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NEWS AND EVENTS |
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| Year : 2012 | Volume
: 37
| Issue : 3 | Page : 168-169 |
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News and Events
Tharmarnadar Ganesh
Senior Medical Physicist, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam - 31444, Saudi Arabia
| Date of Web Publication | 1-Aug-2012 |
Correspondence Address:
Tharmarnadar Ganesh
Senior Medical Physicist, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam - 31444
Saudi Arabia
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
How to cite this article:
Ganesh T. News and Events. J Med Phys 2012;37:168-9 |
New light on risk of second malignancies in patients who received radiation therapy
A multispecialty scientific committee formed by the U.S. National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) to review the likelihood of cancer survivors developing radiotherapy-related cardiovascular disease and second malignancies has come out with some alarming findings. While the number of cancer survivors showed a steady increase, so are these associated risks.
The findings of the committee were published in Journal of the National Cancer Institute in its March 2012 issue. According to the report, all Hodgkin's lymphoma survivors face higher risks of developing second malignancies, especially in lung and in breast, the pediatric age group being more prone than others. The report also stated that cancer survivors stand a disproportionate risk of developing cardiovascular diseases like coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, valvular dysfunction, and conduction abnormalities.
Since the latent period for development of such second malignancies and cardiovascular diseases often run into decades, it is challenging to monitor them. The committee recommended long term, large-scale follow-up of cancer survivors, especially the ones treated by modern radiotherapy techniques with emphasis on pediatric survivors.
From: www.auntminnie.com dated March 20, 2012
Critical role of radiation therapists in the safety of patients undergoing radiation therapy
American Society of Radiologic Technologists published a White Paper on the critical role of the radiation therapist in the safety of patients who are undergoing radiotherapy treatments. The paper outlines the safety standards to be followed by the therapists and their responsibilities corresponding to best-practice guidelines and recommendations.
The paper put forth several recommendations concerning to the minimum number of therapists on each machine, staffing schedule, establishing workplace culture, process-improvement activities, procedural checklists, frequent, and regularly scheduled skills assessment of radiation therapists, besides several other recommendations. The paper stresses that whenever new equipment is being installed, radiation therapists must be prepared with the basic knowledge required to work on the new modality prior to installation.
At the time of new installation and upgrade/updating of equipment, training on the new applications, is a mandatory requirement.
The paper can be downloaded from: http://www.asrtfoundation.org/media/pdf/HCIAC/ASRT12_WhitePaper.pdf
New book published on analysis of cancer risks
The National Academies Press has published a book [prepublication copy] on "Analysis of Cancer Risks in Populations Near Nuclear Facilities: Phase I." The book can be freely downloaded (for personal use only) from:
https://download.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13388andutm_medium=etmailandutm_source=The%20National%20Academies%20Pressandutm_campaign=NAP%20mail%20new%204.03.12%20Bandutm_content=Downloaderandutm_term=
Nordic Radiation Protection Authorities Issue Statement in Support of the "Triple A" Concept for Radiation Protection of Patients
The trends in the number of computed tomography (CT) procedures, per 1000 inhabitants in the Nordic countries for the period during 1993--2010, showed that the number is increasing for all countries and for few it has grown by 2.5 to nearly five times. Expressing serious concern over the increasing trends and the corresponding higher dose to the population from medical imaging, the Nordic Radiation Protection Authorities sought to bring attention to the potential risks involved in CT examinations. The authorities called for averting unjustified CT examinations by implementing the "Triple A" concept: awareness, appropriateness, and audit. Nordic authorities emphasize the importance of awareness about radiation risks; appropriateness to ensure that patients referred for radiological examinations really need them; and audit to check the quality of the referral and the effectiveness of the related processes.
From: https://rpop.iaea.org/RPOP/RPoP/Content/News/statement-triple-a-concept.htm and http://www.nrpa.no/dav/db58f19fef.pdf.
FDA proposal aims to help reduce unnecessary radiation exposure for children
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published a draft guidance document entitled "Pediatric Information for X-ray Imaging Device Premarket Notifications" which encourages manufacturers to consider the safety of children in the design of new X-ray imaging device including CT and fluoroscopic units. Experts in pediatric radiation dose have welcomed this latest FDA drive.
According to the statement, these devices must be proven to be appropriate for pediatric use and if they are not then they may have to carry warning labels advising against their use in children. This will enable end users to make more informed decisions about using the device on pediatric patients, the FDA said.
From: www.auntminnie.com dated May 9, 2012 and http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/Press Announcements/ucm303386.htm
EVENTS
International
ICMP 2013 -- International Conference on Medical Physics
Dates: Sept 1- 4, 2013
Place: Brighton International Centre, UK
For further details: http://www.icmp2013.org
National
AMPICON 2012 -- The 33rd National Conference of Association of Medical Physicists of India
Theme: Frontiers in Medical Physics - Innovations and Challenges
Dates: Nov 1-3, 2012
Place: Mangalore, Karnataka, India
For further details: http://www.ampicon2012.org.in/ampicon2012.html
AROICON 2012 -- The 34 th Annual National Conference of the Association of Radiation Oncologists of India
Dates: Nov 29-Dec 2, 2012
Place: Kolkata, West Bengal, India
For further details: http://aroicon2012kolkata.org/
Program: http://snmindia.org/newsite/FINAL_Scientific_Program-meerut.pdf
44 th Annual Conference of Society of Nuclear Medicine, India
Dates: Nov 29-Dec 2, 2012
Place: Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
For further details: [email protected]
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