# Imaging

Source: https://onco.cc/fronts/imaging/  
OnCo record `imaging` (Front). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

Imaging covers the ways of seeing cancer inside the body without cutting, from X-rays to tracers that light up a single protein.

## Summary

Anatomic imaging (CT, MRI, ultrasound) shows shape and size. Functional and molecular imaging (PET, SPECT) shows biology: glucose uptake, receptor expression, immune cell presence. The frontier is target-specific PET that predicts whether a targeted drug will work, and imaging that reads out treatment response within days rather than months.

## Fields

- Kind: Front
- Last checked: 2026-09-04
- Tags: diagnosis; staging; response

## Sources

- NCI: Cancer diagnosis, including imaging tests: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/diagnosis-staging/diagnosis

## Connected records

- journals: [Cancer imaging](https://onco.cc/journals/cancer-imaging/), [Journal of breast imaging](https://onco.cc/journals/journal-of-breast-imaging/), [Journal of medical imaging and radiation oncology](https://onco.cc/journals/journal-of-medical-imaging-and-radiation-oncology/), [Radiology and oncology](https://onco.cc/journals/radiology-and-oncology/), [Radiology. Imaging cancer](https://onco.cc/journals/radiology-imaging-cancer/)
- technologies: [AI in radiology](https://onco.cc/technologies/radiology-ai-screening/), [Aidoc CARE (clinical radiology foundation model)](https://onco.cc/technologies/aidoc-care/), [Biology-guided radiotherapy (RefleXion X1, SCINTIX)](https://onco.cc/technologies/biology-guided-radiotherapy/), [Breast cancer after chest radiotherapy in childhood, and the screening that follows](https://onco.cc/technologies/rejuv-paed-breast-after-chest-radiotherapy/), [Breast MRI coils and abbreviated breast MRI](https://onco.cc/technologies/breast-mri-coils-abbreviated-mri/), [CAIX PET (89Zr-girentuximab)](https://onco.cc/technologies/caix-pet/), [Confocal microscopy and optical coherence tomography for skin (VivaScope, VivoSight, deepLive)](https://onco.cc/technologies/confocal-oct-skin-imaging/), [Contrast-enhanced mammography](https://onco.cc/technologies/contrast-enhanced-mammography/), [CT (computed tomography)](https://onco.cc/technologies/ct/), [CT body composition and sarcopenia measurement](https://onco.cc/technologies/ct-body-composition-sarcopenia/), [CT-FM (whole-body CT foundation model)](https://onco.cc/technologies/ct-fm/), [CT, MRI and PET scanner manufacturing](https://onco.cc/technologies/medical-imaging-scanner-manufacturing/), [Cyclotron isotope production (F-18, Ga-68, Cu-64, Zr-89, At-211)](https://onco.cc/technologies/cyclotron-isotope-production/), [Dual-energy and spectral CT](https://onco.cc/technologies/dual-energy-spectral-ct/), [Elastography and contrast-enhanced ultrasound](https://onco.cc/technologies/ultrasound-elastography-ceus/), [Endoscopic ultrasound and EBUS systems](https://onco.cc/technologies/endoscopic-ultrasound-systems/), [FAPI PET](https://onco.cc/technologies/fapi-pet/), [FDG PET](https://onco.cc/technologies/fdg-pet/), [FES PET (oestrogen receptor imaging)](https://onco.cc/technologies/fes-pet/), [Fluorescence-guided surgery](https://onco.cc/technologies/fluorescence-guided-surgery/), [Hand-held and point-of-care ultrasound](https://onco.cc/technologies/hand-held-ultrasound/), [HER2 PET](https://onco.cc/technologies/her2-pet/), [Imaging core labs and central review](https://onco.cc/technologies/imaging-core-labs/), [Immuno-PET](https://onco.cc/technologies/immuno-pet/), [In-room imaging for radiotherapy (cone-beam CT, ExacTrac, CT-on-rails, HyperSight)](https://onco.cc/technologies/in-room-imaging-systems/), [Intraoperative fluorescence and Cerenkov imaging systems (SPY, Firefly, LumiSystem, LightPath)](https://onco.cc/technologies/intraoperative-fluorescence-imaging-systems/), [Intraoperative MRI and CT](https://onco.cc/technologies/intraoperative-mri-ct/), [Low-dose CT lung screening](https://onco.cc/technologies/low-dose-ct-screening/), [Mammography & tomosynthesis](https://onco.cc/technologies/mammography/), [Medical cyclotrons, hot cells, and synthesis modules](https://onco.cc/technologies/medical-cyclotrons-synthesis-modules/), [MedSAM / SAM-Med3D (segment anything for medicine)](https://onco.cc/technologies/medsam/), [Merlin (Stanford abdominal CT vision-language model)](https://onco.cc/technologies/merlin-ct/), [MIBG imaging and 131I-MIBG therapy](https://onco.cc/technologies/mibg-theranostics/), [MRI](https://onco.cc/technologies/mri/), [MRI field strengths: 1.5 T, 3 T and 7 T](https://onco.cc/technologies/mri-field-strengths/), [Multiparametric prostate MRI (PI-RADS)](https://onco.cc/technologies/mp-mri/), [NHS Targeted Lung Health Check (lung cancer screening programme)](https://onco.cc/technologies/nhs-targeted-lung-health-check/), [Nuclear medicine and total-body PET hardware](https://onco.cc/technologies/nuclear-medicine-hardware/), [Optical & fluorescence imaging](https://onco.cc/technologies/optical-imaging/), [PARP PET](https://onco.cc/technologies/parp-pet/), [PET (positron emission tomography)](https://onco.cc/technologies/pet/), [PET tracer manufacturing and distribution](https://onco.cc/technologies/pet-tracer-manufacturing/), [PET-adapted (response-adapted) therapy](https://onco.cc/technologies/pet-adapted-therapy/), [PET/CT](https://onco.cc/technologies/pet-ct/), [PET/MRI](https://onco.cc/technologies/pet-mri/), [Photon-counting CT](https://onco.cc/technologies/photon-counting-ct/), [PSA and MRI-first prostate cancer screening](https://onco.cc/technologies/prostate-screening-psa-mri/), [PSMA PET](https://onco.cc/technologies/psma-pet/), [Quantitative imaging biomarkers (RECIST, PERCIST, SUV, ADC)](https://onco.cc/technologies/quantitative-imaging-biomarkers/), [Quantum-dot and molecular ultrasound imaging agents](https://onco.cc/technologies/quantum-dot-imaging/), [RadFM (generalist radiology foundation model)](https://onco.cc/technologies/radfm/), [Radioligand dosimetry](https://onco.cc/technologies/radioligand-dosimetry/), [Radiomics](https://onco.cc/technologies/radiomics/), [Radiopharmacy and cyclotron networks](https://onco.cc/technologies/radiopharmacy-network/), [Somatostatin receptor PET (68Ga/64Cu-DOTATATE)](https://onco.cc/technologies/sstr-pet/), [SPECT & bone scan](https://onco.cc/technologies/spect/), [SPECT/CT](https://onco.cc/technologies/spect-ct/), [Strain echocardiography (global longitudinal strain)](https://onco.cc/technologies/strain-echocardiography-gls/), [Total-body PET for screening and ultra-low-dose imaging](https://onco.cc/technologies/total-body-pet-screening/), [TROP2 PET](https://onco.cc/technologies/trop2-pet/), [Ultrasound](https://onco.cc/technologies/ultrasound/), [Whole-body MRI](https://onco.cc/technologies/whole-body-mri/), [X-ray radiography and fluoroscopy](https://onco.cc/technologies/x-ray-radiography-fluoroscopy/)
- companies: [Adialante](https://onco.cc/companies/adialante/), [Advanced Accelerator Applications (Novartis)](https://onco.cc/companies/advanced-accelerator-applications/), [Aidoc](https://onco.cc/companies/aidoc/), [Bikanta](https://onco.cc/companies/bikanta/), [Blue Earth Diagnostics (Bracco)](https://onco.cc/companies/blue-earth-diagnostics/), [Calyx](https://onco.cc/companies/calyx/), [Canon Medical Systems](https://onco.cc/companies/canon-medical/), [Clario](https://onco.cc/companies/clario/), [Clarity Pharmaceuticals](https://onco.cc/companies/clarity-pharmaceuticals/), [FUJIFILM Healthcare](https://onco.cc/companies/fujifilm/), [GE HealthCare](https://onco.cc/companies/ge-healthcare/), [Hamamatsu Photonics](https://onco.cc/companies/hamamatsu/), [Hologic](https://onco.cc/companies/hologic/), [iCAD (RadNet)](https://onco.cc/companies/icad/), [ICON plc](https://onco.cc/companies/icon-plc/), [iSono Health](https://onco.cc/companies/isono-health/), [Kheiron Medical Technologies](https://onco.cc/companies/kheiron-medical-technologies/), [Lantheus](https://onco.cc/companies/lantheus/), [Lumicell](https://onco.cc/companies/lumicell/), [Lunit](https://onco.cc/companies/lunit/), [Mediso](https://onco.cc/companies/mediso/), [MIM Software (GE HealthCare)](https://onco.cc/companies/mim-software/), [Mindray](https://onco.cc/companies/mindray/), [Navidea Biopharmaceuticals](https://onco.cc/companies/navidea/), [NearWave](https://onco.cc/companies/nearwave/), [Nucleo](https://onco.cc/companies/nucleo-research/), [On Target Laboratories](https://onco.cc/companies/on-target-laboratories/), [Onc.AI](https://onco.cc/companies/onc-ai/), [Optellum](https://onco.cc/companies/optellum/), [Perimeter Medical Imaging AI](https://onco.cc/companies/perimeter-medical-imaging-ai/), [PETNET Solutions (Siemens Healthineers)](https://onco.cc/companies/petnet-solutions/), [Philips](https://onco.cc/companies/philips/), [ScreenPoint Medical](https://onco.cc/companies/screenpoint-medical/), [Sectra](https://onco.cc/companies/sectra/), [Shimadzu](https://onco.cc/companies/shimadzu/), [Siemens Healthineers](https://onco.cc/companies/siemens-healthineers/), [SOFIE Biosciences](https://onco.cc/companies/sofie-biosciences/), [Telix Pharmaceuticals](https://onco.cc/companies/telix/), [Therapixel](https://onco.cc/companies/therapixel/), [United Imaging](https://onco.cc/companies/united-imaging/), [Vara](https://onco.cc/companies/vara/), [Vergent Bioscience](https://onco.cc/companies/vergent-bioscience/), [Volpara Health](https://onco.cc/companies/volpara-health/)
- trials: [AHL2011](https://onco.cc/trials/ahl2011/), [EORTC/LYSA/FIL H10](https://onco.cc/trials/eortc-h10/), [GHSG HD16](https://onco.cc/trials/hd16/), [GHSG HD18](https://onco.cc/trials/hd18/), [MERCURY](https://onco.cc/trials/mercury/), [RADAR](https://onco.cc/trials/radar-hodgkin/)
- key papers: [Detection of individual prostate cancer foci via multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging](https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-johnson-mpmri-individual-foci-eur-urol-2019/), [Early positron emission tomography response-adapted treatment in stage I and II Hodgkin lymphoma: final results of the randomized EORTC/LYSA/FIL H10 trial](https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-eortc-h10-pet-adapted-early-hodgkin-jco-2017/), [PET-adapted treatment for newly diagnosed advanced Hodgkin lymphoma (AHL2011): a randomised, multicentre, non-inferiority, phase 3 study](https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-ahl2011-pet-adapted-treatment-advanced-hodgkin-lancet-oncol-2019/), [PET-guided treatment in patients with advanced-stage Hodgkin's lymphoma (HD18): final results of an open-label, international, randomised phase 3 trial by the German Hodgkin Study Group](https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-ghsg-hd18-pet-guided-escalated-beacopp-lancet-2017/), [Positron emission tomography-guided treatment in early-stage favorable Hodgkin lymphoma: final results of the international, randomized phase III HD16 trial by the German Hodgkin Study Group](https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-ghsg-hd16-pet-guided-early-favourable-hodgkin-jco-2019/), [PROMIS: diagnostic accuracy of multiparametric MRI and TRUS biopsy in prostate cancer](https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-ahmed-promis-multiparametric-mri-lancet-2017/)
- roadmaps: [Molecular imaging roadmap: FDG → PSMA → FAP → antigen and immune PET](https://onco.cc/roadmaps/molecular-imaging-roadmap/), [Prostate cancer roadmap: from Huggins and the discovery that a cancer can depend on a hormone, through the PSA epidemic and what it cost, the androgen receptor drugs, the DNA repair subset and PSMA, to a 2032 registry watch](https://onco.cc/roadmaps/prostate-roadmap/)
- ideas: [A ten-year cohort of incidental findings to calibrate follow-up guidelines](https://onco.cc/ideas/idea-prev-incidentaloma-natural-history-cohort/), [AI clears the normal lung screening scans so radiologists read only the suspicious ones](https://onco.cc/ideas/idea-prev-ldct-ai-negative-triage/), [AI malignancy scores to end repeat scans and biopsies for benign lung nodules](https://onco.cc/ideas/idea-prev-lung-nodule-ai-discharge/), [AI that spots pancreatic cancer on scans taken a year before diagnosis](https://onco.cc/ideas/idea-prev-pancreas-ai-prediagnostic-ct/), [Every routine CT scan checked by AI for early cancer signs, with a tracked follow-up pathway](https://onco.cc/ideas/idea-prev-opportunistic-ct-ai-registry/), [MRI-first prostate screening with genetic pre-selection](https://onco.cc/ideas/idea-prev-mri-first-prostate-screening-prs/), [Prostate active surveillance without scheduled biopsies: MRI and blood tests decide](https://onco.cc/ideas/idea-prev-prostate-as-triggered-biopsy/), [Publish a per-lesion miss rate for every prostate MRI service before it is allowed to guide focal treatment](https://onco.cc/ideas/idea-prostate-per-lesion-mri-audit-before-focal-treatment/), [Roll out AI-supported mammography nationally as a stepped-wedge trial](https://onco.cc/ideas/idea-prev-mammography-ai-stepped-wedge/), [Set each woman's mammogram interval from her last mammogram, using AI risk](https://onco.cc/ideas/idea-prev-ai-mammogram-risk-intervals/), [Stop watching stable low-risk pancreatic cysts after five years](https://onco.cc/ideas/idea-prev-ipmn-surveillance-stop-rule/), [Structured, coded radiology reports for cancer response instead of free text](https://onco.cc/ideas/idea-data-structured-radiology-response/), [Validate real-world progression against central imaging review](https://onco.cc/ideas/idea-data-rwpfs-validation-programme/), [Whole-body MRI plus blood DNA surveillance for people with Li-Fraumeni syndrome](https://onco.cc/ideas/idea-prev-li-fraumeni-mri-plus-cfdna/)
- terms: [Deauville score and PET-adapted therapy](https://onco.cc/terms/deauville/), [Metastasis-free survival (MFS)](https://onco.cc/terms/metastasis-free-survival/), [PI-RADS (Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System)](https://onco.cc/terms/pi-rads/), [Radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS)](https://onco.cc/terms/radiographic-progression-free-survival/), [Template mapping biopsy (transperineal template prostate mapping)](https://onco.cc/terms/template-mapping-biopsy/), [Whole-mount pathology](https://onco.cc/terms/whole-mount-pathology/)
- institutions: [Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, UC Irvine](https://onco.cc/institutions/uci-chao/), [Chinese PLA General Hospital](https://onco.cc/institutions/pla-general-hospital/), [Comprehensive Cancer Center Tübingen-Stuttgart](https://onco.cc/institutions/ccc-tuebingen/), [European Association of Nuclear Medicine](https://onco.cc/institutions/eanm/), [Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre](https://onco.cc/institutions/onj-cancer-centre/), [Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging](https://onco.cc/institutions/snmmi/), [TUM Klinikum rechts der Isar / CCC München](https://onco.cc/institutions/tum-munich/), [University Hospital Düsseldorf / CIO Düsseldorf](https://onco.cc/institutions/uk-duesseldorf/), [University Hospital Southampton / Centre for Cancer Immunology](https://onco.cc/institutions/southampton-cancer/)

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