced imaging modalities facilitate the precise evaluation of disease characteristics, guiding treatment decisions. Hence, as theranostics becomes increasingly integrated into patient management, radiologists face the need to be well-versed in both the technical aspects and clinical implications. In this review, we aimed to provide a primer for radiologists to gain a general insight into the theranostic field and its basic principles.