Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Radiology for December 2017. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.
Neuroanatomic Abnormalities ID’d in Those at Risk for Autism
THURSDAY, Dec. 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Neuroanatomic abnormalities are seen in cohorts at high risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to a study published in the January issue of Radiology.
Out-of-Pocket Costs Correlate With Receipt of Cancer Care
THURSDAY, Dec. 28, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Across cancers, higher out-of-pocket (OOP) costs are associated with higher rates of oral prescription abandonment and delayed initiation, according to a study published online Dec. 20 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
MRI Seems Safe for Patients With Legacy Pacemaker, ICD System
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 27, 2018 (HealthDay News) — For patients with a legacy pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator system, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) conducted at a strength of 1.5 Tesla is safe, according to a study published in the Dec. 28 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Calcium, Vitamin D Don’t Seem to Reduce Fracture Risk in Seniors
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For community-dwelling older adults, supplementation with calcium, vitamin D, or both does not reduce the incidence of fractures, according to a review published in the Dec. 26 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Reducing Tx May Harm Safety in Early HPV+ Oropharyngeal Cancer
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 27, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)+ stage I or II oropharyngeal cancer, deintensification of treatment from chemoradiotherapy to one modality may compromise safety, according to a study published online Dec. 15 in Cancer.
Early-Stage Cancer Diagnoses Up With ACA’s Medicaid Expansions
THURSDAY, Dec. 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — In their first year, the 2014 Medicaid expansions, facilitated by the Affordable Care Act, were associated with an increase in cancer diagnoses, particularly at the early stage, according to a study published online Dec. 21 in the American Journal of Public Health.
Cancer Probability Documentation Lacking for Some at High Risk
THURSDAY, Dec. 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients with high-risk indeterminate pulmonary nodes (IPNs), physicians rarely provide quantitative documentation of cancer probability, according to a study published online Dec. 20 in JAMA Surgery.
Findings Support Comprehensive Approach for Seniors With Cancer
THURSDAY, Dec. 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Addressing persistent symptoms, managing comorbidities, promoting leisure-time physical activity, and addressing financial challenges are key in optimizing health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in older adults with cancer, according to a study published online Dec. 18 in Cancer.
Financial Strain, Stress High Among Colorectal CA Survivors
THURSDAY, Dec. 21, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Four in 10 colorectal cancer survivors report cancer-related financial stress or strain, which is significantly associated with low health-related quality of life, according to a study published in the January issue of Diseases of the Colon & Rectum.
Levonorgestrel IUD Feasible for Low-Risk, Early Uterine Cancer
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 20, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device (LNG-IUD) is effective in the majority of patients undergoing conservative treatment for low-risk endometrial cancer and complex atypical hyperplasia, according to a case-series study published online Dec. 4 in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Tumor-Treating Fields Aid Survival With Glioblastoma
TUESDAY, Dec. 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The use of the tumor-treating fields (TTFields) treatment modality, in addition to maintenance chemotherapy, significantly improves survival in patients with glioblastoma, according to a study published in the Dec. 19 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Cancer Therapies May Trigger Aging Phenotypes in Survivors
TUESDAY, Dec. 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Cancer therapies have direct effects on telomere length, epigenetic modifications, and microRNA, which can mimic phenotypes of aging, according to a review published online Dec. 18 in ESMO Open.
USPSTF Reviews Use of ECG for Preventing A-Fib, CVD Events
TUESDAY, Dec. 19, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has found that the current evidence is inadequate to assess the benefits and harms of screening with electrocardiogram (ECG) for atrial fibrillation (AF) in older adults; and for low-risk adults, screening with resting or exercise ECG is not recommended for preventing cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. These findings form the basis of two draft recommendation statements published online Dec. 19 by the USPSTF.
Evidence Review – A-FIB
Draft Recommendation Statement – A-FIB
Comment on Recommendation Statement – A-FIB
Evidence Review – CVD
Draft Recommendation Statement – CVD
Comment on Recommendation Statement – CVD
Male U.S. Doctors Receive Higher Values of Industry Payments
MONDAY, Dec. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Male physicians in the United States received higher values of general payments from industry than females in 2015, according to a research letter published online Dec. 18 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Year One Results Out for Value-Based Payment Modifier Program
MONDAY, Dec. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Almost 30 percent of eligible practices failed to register and report data in the first year of the Physician Value-Based Payment Modifier program, according to a report published in the December issue of Health Affairs.
High Fatty Liver Index Tied to Colorectal Adenomas
MONDAY, Dec. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The fatty liver index may be an accurate predictor of colorectal adenomas among an average-risk population, according to a study published in the January issue of Diseases of the Colon & Rectum.
PCPs Perform Ultrasound for DVT Similarly to Vascular Experts
MONDAY, Dec. 18, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Compared to vascular experts, general practitioners perform compression ultrasonography for diagnosis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) of the leg similarly well, according to a study published in the November/December issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
Doctors Must Report on at Least 1 Patient, 1 Measure for MACRA
FRIDAY, Dec. 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — In order to meet the 2017 Medicare and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) participation reporting deadline and avoid a Medicare payment penalty in 2019, physicians must report on at least one patient and one measure by Dec. 31, and submit to Medicare no later than Feb. 28, 2018, according to a report from the American Medical Association (AMA).
Nerve Injury ID’d After High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound
FRIDAY, Dec. 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment for skin laxity can cause facial nerve injury, according to a case study published online Nov. 22 in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology.
Majority of Women Prefer Non-Invasive Testing for Trisomy 21
FRIDAY, Dec. 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The majority of both high-risk and intermediate-risk women prefer a non-invasive cell-free prenatal DNA screening (NIPT) as a secondary screening test for trisomy 21, according to a study published online Nov. 10 in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound No Aid for Metastasis Detection
FRIDAY, Dec. 15, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Contrast-enhanced laparoscopic ultrasonography (CE-LUS) does not appear to increase the detection rate of liver metastasis during robotic-assisted surgery for primary colorectal cancer (CRC), according to a study published online Nov. 13 in the Journal of Clinical Ultrasound.
Making Insurers Participate in Marketplace Could Cut Volatility
THURSDAY, Dec. 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Requiring insurers that participate in Medicare or Medicaid to also participate in Marketplaces in the same geographic area could improve access to insurance, according to a study published in the December issue of Health Affairs.
Stereotactic Body Radiation Can Cut Ventricular Tachycardia
THURSDAY, Dec. 14, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Noninvasive mapping of cardiac arrhythmias with electrocardiographic imaging and noninvasive delivery of precise ablative radiation with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) can reduce the burden of ventricular tachycardia, according to a study published in the Dec. 14 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Artificial Intelligence Promising for CA, Retinopathy Diagnoses
TUESDAY, Dec. 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — A deep learning algorithm can detect metastases in sections of lymph nodes from women with breast cancer; and a deep learning system (DLS) has high sensitivity and specificity for identifying diabetic retinopathy, according to two studies published online Dec. 12 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Abstract/Full Text – Benjordi (subscription or payment may be required)
Abstract/Full Text – Ting (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Allopurinol Rx More Likely With Eligibility at Diagnosis
TUESDAY, Dec. 12, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Allopurinol prescribing is more likely if patients meet eligibility criteria at diagnosis, according to a research brief published in the November/December issue of the Annals of Family Medicine.
Deceleration in Health Care Spending Growth in 2016
MONDAY, Dec. 11, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Health care spending growth slowed in 2016 following faster growth in 2014 and 2015, according to research published online Dec. 6 in Health Affairs.
Telomere Fusions Predict Dysplasia, Invasive Pancreatic CA
FRIDAY, Dec. 8, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Telomere fusions predict the presence of high-grade dysplasia (HGD) and/or invasive pancreatic cancer, according to a study published online Dec. 8 in the Journal of Molecular Diagnostics.
Ovarian CA Screening Potentially Cost-Effective in the U.S.
FRIDAY, Dec. 8, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Multimodal screening (MMS) for ovarian cancer is potentially cost-effective in the United States, according to a study published online Dec. 7 in JAMA Oncology.
Breast CA Risk Up With Recent Hormonal Contraceptive Use
THURSDAY, Dec. 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Women who currently use or who have recently used contemporary hormonal contraceptives may have an increased risk of breast cancer, although the absolute increase is small, according to a study published in the Dec. 7 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Pharmacomechanical Thrombolysis No Benefit in DVT
THURSDAY, Dec. 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The addition of pharmacomechanical thrombolysis does not reduce the risk of post-thrombotic syndrome among patients with acute proximal deep vein thrombosis, according to a study published in the Dec. 7 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Impaired White Matter Integrity for Depression in Parkinson’s
THURSDAY, Dec. 7, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients with depression have impaired white matter integrity, especially in the long contact fibers in the left hemisphere, according to a study published online Nov. 10 in CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics.
Thyroidectomy-Specific Quality Improvement Measures ID’d
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients undergoing thyroidectomy, hypocalcemia and recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury may be useful quality improvement measures, according to a study published online Nov. 29 in JAMA Surgery.
Guideline-Adherent Assessment of Nonaccidental Trauma Up
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — An improvement methodology can increase guideline-adherent evaluation for patients with provider concern for nonaccidental trauma (NAT) in the pediatric emergency department, according to research published online Dec. 6 in Pediatrics.
Polyethylene Glycol Deemed Less Effective for Colon Prep
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Pulsed irrigation evacuation (PIE) and sodium phosphate are superior to polyethylene glycol (PEG) for colon preparations prior to colonoscopy, according to a study published online Nov. 21 in the Journal of Digestive Diseases.
Doctors’ Personal Experience of Breast Cancer May Impact Care
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 6, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Physicians who report a social network member with a poor breast cancer prognosis are more likely to recommend routine breast cancer screening for younger and older age groups, according to a research letter published online Dec. 4 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
CVS-Aetna Merger Has Implications for Doctors’ Offices
TUESDAY, Dec. 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — CVS Health’s planned purchase of insurance giant Aetna, a $69 billion deal, was announced Sunday.
More Information – NYT
More Information – HealthDay
Lymph Node Density Predicts Thyroid Cancer Outcomes
TUESDAY, Dec. 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Lymph node density (LND) can help predict outcomes in patients with papillary thyroid cancer, according to a study published online Nov. 30 in JAMA Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery .
About One in Six Readmitted Post-Revascularization for PAD
TUESDAY, Dec. 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For patients with peripheral arterial disease who are discharged following peripheral arterial revascularization, 17.6 percent have 30-day nonelective readmission, according to a study published online Dec. 5 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Lipid-Linked Genetic Risk Tied to Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
TUESDAY, Dec. 5, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Lipid-associated genetic risk correlates with the risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), according to a study published online Nov. 29 in JAMA Cardiology.
Relevant Health Care Price Info Hard to Find Online
MONDAY, Dec. 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Overall, 17 percent of websites provide geographically relevant health care price estimates relating to specific interventions, according to a research letter published online Dec. 4 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Oral Microbiome Composition Linked to Esophageal Cancer Risk
MONDAY, Dec. 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) — Oral microbiome composition is associated with the risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), according to a study published online Dec. 1 in Cancer Research.
Odds for Carotid Artery Stenting in Seniors Up Post-CREST Era
MONDAY, Dec. 4, 2017 (HealthDay News) — The odds of carotid artery stenting (CAS) have increased in the post-Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy vs Stenting Trial (CREST) era, despite safety concerns for patients older than 70 years, according to a study published online Dec. 4 in JAMA Neurology.
>40% of Cancers, Cancer Deaths Due to Modifiable Risk Factors
FRIDAY, Dec. 1, 2017 (HealthDay News) — An estimated 42.0 percent of all incident cancers and 45.1 percent of cancer deaths in the United States are attributed to potentially modifiable risk factors, according to a study published online Nov. 21 in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
Differences in Cancer Survival by Type of Insurance
FRIDAY, Dec. 1, 2017 (HealthDay News) — From 1997 to 2014, improvements in cancer survival were mainly limited to patients with private or Medicare insurance, according to a study published online Nov. 30 in JAMA Oncology.
Lobectomy Beats SBRT Survival in Early-Stage NSCLC
FRIDAY, Dec. 1, 2017 (HealthDay News) — For stage I non-small-cell lung cancer, survival is better with lobectomy than stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), although there is no difference for sublobar resection and SBRT, according to a study published online Nov. 29 in the Annals of Thoracic Surgery.
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