How Using Dedicated Software Can Improve RECIST Readings

Decision support tools exist for oncologic follow up. Their main interest is to help physicians improve their oncologic readings but this theoretical benefit has to be quantified by concrete evidence. The purpose of the study was to evaluate and quantify the impact of using dedicated software on RECIST readings. A comparison was made between RECIST readings without dedicated application vs. readings using dedicated software (Myrian^® XL-Onco, Intrasense, France) with specific functionalities such as 3D elastic target matching and automated calculation of tumoral response. A retrospective database of 40 patients who underwent a CT scan follow up was used (thoracic/abdominal lesions). The reading panel was composed of two radiologists. Reading times, intra/inter-operator reproducibility of measurements and RECIST response misclassifications were evaluated. On average, reading time was reduced by 49.7% using dedicated software. A more important saving was observed for lung lesions evaluations (63.4% vs. 36.1% for hepatic targets). Inter and intra-operator reproducibility of measurements was excellent for both reading methods. Using dedicated software prevented misclassifications on 10 readings out of 120 (eight due to calculation errors). The use of dedicated oncology software optimises RECIST evaluation by decreasing reading times significantly and avoiding response misclassifications due to manual calculation errors or approximations.