Dear AuntMinnie Member,
In a move that could revive a major imbroglio over screening mammography, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) today said it was taking the first steps to review its guidelines on breast screening.
USPSTF said it is accepting public comment on a draft research plan regarding breast cancer screening. The plan will be used to guide a "systematic review" of evidence on breast screening, which, in turn, will form the basis of a new recommendation statement on the topic.
In its draft materials, USPSTF said that a major focus of the review will be on the effectiveness of screening mammography in average-risk women age 40 years and older. This group was the focal point of controversy in 2009, when USPSTF rescinded its longstanding recommendation that these women receive regular screening.
Read more by clicking here, or visit our Women's Imaging Digital Community at women.auntminnie.com.
More on the Road to RSNA
Our Road to RSNA special section wraps up this week with new previews of molecular imaging, CT, ultrasound, and advanced visualization.
Each preview gives you an in-depth look at what will be hot at next month's RSNA meeting in Chicago. You'll find a comprehensive review of everything from refresher courses to scientific sessions, and each listing includes all the information you need to build your RSNA schedule, right down to the room number in McCormick Place.
In molecular imaging, PET/MRI will be a common topic in many presentations, while radiation dose will dominate much of the discussion in CT. Breast imaging will be a focus in ultrasound, while advanced visualization will see a plethora of talks on quantitative imaging.
Get all the details by clicking on the links in the section below, or visit Road to RSNA yourself at rsna.auntminnie.com.
New Middle East Community
Farther afield, the Middle East has become a region of rising importance in healthcare. Many countries in the area are making massive new investments in their healthcare infrastructure, building new state-of-the-art medical facilities and rolling out population-wide programs such as breast screening.
To cover this vital area, we're pleased to launch our new Middle East Digital Community. Located at me.auntminnie.com, the special section will feature the latest news coming from the Middle East, North Africa, and nearby countries.
For example, check out this week's article on the difficulties some radiologists in Pakistan have in breaking bad news to patients. Researchers from Aga Khan University in Karachi surveyed radiologists from a variety of backgrounds -- academic, private practice, and residents -- to find out which ones were the most open to conveying bad news.
They found that residents were generally the most willing to convey bad news, as were female radiologists, while academic radiologists were more open to the idea than their brethren in private practice. But radiologists across all settings could benefit from more training in the area, the researchers concluded.
Read the article by clicking here, and for more coverage of the Middle East in the weeks to come, check out the community.
