The annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) took place in San Francisco, California, on September 14-17, 2014. The meeting draws more than 11,000 attendees, bringing together clinicians, scientists, and researchers from all oncology disciplines. ASTRO highlights how technology and biology advance the field of radiation oncology and improve outcomes and quality of life for patients. As ASTRO’s needs statement for the annual meeting points out, nearly two-thirds of the estimated 1.6 million people who will be diagnosed with cancer this year will receive radiation therapy—this makes it imperative that all members of the multidisciplinary team be aware of best practices. Below are summaries of some highlights from the meeting.
ASTRO’s Choosing Wisely List Continuing its participation in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s Choosing Wisely campaign, ASTRO released its second list of 5 radiation treatments that should be questioned and not used routinely in clinical practice.
The 2014 list follows:
ASTRO’s 2013 Choosing Wisely list included these recommendations:
Choosing Wisely is aimed at reducing unnecessary healthcare expenditures while at the same time providing appropriate high-quality care. To see all the recommendations from medical societies in the United States, go to www.choosingwisely.org.
To sign up for our newsletter or print publications, please enter your contact information below.