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| April 16, 2009 | |
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New in this IssueFYI Registration and Housing Open
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To submit articles for future e-News, please email Meetings CalendarInternational Conference on Advances in Radiation Oncology (ICARO); April 27-29, 2009, Vienna, Austria ACMP Annual Meeting; May 2-5, 2009, Virginia Beach, VA
International Shielding Conference (RSMI); July 19-21, 2009, Ericeira, Portugal
AAPM Website UpdatesMedicare Expands Coverage of PET Scans as Cancer Diagnostic Tool Virgina becomes the 36th Agreement State effective March 31, 2009 |
Placement & Committee AdsPlacement Service Ads as of April 2, 2009 AAPM Committee Classifieds - no listings as of April 2, 2009 Make a Tax deductible contribution to AAPM’s Education & Research Fund |
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NRCGamma Knife Incident Reported to the NRC from an Agreement StateAn incident (EN44973) involving a Gamma Knife® was recently reported to the NRC from an Agreement State. During a patient treatment, the system experienced an Illegal Couch Sensor error causing the couch to partially retract out of the treatment position. When the licensee staff activated the Emergency Stop, the couch did not fully retract and the shielding doors remained open... [see full article] NRC Directs Staff to Enhance Security of Cesium Chloride Radiation SourcesWhile Alternatives are ExploredThe Nuclear Regulatory Commission has directed the agency staff to continue enhancing the security of cesium chloride radiation sources, while encouraging research and further technological developments for alternative chemical forms of cesium-137... [see full article] ResearchIntensity-Modulated Radiotherapy Reduces Radiation-Induced Morbidity and Improves Health-Related Quality of Life: Results of a Nonrandomized Prospective Study Using a Standardized Follow-Up ProgramThe purpose of this study was to compare intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and three-dimensional conventional radiotherapy (3D-CRT) with regard to patient-rated xerostomia, Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) acute and late xerostomia and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)... [see full article] PET Demonstrates Reduced Dopamine Transporter Expression in PD With DyskinesiasDyskinesias are common in Parkinson disease (PD). Prior investigations suggest that dopamine (DA) terminals compensate for abnormal DA transmission. We verified whether similar adaptations could be related to the development of treatment-related complications... [see full article] TechnologyMagnetic Spin to Revolutionize Medical Scanning Novel technique boosts sensitivity one thousandfoldA novel method of transferring magnetic spin can amplify the sensitivity of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) a thousandfold, according to new research from the University of York in the United Kingdom. Scientists say the leap could be as revolutionary for medicine as the development of MRI was 30 years ago... [see full article] MedicareCMS Expands PET Medicare Coverage for Cancer PatientsOn April 3rd, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its decision to change its policy so that all Medicare beneficiaries with certain cancers will be able to receive Medicare coverage for at least one PET scan, as prescribed by their physicians... [see full article] CMS Recognizes The Joint Commission for Continued Hospice Deeming Authority Deemed Status Option RenewedThe Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has renewed The Joint Commission’s deeming authority for hospice organizations for the maximum six-year term allowed... [see full article] CMS’ Coverage with Evidence Development Project Shows PET Scans as “Reasonable and Necessary” for Initial Treatment Decisions of Most Solid Tumor CancersThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final national coverage determination (NCD) to expand coverage for initial testing with positron emission tomography (PET) for Medicare beneficiaries who are diagnosed with and treated for most solid tumor cancers... [see full article] Obama budget makes no assumptions about Medicare sustainable growth rate cutsThe $3.5 trillion spending plan passed by the House and Senate April 2 reflects the recent reality of applying the Medicare sustainable growth rate policy on physician fees. It anticipates that Congress will again intervene to stave off the pending 21% cut to physician fees next year and actually estimates that payments will grow by $147.1 billion from 2010 to 2014... [see full article] LegislativeKennedy, Hutchison Unveil CMS Cancer Trial Coverage BillA long-anticipated bill aimed at revamping cancer care policies, expanding Medicare payment and coverage of routine costs associated with clinical trials and spurring enrollment in these trials was introduced by Senate health committee Chair Edward Kennedy (D-MA) late last month (March 26), drawing praise from patient and provider stakeholders... [see full article] Clinical PracticeReirradiation May Extend Life in Head and Neck CancersFor some patients, reirradiation of recurrent head and neck cancer can extend life. But for those with comorbidities or organ dysfunction, such as feeding tube dependence, it is likely to offer only palliative support, according to a report in the March 16 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology... [see full article] GeneralCongress intervenes to force continued nuclear medicine funding at DOENuclear medicine advocates enlisting the help of Congress have forced the Department of Energy to continue to fund basic research for radioisotope and imaging instruments design, despite DOE plans to use its scientists to develop nuclear imaging tools for biological and environmental applications... [see full article]
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Symposium on the Promises and Perils of Proton Radiotherapy -
