Cancer

Screening for lung cancer with low-dose CT has been shown to save lives, but few people who qualify for screening actually receive it.  This study examined the use of the electronic medical record to identify pts at risk due to a smoking history.  Prior to initiation, the annualized rate of referral for screening was 16 pts.  After initiation the ann

In this retrospective study based on a database of 5390 patients with early-stage esophageal cancer, T1a and T1b lesions were treated by endoscopic (26.5%) or surgical resection (73.5%). For patients undergoing surgery, the incidence of lymph node metastasis was 5.0% for T1a and 16.6% for T1b lesions.

This retrospective study involving 7 institutions evaluated the utility of PET for mediastinal staging in patients who had undergone resection of pulmlonary carcinoid tumors and nodal dissection.  88% of pts had typical carcinoid tumors.  The sensitivity of PET was only 33%, whereas the specificity was 94%.   

Data from 6 cohort studies were evaluated to assess the ongoing risk of mesothelioma more than 40 years after initial environmental exposure to asbestos.  Among over 22,000 of those exposed, 707 cases of pleural mesothelioma were diagnosed.  The rate and risk increased until 45 years after exposure, then the rate of increase tapered off somewhat.