Oncologic imaging methods look set to play an increasingly significant role in cancer treatment efficacy, Prof. Dr. Stefan Diederich has said in a wide-ranging interview posted by the German Radiological Society.
Dr. Stefan Diederich. Image courtesy of the DRG.Diederich, who is also chief physician and head of the Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology at Marienhospital Düsseldorf, has emphasized imaging's importance in minimally invasive procedures and individualized tumor therapy.
For the former, Diederich wrote that patients undergoing minimally invasive procedures gain in quality of life, adding that they can spend the remaining time without negative side effects of surgery and partially avoid "classic" treatment methods. These procedures, he wrote, have "greatly expanded" the therapeutic spectrum in oncology, as well as help increase patient survival rates.
For individualized tumor therapy, Diedrich wrote that imaging is decisive when it comes to pre-treatment choices, such as with chemotherapy, radiation, or both, as well as predicting success and follow-up.
"With methods such as perfusion CT and MRI, measurement of the apparent diffusion coefficent value or PET-CT, it is possible to make a statement very early, after a week or, in the best case, after one day, whether the tumor responds to therapy," he added.
Diedrich, who is past president of the International Cancer Imaging Society, also wrote that such imaging gives indications at an early stage to help assess the effectiveness of a selected therapy. This can also help avoid ineffective therapies.
To read the full interview, go to the DRG website.
