Dear AuntMinnie Member,
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) this week issued new guidelines to help clinicians decide when to use accelerated partial-breast irradiation (APBI) for breast cancer patients, according to an article by associate editor Cynthia E. Keen in our Radiation Oncology Digital Community.
APBI is typically used after lumpectomy to ensure that all cancerous cells have been eliminated from the lumpectomy cavity. The technique has shown promising short-term results, but long-term outcomes data are awaiting completion of clinical trials that could be as long as 10 years away.
Until then, the ASTRO guidelines should enable clinicians to decide which women are the best candidates for APBI treatment, and which ones should be directed to the conventional gold standard of whole-breast irradiation. To learn more, click here or visit the community at radiation.auntminnie.com.
Hybrid PET/MRI for carotid plaque
Meanwhile, in our Molecular Imaging Digital Community, features editor Wayne Forrest reports on a recently presented study that examined the effectiveness of a software-based approach for combining MRI and PET data to assess carotid artery plaque for signs of impending rupture.
The researchers found that although MRI and PET performed well individually in identifying characteristics of carotid plaque at risk of rupturing and causing a stroke, the modalities showed a low level of consensus. This could mean that creating hybrid images might not be worth the extra effort for carotid evaluation.
Get more details by clicking here or visiting the community at molecular.auntminnie.com.
Healthcare reform
Finally, Congressional efforts to reform the U.S. healthcare system moved forward this week as the House of Representatives and Senate returned to work following the July 4 recess. A House bill that includes a 75% utilization factor for setting imaging reimbursement rates has advanced, while Senate legislation is also progressing. Check out our Imaging Center Digital Community at centers.auntminnie.com for the latest updates.
