PET Scans for Response Assessment after Treatment

PET scans are now widely used in lymphomas. PET scans measure disease activity and can identify areas of active disease while ruling out disease in many areas that seems suspicious on CT scans. These scans are now used at various points in lymphoma diagnosis, treatment response assessment and on follow-up.

One of the most important roles of PET scans is in assessing response to treatment. Till recently there had been only a limited consensus regarding the usefulness, the timing and the criteria used for response assessment with PET scans. Patients were often confused about their clinicians' advice on PET scans. In an effeort to bring some uniformity in the use of PET imaging, the International Harmonization Project published consensus guidelines on these issues in February 2007. Here are the guidelines on PET Scans in Response Assessment for Lymphomas.