Organization

American Society For Therapeutic Radiation Oncology


ASTRO: Hypofractionated-whole breast irradiation suitable for early-stage cancers

Industry News | Thursday, August 05 2010
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has released evidence-based guidelines supporting the use of hypofractionated (HF) whole breast irradiation (WBI) for certain patients with early-stage breast cancer, based on the findings of a study published in the August edition of the International Journal of Radiation, Oncology, Biology and Physics.
 

ASTRO names ABR president as honorary member

Executive Announcements | Tuesday, July 27 2010
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has named N. Reed Dunnick, MD, as its 2010 honorary member, which is the highest honor the society bestows upon distinguished cancer researchers and leaders in disciplines other than radiation oncology, radiation physics or radiobiology.
 

ASTRO announces research grant winners

Industry News | Thursday, July 15 2010
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) research evaluation committee has named the recipients of the junior faculty career research training award and the residents/fellows in Radiation Oncology Research Seed Grant Award.
 

ASTRO: Lung SBRT, a good alternative to surgery for some

Industry News | Thursday, April 29 2010
According to a recently released report by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in the treatment of lung cancer can be a reasonable alternative to surgery in certain cases of the disease.
 

ASTRO prez suggests earlier radiation treatment for prostate cancer

Industry News | Thursday, April 22 2010
American Society for Radiology Oncology (ASTRO) President Anthony Zietman, MD, of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard University in Boston, said that radiation treatment should be employed as opposed to the watchful waiting method, as doctors currently have little way to tell if prostate cancer will progress or remain somewhat asymptomatic.
 

Medical societies establish new policy for industry influence

Industry News | Thursday, April 22 2010
The Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS) has released the CMSS Code for Interactions with Companies, which provides detailed guidance to medical specialty societies on appropriate interactions with for-profit companies in the healthcare sector.
 

ASTRO: Safeguards needed to ensure new devices, in step with FDA

Industry News | Friday, April 16 2010
In a statement responding to the FDA’s letter to radiation equipment manufacturers announcing it was taking steps to strengthen the approval process for radiotherapy devices, the American Society for Radiation Oncology Chairman Tim Williams said the organization “support[s] the retention of the 510(k) clearance process, but urge[s] that appropriate safeguards be implemented to ensure that new technology is safe and effective."
 

JAMA: ASTRO, FDA launch radiation safety initiatives

Industry News | Thursday, April 08 2010
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and the FDA have launched radiation safety initiatives to enhance the safety of medical radiation and to reduce unnecessary exposure in patients, according to an article published in the April 7 issue of Journal of the American Medical Association.
 

Study: IMRT bests conventional therapy for prostate cancer

Clinical Studies | Tuesday, February 16 2010
Highly contoured intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) may be a successful strategy for reducing morbidity in prostate cancer treatment, as patients involved were found to have less radiotherapy related morbidity than their counterparts treated with conventional target volume margins, based on study findings published online Feb. 16 in Urology.
 

ASTRO, ACR issue radiotherapy guidelines

Top Stories | Monday, February 08 2010
Through a collaborative effort by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) and the American College of Radiology (ACR), practice guidelines for image guided radiation therapy and stereotactic body radiation therapy have been created and released to assist practitioners in providing appropriate radiologic care for patients.
 

ASTRO commits to patient protection plan for radiotherapy

Industry News | Monday, February 08 2010
In acknowledgment of recent media reports regarding serious errors in the delivery of radiation therapy, the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) last week released a six-point patient protection plan that seeks to improve safety and quality, while reducing the chance of medical errors.
 

ASTRO: Nine vendors pass third IHE-RO Connectathon

Industry News | Wednesday, December 16 2009
The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has announced that nine radiation oncology equipment manufacturers passed at least one portion of interoperability at its third Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise–Radiation Oncology (IHE-RO) Connectathon.
 

ASTRO: Post-lumpectomy breast cancer RT can be safely reduced to four weeks

Conference News | Friday, November 06 2009
Post-lumpectomy radiation treatment for early-stage breast cancer can be safely reduced to four weeks by delivering a higher daily dose, according to the five-year results of a phase II study presented Wednesday at the 2009 American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) in Chicago.
 

ASTRO: Chemo+RT before prostatectomy may prevent cancer recurrence

Conference News | Friday, November 06 2009
Radiation therapy and chemotherapy given before prostatectomy is safe and may have the potential to reduce cancer recurrence and improve patient survival, based on study findings presented this week at the 2009 American Society of Radiology Oncology (ASTRO) conference in Chicago.
 

ASTRO: Abridged breast radiation treatment effective

Conference News | Wednesday, November 04 2009
An abridged, intensified radiation course proved to be as effective as the standard five- to seven-week treatment in early-stage breast cancer patients, based on results of a study presented Wednesday at the 2009 American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) conference in Chicago.
 

ASTRO: Concurrent chemo, radiotherapy effective for small-cell lung cancer

Conference News | Wednesday, November 04 2009
Simultaneous use of chemotherapy and high-dose radiotherapy has produced encouraging results in the treatment of limited-stage small-cell lung cancer, according to a phase II study presented Tuesday at the 2009 American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) meeting in Chicago.
 

ASTRO: Shorter treatment for prostate cancer proves effective

Conference News | Tuesday, November 03 2009
A two-and-a-half week shorter radiation treatment for prostate cancer is as effective as a traditional seven-week treatment, according to results of a study presented Thursday at the 2009 American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) conference in Chicago.
 

ASTRO: Hypofractionated RT more effective for high-risk prostate cancer

Conference News | Tuesday, November 03 2009
Hypofractionated radiation treatment is more effective than conventional radiation therapy for preventing cancer growth in high-risk prostate cancer patients, according to a study presented at the 2009 American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) meeting in Chicago.
 

ASTRO: Post-mastectomy radiation does not increase survival

Conference News | Tuesday, November 03 2009
Breast cancer patients who receive radiation treatment after a mastectomy do not have a greater life expectancy than those who do not receive treatments, according to the results of a 10-year randomized trial presented Monday at the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) conference in Chicago.
 

Radiation oncology sidesteps massive reimbursement cuts for 2010

Top Stories | Tuesday, November 03 2009
Instead of the 19 percent of proposed cuts to radiation oncology, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has decided to implement a 5 percent reduction, phased in over a four-year period in its 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. As a result, CMS reimbursements for radiation oncology treatments will be reduced by 1 percent in 2010.
 
Web Exclusives

JACR: Early a.m. rad shift expedites communication of urgent findings

An early morning radiologist shift can expedite the communication of urgent findings and improve patient care, according to a study in this month's Journal of the American College of Radiology. “The Joint Commission and the ACR have emphasized the importance of improved communication, particularly of critical test results, for better patient care,” Rathachai Kaewlai, MD, of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, shared with Health Imaging News.

Feature: U.S. needs national strategy to curb imaging overutilization

Medical imaging overutilization--a growing concern in the U.S.--exposes patients to unnecessary radiation, while also adding to rising healthcare costs, according to a study published online Aug. 24 in Radiology. In an interview, William R. Hendee, PhD, lead author, reviewed various methods by which medical imaging could be curtailed.

Radiology: Prelim study shows CE breast CT outperforms CT, mammo

Dedicated contrast-enhanced (CE) breast CT delivered significantly improved conspicuity of malignant breast lesions, including ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), compared with unenhanced breast CT and mammography, according to a study published in the September issue of Radiology.

Radiology: Rad role may evolve as image-guided biopsies trend up

CT, ultrasound and MRI have helped shift biopsy techniques away from more invasive approaches toward image-guided percutaneous techniques, according to a study published in the September issue of Radiology. The trend toward less-invasive approaches translates into enhanced safety and efficiency and could lead to more interaction between patients and radiologists.

CMS Webinar: Incentive payments to offset EHR adoption, not reimburse

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) EHR incentive payments are not considered reimbursement for money expended on EHR technology, but are intended to offset the cost associated with adoption and ongoing meaningful use, according to CMS during an Aug. 12 webinar.

CMS webinar: Eligible professionals can expect EHR incentives in 2011

Funding incentives for EHR use is the main goal of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) meaningful use initiative, and there are incentive programs for both hospitals and eligible professionals, according to Elizabeth Holland, health insurance specialist at the Department of Health and Human Services, who spoke during a CMS-sponsored webinar Aug. 8.

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