News From Around the Web
> Patients with advanced small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) have improved long-term survival rates when radiation therapy to the chest is added to standard treatments, according to a study presented last week at the American Society of Radiation Oncology. The addition of thoracic radiotherapy increased overall survival at two years to 13 percent, compared to 3 percent of patients who didn't undergo radiotherapy, Medscape Medical News reports. Article
> Patients undergoing CT exams often experience anxiety about radiation exposure, claustrophobia and intravenous contrast, according to a study in Academic Radiology. Overall, the study showed that women experienced greater anxiety than men, as did patients who had never received a CT exam before, HealthImaging reports. Article
> The use of MR imaging shows increases in the volume of white matter in children who have difficulty learning how to read, according to a study in Psychological Science. According to the researchers, this kind of evidence could one day help identify children at risk for dyslexia, Bioscience Technology reports. Article
Health Finance News
> About 13 percent of the costs incurred by hospitals can be attributed to the practice of defensive medicine--tests and treatments that aren't medically necessary but ordered to prevent lawsuits, according to a new study in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine. Article
Health Insurance News
> As of Thursday, 7.3 million people have both enrolled in and paid for health insurance plans, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Marilyn Tavenner announced during a hearing of the House Oversight Committee. Article
And Finally... Dog gone, but found 3,000 miles away. Article