The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has added to its library of Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) with the publication of the new NCCN Imaging AUC for an additional 15 Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology, including cervical cancer.
The NCCN Imaging AUC are user-friendly resources that help guide standard practice in cancer screening, diagnosis, staging, treatment response assessment, follow-up and surveillance, as outlined by the NCCN Guidelines.
The complete library of AUC is expected to be available in 2017 and will provide a searchable, personalized display of approved NCCN Imaging AUC through a web-based user interface.
NCCN Imaging AUC includes all imaging procedures recommended, including radiographs, computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional nuclear medicine imaging (PET or SPECT), and ultrasound.
According to the press release, NCCN Guidelines have been recognized as the standard for clinical policy in cancer care and are frequently the most detailed and updated clinical practice guidelines available in any area of medicine.
The NCCN Guidelines for Patients help patients learn about what to talk about with their physicians to make more informed decisions. These easy-to-understand guides help cancer patients know which questions to ask their doctors and include patient-friendly illustrations and glossaries of terms and acronyms.
NCCN screening guidelines have also been used for reviews like those conducted by the Prevent Cancer Foundation, which recently analyzed insurance policies covering screening methods for five types of cancer.
Launched in June this year, the NCCN Imaging AUC are now available for 35 NCCN Guidelines. The 15 new imaging AUC were published for basal cell skin cancer, bone cancer, breast cancer screening and diagnosis, central nervous system cancers, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer screening, dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, kidney cancer, merkel cell carcinoma, multiple myeloma, non-small cell lung cancer, occult primary (cancer of unknown origin), squamous cell skin cancer, uterine cancer, and vulvar cancer.
Other NCCN products include the NCCN Compendium, a source of authoritative, scientifically-derived information designed to support decision-making regarding the use of drugs and biologics in cancer patients; the NCCN Biomarkers Compendium, containing information regarding the use of biomarker testing in cancer patients; and the NCCN Templates, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, supportive care agents, doses, schedules, monitoring, and safety instructions for regiments recommended in the NCCN Guidelines.