Is Computer-Aided Detection Good for Screening Mammography?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Free
CAD seemed to raise mammography recall rate in a U.K. study, but the implications for U.S. practice are unclear.
Is Computer-Aided Detection Good for Screening Mammography?
CAD seemed to raise mammography recall rate in a U.K. study, but the implications for U.S. practice are unclear.
Minimizing Bone Loss Related to Therapy with Aromatase Inhibitors
Oncology and Hematology Summary and Comment
Free
Denosumab seemed protective against AI-induced bone loss in women with early-stage breast cancer.
Maintaining Bone Mass in Premenopausal Breast Cancer Patients: How Effective Is Zoledronic Acid?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
IV bisphosphonate provided long-term protection against BMD loss in premenopausal women receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy.
Prophylactic Mastectomy’s Psychological Aftermath
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Swedish investigators found changes in reported sexuality and body image and a substantial drop in anxiety at 1 year after prophylactic mastectomy.
By Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD
September 25, 2008
Covering:
Brandberg Y et al., J Clin Oncol 2008 Aug 20; 26:3943
Aromatase Inhibitors and Joint Symptoms: Who Is at Risk?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Risk factors for incident arthralgias included use of an AI, prior hormone therapy or chemotherapy, and hormone-receptor–positive tumors.
Insights from a Negative Result
Not all taxane-containing adjuvant regimens are equivalent, and some node-positive breast cancer patients with low gene-assay–based recurrence scores might do well with endocrine therapy alone.
By William J. Gradishar, MD
September 16, 2008
Covering:
Goldstein LJ et al., J Clin Oncol 2008 Sep 1; 26:4092
Goldstein LJ et al., J Clin Oncol 2008 Sep 1; 26:4063
Paik S et al., J Clin Oncol 2008 Sep 1; 26:4058
Recertification Scores Correlate with Quality of Care
Dermatology Summary and Comment
Some indicators of quality of care were positively associated with top scores on the internal medicine recertification exam.
By Jeffrey P. Callen, MD
September 5, 2008
Covering:
Holmboe ES et al., Arch Intern Med 2008 Jul 14; 168:1396
Landon BE., Arch Intern Med 2008 Jul 14; 168:1365
LNG IUS Safe for Breast Cancer Patients
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Recurrence rates were not significantly higher in women using LNG IUS after treatment for breast cancer than in similar patients who did not use the system.
Do Women Complete Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Despite high overall rates of completion, some women did not finish their XRT.
Learning More About Lymphedema After Breast Cancer Surgery
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Lymphedema occurred more often after breast cancer surgery than was previously thought; physical activity seemed protective.
Pregnancy Worsens Breast Cancer Outcomes
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Six-year risk for death was greater when breast cancer was diagnosed during or within 1 year after pregnancy.
Aromatase Inhibitors and Arthralgias
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Characterizing the joint pain associated with adjuvant aromatase inhibitors in postmenopausal women with early breast cancer
By Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD
August 7, 2008
Covering:
Morales L et al., J Clin Oncol 2008 Jul 1; 26:3147
Hershman DL., J Clin Oncol 2008 Jul 1; 26:3120
Management of Depression in Cancer Patients
Psychiatry Summary and Comment
Nurses provided effective, and cost-effective, depression care.
Screening Mammography: Which Factors Foretell Accuracy?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Some mammography facilities produce more-accurate results than others, but identifying those facilities was not straightforward.
By Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD
July 10, 2008
Covering:
Taplin S et al., J Natl Cancer Inst 2008 Jun 18; 100:876
Women with Genetic Predisposition for Breast Cancer Might Benefit from MRI Screening
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Adding MRI to mammography detects more cancers in women at high risk.
Lifetime Physical Activity and Risk for Premenopausal Breast Cancer
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Free
Women who engaged in regular strenuous exercise during adolescence and young adulthood benefited most.
By Andrew M. Kaunitz, MD
July 3, 2008
Covering:
Maruti SS et al., J Natl Cancer Inst 2008 May 21; 100:728
For Screening Mammography, Is There a "Too Old"?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Free
Study results indicate that mammography should have no upper age limit.
Menopausal Estrogen Therapy and Risk for Benign Proliferative Breast Disease
Women's Health Summary and Comment
WHI analysis showed that ET was associated with doubling of risk for BPBD.
Ultrasound, Mammography, or Both for Breast Cancer Detection?
Women's Health Summary and Comment
Added to mammography, screening ultrasound improved detection of breast cancers in high-risk women but also generated more false positives.
By Wendy S. Biggs, MD
May 22, 2008
Covering:
Berg WA et al., JAMA 2008 May 14; 299:2151
Kuhl CK., JAMA 2008 May 14; 299:2203
Ultrasound Plus Mammography for Breast Cancer Screening
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Adding ultrasound improved detection but led to more false-positives.
Lapatinib for Treatment of Metastatic Brain Metastases
This antitumor agent failed to provide a predefined CNS response, but its use was associated with volumetric reductions in target lesions.
Weekly Paclitaxel in the Adjuvant Treatment of Breast Cancer
Frequent paclitaxel therapy, but not docetaxel therapy, benefitted women with HER2-positive or HER2-negative tumors.
Pharmacogenomics, CYP2D6, and Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy
CYP2D6 genotype data could help tailor hormonal therapy for postmenopausal breast cancer patients.
More Data on Aromatase Inhibitors for Breast Cancer
General Medicine Summary and Comment
Extending endocrine therapy beyond 5 years prevents some breast cancer relapses.
By Allan S. Brett, MD
May 8, 2008
Covering:
Muss HB et al., J Clin Oncol 2008 Apr 20; 26:1956
Mamounas EP et al., J Clin Oncol 2008 Apr 20; 26:1965
Goss PE et al., J Clin Oncol 2008 Apr 20; 26:1948
