biopsy

(Elsevier Health Sciences) The US Preventive Screening Task Force recently concluded, amid considerable controversy, that the evidence does not support recommending PSA screening for men under 75 years old at all, because the risks outweigh the benefits.

Now, a study shows that physicians in a large Washington state health plan were being conservative in biopsy referral even before the USPSTF recommendation.

MelaFind, a device that helps dermatologists decide whether to order a biopsy of suspected melanomas, has been approved by the FDA.

(American Roentgen Ray Society) MRI can determine if a patient has endometrial versus cervical cancer even when a biopsy can't make that distinction, according to a new study.

Determining the primary site of a tumor helps determine appropriate cancer treatment.

Gene-expression profiling could safely replace routine biopsies for monitoring rejection in low-risk heart transplant patients, according to a randomized trial.

(St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center) A new miniature, hand-held microscope may allow more precise removal of brain tumors and an easier recognition of tumor locations during surgery.

(Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology) At the moment, doctors rely on biopsy analysis to determine the progression of eye cancer.

However, researchers now believe that a new technology, bioluminescence imaging, will allow doctors to detect tumors earlier and quickly choose a method of treatment that doesn't necessarily involve eye surgery.