Radical prostatectomy did not reduce all-cause or prostate-cancer mortality compared with observation among men with localized prostate cancer after 12 years of follow-up, according to a study published July 19 in the New England Journal of Medicine.  The results boost support for observation, and may allow men to avoid unnecessary biopsies and interventions.

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has released a comprehensive book detailing the minimum recommended guidelines for radiation oncology practices as part of the societys Target Safely initiative.

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), with the support of the NCCN Foundation and Lung Cancer Alliance, has released the NCCN Guidelines for Patients for Lung Cancer Screening, as the latest addition to the library of NCCN Guidelines for Patients, patient-friendly translations of the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines).

While the National Lung Screening Trial provided a wealth of evidence on the effect of low-dose CT screening on lung cancer mortality, it remains to be seen how that information willor shouldbe used, according to a teleconference discussion of the benefits and harms of CT screening for lung cancer organized by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

The Colon Cancer Alliance (CCA) and American College of Radiology (ACR) have called upon Congress to pass H.R. 4165the CT Colonography Screening for Colorectal Cancer Act. Passage of this bill would cover Medicare beneficiaries for the exam.

In the wake of the National Center for Health Statistics' data brief on physician adoption of EHR systems, Farzad Mostashari, MD, ScM, national coordinator of health IT, is encouraged by the high satisfaction rate and "tangible benefits" available to patients today, he wrote in a post on the Department of Health and Human Services' HealthITBuzz blog.

EHR system adoption rates increase with the size of a physician practice and most physicians are satisfied with their EHR system, according to the figures for 2011 physician adoption of EHR systems published in a data brief from the National Center for Health Statistics.

A genetic test may improve prostate cancer risk detection, and could reduce the need for repeat biopsies among men who have had a negative biopsy, according to a study published online May 11 in European Urology.