Imaging

The Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis (DCTD) supports the research of imaging techniques — methods of producing pictures of the body — to improve the diagnosis and detection for many cancers. Cancer may be difficult to detect, but early detection improves the chances of treating it effectively. Imaging helps to determine the stage (how advanced the cancer is) and the precise locations of cancer to aid in directing surgery and other cancer treatments, or to check if a cancer has returned.

Clinical trials play an essential role in determining whether emerging imaging techniques are effective and safe. For more information, see Imaging in Cancer Clinical Trials.

Funded Imaging Initiatives

The Cancer Imaging Archive
The Cancer Imaging Program (CIP) funds The Cancer Imaging Archive (TCIA) service that de-identifies and hosts a large publicly available archive of medical images of cancer.

Investigational New Drug (IND) Resources for Imaging Agents

IND Regulatory & Manufacturing Resource
CIP develops Investigational New Drug (IND) applications, New Drug Applications (NDAs), and manufacturing resources for promising imaging agents to assist the research community.

Imaging Basics and Technologies

Cancer Imaging Basics for Diagnosis and Treatment
Researchers use various imaging methods for screening, diagnostic, and treatment monitoring purposes and patients should be aware of potential risks associated with radiation exposure.