Medicare to Pay for More FDG-PET Scans WASHINGTON -- Up to three scans using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-enhanced positron emission tomography technology can be covered by Medicare for oncology treatment planning, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said. Jun 12, 2013
ASCO: Herpes-Derived Tx for Melanoma? CHICAGO -- Intralesional injection of an oncolytic therapy significantly increased the durable response rate in advanced melanoma compared with a control therapy, according to results of a randomized trial. Jun 03, 2013
ASCO: Immune Therapy Durable in Melanoma CHICAGO -- A therapy aimed at reviving the immune response to advanced melanoma generated durable responses in long-term follow-up of an early clinical trial, a researcher said here. Jun 01, 2013
Melanoma Tx Ups Survival, but Very Pricey LAS VEGAS -- The oral BRAF inhibitor vemurafenib (Zelboraf) increased survival in patients with metastatic melanoma, but the cost may not justify its use in a state Medicaid program, an analysis suggested. Dec 07, 2012
Smokers Have Higher Squamous Cell Skin Ca Risk Smokers have a more than 50% increase in risk for squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, and the risk remained elevated, even among those who'd kicked the habit, researchers found. Jun 18, 2012
Doctors Say 45 Common Tests 'Overused' Nine specialty groups have listed tests and treatments that are frequently overused, such as antibiotics for sinus attacks and CT scans for low back pain, in the first phase of a long-term project. Apr 04, 2012
SID: No Skin Cancer Risk Seen With Prednisone PHOENIX -- Use of systemic corticosteroids did not increase the risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer in a prospective study, contradicting previous evidence from several retrospective studies, investigators reported here. May 06, 2011
'Ugly Duckling' Moles May Be Melanomas NEW YORK -- An irregularly pigmented mole that looks different from other irregularly pigmented moles in the same person -- an "ugly duckling" -- is likely to be a malignant melanoma, according to a preliminary study. Jan 21, 2008
Fast-Growing Melanomas Give Clues to Severity MELBOURNE, Australia -- Rapidly growing primary cutaneous melanomas have characteristic features that signal the need for immediate and aggressive medical intervention, said researchers here. Dec 18, 2006
Chemical Peel Wins by Nose for Facial Skin Lesions STANFORD, Calif. -- For patients with too many facial actinic keratoses to freeze them all off with liquid nitrogen, a face-to-face comparison of three alternative approaches gave the edge to a chemical peel by a nose. Aug 22, 2006