Radiomics Quality Score 2.0: Towards Radiomics Readiness Levels and Clinical Translation
Radiomics could play a relevant role in precision oncology by offering precise quantitative support for clinical decision-making. The Radiomics Quality Score (RQS), developed to assess the rigour of radiomics studies, has been widely adopted by researchers since its 1.0 benchmark, but an updated framework is needed to account for evolving knowledge around fairness, explainability, quality control, and harmonization. This review introduces RQS 2.0, which keeps the scientific rigour of its predecessor while addressing these contemporary needs to potentially accelerate clinical translation. It also introduces radiomics readiness levels, inspired by the technology readiness level framework and integrated into RQS 2.0, reflecting nine distinct levels of incremental improvement toward clinical implementation, alongside a strategic vision for precision oncology's future direction.
Abstract
Radiomics is a tool for medical imaging analysis that could have a relevant role in precision oncology by offering precise quantitative support for clinical decision-making. The Radiomics Quality Score (RQS) is a tool developed to assess the rigour of radiomics studies that has now been widely adopted by researchers. Although RQS version 1.0 established a benchmark, an updated framework is required to account for evolving knowledge and ensure optimal evaluation of the quality of radiomics studies through the inclusion of fairness, explainability, rigorous quality control and harmonization.
In this Review, we introduce the updated RQS 2.0, which maintains the scientific rigour of its predecessor and addresses these contemporary needs, and therefore could potentially accelerate clinical translation. Moreover, we introduce the radiomics readiness levels, inspired by the technology readiness level framework, which are integrated in RQS 2.0 and reflect nine distinct levels of incremental improvement in radiomics research with the ultimate aim of clinical implementation. We also detail anticipated future directions in radiomics, outlining a strategic vision to advance precision oncology, which is the ultimate aim of RQS 2.0.