All News

Researchers at the University of Maryland have identified a peptide derived from Pacific cod that may inhibit prostate cancer and possibly other cancers from spreading.

Since the days of the digitally directed prostate nodule biopsy using the Vim-Silverman needle, the optimum prostate biopsy strategy has evolved.

Among the OIG's 2013 areas of focus are Part B imaging services, medical necessity of imaging, and incident to services performed by non-physicians.

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (Sunnyvale, CA), manufacturer of the da Vinci Surgical System, has issued a statement regarding a recent increase in medical device reports (MDR) filed by the company.

The American Society for Radiation Oncology’s board of directors recently approved a statement regarding the use of proton beam therapy for prostate cancer, presumably due to recent reports suggesting the treatment provides little long-term benefit over traditional radiation despite its higher cost.

The American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS) has released new guidelines for privileging and credentialing physicians for sacrocolpopexy in an effort to assist health care institutions when considering granting privileges to perform the procedure for pelvic organ prolapse (POP).

In patients with small renal masses, partial nephrectomy results in better overall survival and lower costs compared with radical nephrectomy, say researchers from Medstar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington.

Urologists Kevin T. McVary, MD, and Shilajit Kundu, MD, have been appointed to new faculty positions.

The usual claim against a manufacturer in a product liability case is that the product is defective, either as designed or as manufactured, or that there was a failure to warn of something known about the product.

There are several reasons why rolling over your IRA funds may make sense.

We’ve received a number of questions pertaining to the change in Medicare rules regarding the –59 modifier. Although in a previous column we discussed this change in relation to kidney stones specifically, we feel the interest generated by this change warrants a deeper dive into this subject.

Urologists' concerns about the Affordable Care Act include added bureaucracy and waste as well as the Independent Payment Advisory Board.

In what could be a significant development in the battle over the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula, a new proposal has emerged from Capitol Hill offering hope for reforming the SGR.

When negotiating with a hospital to purchase your practice, there are many questions that you should review in addition to the dollar per unit you are paid or measured against as an employed physician.

In a series of three articles, I examine the Office of the Inspector General, explain its relevance to urologists and their practice, and provide practical tips to understand and manage any risks associated with the activities of this institution. In this first installment, I provide an overview of the institution and review what it will be examining in 2013.

A new immunoassay that tests for the presence of three biomarkers appears to be a valid screening method for the early detection of renal cell carcinoma, according to a recent study.

Cleveland Clinic’s Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute will begin offering urology services in Las Vegas in mid-April, the result of Cleveland Clinic’s acquisition of the private practice of local urologists Scott Slavis, MD, and Laurie Larsen, MD.

The AUA has voiced its support for newly introduced legislation designed to address urotrauma, a growing concern among active military personnel and veterans.

Focal laser ablation is safe and can be performed without the troubling complications associated with more aggressive therapies for low-risk prostate cancer, results of a small phase I study indicate.

More stringent criteria may be needed for African-American men with prostate cancer when considering active surveillance for their disease, new research from The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick suggests.

Patients with high-risk prostate cancer who undergo 18 months of androgen blockade live as long as those who have 36 months of treatment, according to results of a recent phase III study.

Placement of an inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) approximately 3 months after T-shunt surgery in men with acute ischemic priapism and refractory erectile dysfunction is associated with favorable outcomes at 1 year, according to data from a small series of such patients.

Use of tivozanib, an experimental tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) with increased specificity and potency for the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor, as initial targeted therapy for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma did not translate into improved overall survival compared with sorafenib (Nexavar) in a phase III clinical trial.

A recent study highlights huge price swings in patient charges for the 10 most common outpatient conditions-including kidney stones and urinary tract infection-in emergency rooms across the country.

The AUA is participating in a recently launched ad campaign urging Congress to fight cuts to federal funding for graduate medical education.

Nearly three-quarters of patients undergoing radiation therapy for prostate cancer had no evidence of the disease at 25 years’ follow-up, the authors of a study from Radiotherapy Clinics of Georgia, Atlanta recently reported.

The AUA has released a new white paper providing recommendations for optimal prostate biopsy sampling, labeling, and processing.

The FDA has approved ospemifene (Osphena) to treat women experiencing moderate to severe dyspareunia, a symptom of vulvar and vaginal atrophy due to menopause.