Advance Magazine

Here is a wonderful article on the new Class of Case requirements. Included in the article is a link to click on that will give you a quick reference diagram to follow when figuring out class of case:
http://health-information.advanceweb.com/Columns/Registry-Perspectives/A-Simple-Paradigm-for-Assigning-Class-of-Case.aspx

Cancer Treatment Website

This website is a wonderful resource for basic understanding of various types of cancer, cancer staging, and treatment. It also contains the latest news highlights concerning cancer.
http://www.cancertreatment.net/

Understand Lymphoma

Here is an excellent site that will increase your knowledge of lymphoma and aid in coding of this disease. The link below is to videos available at the site:
http://www.lymphomainfo.net/videos

Social Security Death Index Terms

Ever wonder if you can use "State Issued" "Last Residence" or "Last Benefit" to code the place of death? The answer to all three is NO.  None of these fields will tell you for certain the place of death.

This website will help in defining the different terms used.
http://helpdesk.rootsweb.com/ssdi/fields.html

News on the Net: Blood Test for Cancer

A blood test so sensitive that it can spot a single cancer cell lurking among a billion healthy ones is moving one step closer to being available at your doctor's office.


http://www.aolhealth.com/2011/01/03/blood-test-detects-cancer/?icid=maing%7Cmain5%7Cdl3%7Csec3_lnk1%7C34372

Understanding Gamma Knife vs. Cyber Knife

Stereotactic radiosurgery

Radiation beams – high dose radiation is give to a specific target

Minimal dose to surrounding tissues

Idea is destruction of the tumor while sparing functioning of adjacent organs / tissues

Gamma Knife

Performs stereotactic radiosurgery for intracranial lesions

Used for both benign and malignant tumors

Head frame is required

Generally limited to a single dose

Cyber Knife

Capable of treating brain lesions

Can be used anywhere in the body, including structures that move with respiration

Does not require a head frame, patient is affixed to the table with a firm plastic mask

Common conditions for which SRS would be used:

Brain Mets

Acoustic neuroma/Vestibular schwannoma

Meningioma

Pituitary adenoma

Glioma or chondrosarcoma

Ocular melanoma

Nasopharynx carcinoma

ONCOLOGY ISSUES ACCC VOL 21 No 5