The need for evidence-based, outcome-focused medical imaging research for cancer management

Radiological imaging is essential in the diagnosis and management of cancer, but current clinical practice makes little use of the additional information available from advanced, multi-modal imaging techniques. A major factor holding back adoption is a lack of robust clinical evidence supporting the critical value of these techniques. We argue there remain compelling needs for better designs of clinical trials, imaging protocol standards, quantification methods, efficient translation pathways and patient engagement.