An analysis of quality of life (QOL) data of stage III lung cancer patients who received higher doses of radiation therapy (with chemotherapy) shows a significantly lower quality of life at 3 months after treatment compared to patients who received a standard dose of radiation (with chemotherapy), according to research presented at the American Society for Radiation Oncology’s (ASTRO’s) 55th Annual Meeting. The study also suggests that lung cancer patients who received intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) reported less decline in their QOL compared to those receiving three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3-D CRT).


Cianna Medical Inc., announced results of two new studies showing excellent longer-term outcomes with the SAVI breast brachytherapy applicator, including low recurrence rates, few toxicities, excellent cosmetic outcomes and high rates of survival. A third study demonstrated SAVI’s ability to precisely deliver radiation while avoiding critical structures. SAVI is a strut-based applicator that delivers accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI), a five-day course of targeted radiation for early-stage breast cancer.

IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A.) has launched an extension to the Visicoil product line at the annual ASTRO congress of the American Society for Radiation Oncology. This new design incorporates kV X-ray imaging compliant Visicoil Linear Markers pre-loaded in 21g and 22g needles that are almost half the size of needles typically used for placement of gold seeds.

A shorter course of androgen suppression therapy prior to radiation therapy, when compared to a longer course of androgen suppression therapy, yields favorable outcomes and fewer adverse effects for intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients, according to research presented at the American Society for Radiation Oncology’s (ASTRO) 55th Annual Meeting. The study confirmed a disease-specific-survival (DSS) rate of 95 percent when patients received fewer weeks of neoadjuvant (NEO) total androgen suppression (TAS).



GE Healthcare reported that Silent Scan, a revolutionary technology that dramatically quiets magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) exams, is now commercially available and growing in clinical adoption around the world. Silent Scan addresses one of the most significant impediments to patient comfort — excessive acoustic noise generated during an MRI scan. Conventional MRI scanners can generate noise in excess of 110 decibels, roughly equivalent to rock concerts and requiring ear protection. GE’s exclusive Silent Scan technology is designed to reduce MR scanner noise to ambient (background) sound levels and improve a patient’s MRI exam experience.



When treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), that is not combined with whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT), adult brain cancer patients who were 50 years old and younger were found to have improved survival, according to research presented at the American Society for Radiation Oncology’s (ASTRO’s) 55th Annual Meeting. Younger patients (under 50 years old) were also found to be at no greater risk of new brain metastases developing despite omission of WBRT.


Cancer patients receiving radiotherapy (RT) who are potentially suffering from depression can be effectively identified by a two-item questionnaire, according to research presented at the American Society for Radiation Oncology’s (ASTRO’s) 55th Annual Meeting.

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