FNA stands for fine-needle aspiration. It is a sampling technique that uses a thin needle to collect cells from a lump, mass, or lymph node. The collected cells are examined under a microscope to help clarify what the abnormal area represents. FNA is commonly used in oncology and related specialties when a new finding needs a tissue-based diagnosis.

Fine needle aspiration is a minimally invasive procedure that removes a small sample of cells using a thin needle. It is commonly used to evaluate lumps or abnormal areas in organs like the thyroid, breast, and lymph nodes. The collected cells are examined by a pathology team to help explain what the tissue change might represent. In cancer care, it is often part of the diagnostic workup and planning process.

Core needle biopsy is a procedure that removes small cylinders (“cores”) of tissue from a lump or abnormal area. It is commonly used to help diagnose cancer and other conditions by allowing a pathologist to examine tissue under a microscope. It is often performed with imaging guidance, such as ultrasound or CT, to target the correct area. It is typically done as an outpatient procedure in radiology, breast clinics, or surgical and oncology settings.

A Biopsy is the removal of a small sample of cells or tissue for medical testing. It is most often used to help diagnose cancer and other conditions that change tissue structure. The sample is examined by a pathologist using microscopy and specialized laboratory tests. Biopsy is commonly used in oncology clinics, hospitals, imaging departments, and surgical settings.

RANO criteria are standardized rules used to evaluate how brain and other central nervous system (CNS) tumors respond to treatment. They help clinicians describe whether a tumor is improving, stable, or worsening based on imaging and the patient’s clinical status. RANO criteria are most commonly applied in neuro-oncology, especially for gliomas and other primary brain tumors. They are also used in research studies to make results more comparable across hospitals and trials.

Lugano response criteria are standardized rules used to describe how lymphoma responds to treatment. They translate imaging and clinical findings into shared categories like complete response or progression. They are commonly applied in Hodgkin lymphoma and many types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. They are often used with PET/CT and CT scans in routine care and clinical trials.

Deauville score is a standardized way to interpret FDG PET imaging in oncology. It compares how much a suspected cancer area “lights up” versus normal reference tissues. It is most commonly used in lymphoma, especially Hodgkin lymphoma and some non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Clinicians use it to describe treatment response in a consistent, shared language.

iRECIST is a set of rules used to describe how a cancer changes on imaging during immunotherapy. It stands for “immunotherapy Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors.” It is most commonly used in clinical trials and research studies of immune checkpoint inhibitors. It helps clinicians report tumor response in a consistent, standardized way.

RECIST 1.1 is a standardized way to measure how solid tumors change in size on imaging over time. It helps clinicians describe whether cancer is shrinking, growing, or staying about the same during treatment. RECIST 1.1 is most commonly used in clinical trials and in some routine oncology imaging follow-up. It supports consistent communication between radiology, oncology, and research teams.

RECIST is a standardized way to describe how solid tumors change on imaging during and after cancer treatment. It helps clinicians and researchers use the same “rules” when they measure tumors on CT or MRI scans. RECIST is most commonly used in clinical trials and in oncology practices to assess treatment response. It turns scan measurements into clear response categories, such as shrinkage, stability, or growth.