Beurteilung des Therapieerfolgs – konventionelle versus neue Methoden

New ways of evaluating treatment success among thoracic tumour
patients are increasingly being used alongside more conventional
methods. These new approaches include tumour regression grading,
CAD volumetry (computer-assisted volumetry), determination of the
tumour density and tumour perfusion as well as the use of positron
emission tomography (PET) using (18)F-FDG (fluorodeoxyglucose) or
other tracers. Increasingly, endpoints that impact directly on the
patient's quality of life and tumour-related symptoms are becoming
more relevant factors together with the objectively measurable
parameters used for assessing treatment response. This contribution
describes the potential value of new methods and end-points from
the point of view of a pathologist, radiologist, nuclear medicine
specialist, radiotherapist, thoracic surgeon, medical and
pneumology oncologist, and general practitioner.