[Imaging-based response criteria in oncology : Assessment of response to treatment in solid tumors and lymphomas]

The imaging-based assessment of response to treatment is essential for treatment planning and outcome prediction in oncology. Standardized classification systems enable reproducible follow-up assessments and improve comparability in the clinical practice and research. Depending on the tumor type and treatment approach different evaluation criteria and imaging modalities are applied. Metabolic information plays a central role in the assessment of hematological diseases and is gaining relevance in the assessment of solid tumors, which have previously been evaluated primarily based on their size. Additionally, the mechanism of action of the respective treatment should be considered, such as an expected size reduction after chemotherapy, altered contrast agent uptake after locoregional therapy or atypical response patterns, such as pseudoprogression after immunomodulatory therapy, which make repeated follow-up imaging mandatory. This article provides a structured overview of clinically relevant imaging-based response criteria and their specific applications.