What is the difference between remission and regression?
People often use the terms “spontaneous regression” and “spontaneous remission” interchangeably. In the literature, spontaneous regression usually refers to the reduction of solid tumors, or neoplasms, whereas Spontaneous remission is used when describing the reversal of disease process that tends to be more systemic, such as leukemia or lymphomas. In a recent journal article (Kaiser et al, In Vivo 2000 Nov-Dec; 14(6): 773-788) the authors defined spontaneous regression (SR): “SR of neoplasms occurs when the malignant tumor mass partially or completely disappears without any treatment or as a result of a therapy considered inadequate to influence systemic neoplastic disease.
