Transcatheter therapy for hepatic malignancy: standardization of terminology and reporting criteria.
The field of interventional oncology includes tumor ablation as well as the use of transcatheter therapies such as embolization, chemoembolization, and radioembolization. Terminology and reporting standards for tumor ablation have been developed. The development of standardization of terminology and reporting criteria for transcatheter therapies should provide a similar framework to facilitate the clearest communication among investigators and provide the greatest flexibility in comparing established and emerging technologies. An appropriate vehicle for reporting the various aspects of catheter directed therapy is outlined, including classification of therapies and procedure terms, appropriate descriptors of imaging guidance, and terminology to define imaging and pathologic findings. Methods for standardizing the reporting of outcomes toxicities, complications, and other important aspects that require attention when reporting clinical results are addressed. It is the intention of the group that adherence to the recommendations will facilitate achievement of the group's main objective: improved precision and communication for reporting the various aspects of transcatheter management of hepatic malignancy that will translate to more accurate comparison of technologies and results and, ultimately, to improved patient outcomes.
Brown
Daniel B
DB
Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. dbbjeffir@yahoo.com
Gould
Jennifer E
JE
Gervais
Debra A
DA
Goldberg
S Nahum
SN
Murthy
Ravi
R
Millward
Steven F
SF
Rilling
William S
WS
Geschwind
Jean-Francois S
JF
Salem
Riad
R
Vedantham
Suresh
S
Cardella
John F
JF
Soulen
Michael C
MC