ACS Brief

Latest Stories

First NCDB Annual Report Reveals More Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy before Surgery

December 10, 2024

The ACS National Cancer Database (NCDB) recently released its first annual report, published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons (JACS). The NCDB captures hospital-based data on nearly 74% of newly diagnosed cancers in the US, and this report focused on data from 2021 and trends in cancer 2004–2021.

Rising Medical School Costs Are Shaping Specialty Choices, Practice Type

December 10, 2024

The rising cost of medical education is an increasingly urgent issue for physicians and their patient populations. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the average medical school graduate leaves with nearly $200,000 in student debt, a figure that is expected to continue growing.

Read this week's entire issue for the latest news on the ACS and the field of surgery.

December 10, 2024 Issue

ACS Brief

Surgeon Contemplate Unionization in Evolving Professional Landscape

This viewpoint describes misconceptions related to healthcare unionization and offers guidance to help surgeons make informed decisions in this area.

ACS Brief

Preop Clinic QI Program Reduces LOS and Costs for Colorectal Patients

Browse through the Quality Improvement Case Study Repository to learn about the improvements fostered by the Quality Verification Program.

ACS Brief

Nominate ACS Officer, Regent Candidates

Potential candidates must be loyal members of the College who have demonstrated career integrity and leadership ability.

ACS Brief

US Residents: Apply for Leadership & Advocacy Summit Travel Award

The LAS Travel Award offers partial coverage of costs for attendees of the Leadership & Advocacy Summit—apply by January 17.

ACS Brief

International Surgeons: Dec. 13 Is Deadline for Two Opportunities

Applications for the ACS/AAST Scholarship and the International Opportunity Fund are due December 13.

Drake Lecture Explores History of Cherokee Neurosurgeon Dr. Charles Wilson

December 10, 2024

The latest episode of The House of Surgery podcast features Dr. Brian Andrews, who delivered the Charles G. Drake History of Surgery Lecture at Clinical Congress 2024. In the lecture, Dr. Andrews discusses Dr. Charles Byron Wilson, an icon of 20th century neurosurgery born to a mother of Cherokee heritage who became an academic neurosurgeon and devoted his life to advancing the treatment of malignant brain tumors.

Literature Selections

Fish Skin Grafts Show Promise for Improved Diabetic Foot Ulcer Healing

High-risk diabetic foot ulcers that involve deep structures such as muscle, bone, and joints are serious and can be life-threatening.

Reviewing Multitarget Stool DNA versus Fecal Immunochemical Test for CRC Screening

Read about the data behind low specificity of multitarget stool DNA testing when compared to FIT testing.

Can Repeat Colonoscopy Be Safely Delayed after Negative Colonoscopy in Low-Risk Patients?

Authors compared frequency of colonic neoplasia and CRC in three national patient cohorts stratified according to accepted CRC risk scores.

Past Issues

Brief Reviews

ACS Brief

Genetic Connections in Surgical Oncology

An exploration of literature on the importance of understanding genetic connections in different types of cancer and the use of precision medicine.

ACS Brief

Colonoscopy versus FIT-Fecal DNA for Colon Cancer Screening

Examines current literature on scientific basis of colon cancer screening methods, specifically, the efficacy of colonoscopy vs FIT-fecal DNA testing.

ACS Brief

Laparoscopy in the Context of Trauma: Too Slow or Too Fast?

Examines current literature on the various uses, benefits, and limitations of laparoscopy in trauma care.

See More Brief Reviews