Which type of imaging is primarily evaluated through changes in SUV for treatment response?

The evaluation of treatment response primarily through changes in Standardized Uptake Value (SUV) is characteristic of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging. PET imaging involves the injection of radiotracers, such as fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), which are taken up by metabolically active tissues. The SUV is a quantitative measure used to assess the concentration of the radiotracer in a specified volume of tissue, allowing for a comparison of metabolic activity before and after treatment.

The changes in SUV can provide critical insights into how well a treatment is working, particularly in oncology. A decrease in SUV may indicate a reduction in tumor metabolic activity, suggesting a positive treatment response, while stable or increased SUV values may indicate resistance or progression of disease.

Other imaging modalities, such as functional MRI, CT scans, and ultrasound, do not utilize SUV as a measure of treatment response. Functional MRI evaluates brain activity through blood flow changes, CT scans focus primarily on anatomical imaging, and ultrasound uses sound waves to create images of tissues, making them less applicable for measuring metabolic changes over time like SUV in PET imaging.