Remission

Remission is a medical term describing a state in which signs and symptoms of a disease are reduced or disappear. It signifies improvement but not necessarily a cure; many illnesses may return after remission, a relapse or recurrence.

In oncology (cancer), remission is categorized as complete remission (CR) and partial remission (PR). CR means no evidence of detectable cancer after treatment; PR denotes a substantial reduction in tumor burden (often defined as a 50% decrease) with no new lesions and stable disease elsewhere. The duration of remission varies, and remission does not guarantee lasting control; some patients experience relapse.

In other diseases, remission definitions are disease-specific. In autoimmune diseases, remission generally means absence or minimal activity of symptoms and low inflammatory activity, sometimes sustained for a defined period. In psychiatry, remission refers to the person no longer meeting the diagnostic criteria for the disorder for a specified interval and having minimal impairment; partial remission indicates residual symptoms.

Causes and management: Remission can occur spontaneously or after treatment, which may include surgery, medications such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapies, or disease-modifying treatments. Maintenance strategies aim to maintain remission and reduce relapse risk, and monitoring through regular assessments is common.

Prognosis and context: The likelihood of durable remission depends on disease type, stage, and individual factors. Remission status informs prognosis and treatment planning, but ongoing surveillance is typically required.