(RxWiki News) We wouldn’t be where we are today in the fight against cancer without radiology. This medical discipline helps to diagnose cancer with imaging studies and treat cancer with radiation therapy that kills cancer cells. Now radiology is getting a day of recognition.
November 8th has been designated International Day of Radiology (IDoR) 2013 to celebrate and honor the many innovations in radiology.
This year marks the second annual IDoR. The day will focus on the growing importance of lung imaging in the diagnosis and treatment of lung diseases, including the use of low-dose computed tomography (CT) screenings for lung cancer.
November is also Lung Cancer Awareness Month.
"Find out if you need a lung cancer screening."
The IDoR is a celebration of many organizations, including the American College of Radiology (ACR) and the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), along with more than 100 medical societies in 57 countries.
“International Day of Radiology is a special time to recognize the tremendous value radiology adds to modern health care,” Paul H. Ellenbogen, MD, FACR, chair of the American College of Radiology Board of Chancellors, said in a prepared statement.
“Deaths from cancer and other serious illnesses and injuries have plummeted in recent years largely due to early diagnosis made possible by imaging exams — such as lung CT scans. Expanded use of CT lung cancer screening in high-risk patients is a landmark step in the battle to defeat this terrible disease.”
The ACR and RSNA have issued a joint statement relating to CT for lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the US.
The disease, most often caused by smoking tobacco, will be diagnosed in 230,000 Americans this year and overtake 160,000 men and women in this country.
The organizations support the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendation that individuals between the ages of 55 and 79 undergo CT lung cancer screening if they have a history of smoking the equivalent of a pack of cigarettes a day for 30 or more years (30 pack-years).
The statement notes that the results of the landmark National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) showed a 20 percent reduction in lung cancer deaths among 53,454 current and former smokers who underwent CT screening.
“From screening and diagnostic imaging exams used to diagnose illness early to life-saving interventional therapies and radiation oncology treatments, medical imaging plays a critical role in patient care,” Sarah S. Donaldson, MD, president of the Radiological Society of North America, said in a statement.
To learn more about virtually any medical imaging test or treatment, visit the links below.
