Dear AuntMinnie Member,
The death rate from cancer fell 20% between 1980 and 2014 in the U.S., according to a new study published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Researchers found that the decline in the death rate was even more pronounced for some cancers, such as breast, testicular, and colorectal disease, which saw death rates decline more than 30%. On the other hand, the mortality rate for liver cancer saw a sharp increase over the study period.
The group also analyzed death rates at the county level and found surprising differences in mortality rates for different cancers in different regions. Learn more about this new report by clicking here.
New olfactory PET agent
A new PET radiopharmaceutical is being developed to detect neurodegenerative disease by homing in on a novel source: the sense of smell.
Previous research has discovered that neurodegenerative disease can disrupt the regeneration of olfactory neurons, with olfactory dysfunction an independent risk factor for death. Animal studies conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital with the new PET agent, GV1-57, have shown that it lights up in the olfactory epithelium of test subjects, creating the possibility that it could be an early marker for neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. Learn more by clicking here for an article in our Molecular Imaging Community.
While you're there, be sure to check out this story on the use of a computer-aided detection algorithm that was able to detect different kinds of spinal metastases in PET/CT images automatically and accurately.
MRI avoids prostate biopsy
Meanwhile, in our MRI Community, we're highlighting a pair of fascinating new studies. First, U.K. researchers have found that performing multiparametric MRI scans on men suspected of having prostate cancer could help up to 25% of them avoid going on to needle biopsy. Find out how by clicking here.
Second, researchers have developed a new interactive atlas designed to improve the value of functional MRI studies. Get more details by clicking here.
