Virtual Biopsy Detects Colon Cancer, Minimizes Need for Surgery

Researchers at the Jacksonville, Florida, Mayo Clinic have developed a new device for use in colonoscopies that is so incredibly powerful it can zero in on just one blood cell moving through a single blood vessel, in real time.  And, in almost every case, the device made it possible for doctors to determine, during the course of the colonoscopy and without surgery, if any polyps found were benign, meaning OK to leave in place, or cancerous, meaning they need immediate surgical removal. Read more

Screening Men for Osteoporosis-New Clinician Guidelines

The American College of Physicians has issued guidelines for performing bone mass density tests in older men, recognizing that “osteoporosis if not just a woman’s disease”. Lead author, Amir Qaseem, MD, PhD, MHA concludes: “Older men, especially those over the age of 65, need to be assessed regularly for risk factors for osteoporosis.” The recommendations come about because of the increasing incidence of osteoporosis among men. The guidelines are published in the May 6 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine. Read more

Blacks at Highest Risk but Undergo Fewest Colonoscopies

The African-American population has the highest risk of developing and dying from colorectal cancer and yet they are the least likely ethnic group to undergo a life-saving colonoscopy screening. This is the finding from a new study led by researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Read more

New Screening Guidelines for Colorectal Cancer

New guidelines for colorectal cancer screening have been released. The first joint consensus recommendations of its kind have been accepted by several medical organizations, including the American Cancer Society, the American College of Radiology, and the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer, which includes members from the American College of Gastroenterology, American Gastroenterological Association, and American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Read more