Novelties from the Joint EANM/SNMMI/ANZSNM Guidelines on Immunotherapy

In the past decade, the implementation of immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors has determined a major change in the management of oncological patients. The challenges associated to the new therapeutic regimen have promoted adapted criteria for response assessment to interpret imaging findings and atypical patterns of response. Parallel to the new morphological criteria, also (18)fluoro-deoxyglucose positron emission/computed tomography imaging has required novel approaches and specific guidelines on how to perform, interpret, and report the scan in patients with solid tumors under immune checkpoint inhibitors therapy. A summary of the novelties related to the new joint international European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM)/Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI)/Australian and New Zealand Society of Nuclear Medicine (ANZSNM) guidelines on immunotherapy is provided herein to elucidate most critical aspects in image interpretation.

Automated summary

In the field of oncology, the implementation of immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors has brought about significant changes in patient management. However, this new therapeutic regimen also poses challenges in response assessment and interpretation of imaging findings. Novel approaches and specific guidelines are necessary for interpreting and reporting scans in solid tumor patients undergoing immune checkpoint inhibitors therapy. This article provides a summary of the new joint international guidelines on immunotherapy to elucidate critical aspects in image interpretation.