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 ultrasound modality focus page provides information, videos, podcasts, and the latest news about industry product developments, trial results, screening guidelines, and protocol guidance that touch on the use of ultrasound across the healthcare continuum, from cardiovascular, breast, abdominal, neurological imaging, and more, including point-of-care ultrasound.

COVID-19 halted all cancer screening services at the beginning of the pandemic, and slowly those scans have become more and more available -- but, not necessarily for everyone.

In many instances, racial and minority patients continue to face the same healthcare disparities that made it difficult for them to access the services at the outset. Now, the fear and trepidation associated with the pandemic are layered on top. 

Despite these difficulties, there are things healthcare institutions and providers can do to help. In this episode of 

 spoke with Shalmon Kalnicki, M.D., chair of radiation and oncology at Montefiore and Albert Einstein College of Medicine about the challenges these patients continue to face with cancer screenings. Not only did he share with us how COVID-19 has impacted this existing problem, but he also outlined the steps institutions can take to improve this situation.


In this podcast episode, Dr. Shalom Kalnicki, from Montefiore and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, discusses the disparities minority patients face with cancer screenings and what can be done to increase access during the pandemic.

The Reading Room: Racial and Ethnic Minorities, Cancer Screenings, and COVID-19

This is Episode 1 of the Diagnostic Imaging podcast: The Reading Room. To subscribe, click 

High-resolution micro-ultrasound does a better job of pinpointing clinically significant prostate cancer than MRI, said industry experts, and it can do so in a less expensive, simpler way.

According to an article published in the 

 micro-ultrasound is more sensitive to these types of cancers, functioning as a single-session option for prostate screening and targeted biopsy.

“High-resolution micro-ultrasound has the capability of imaging prostate cancer based on detecting alterations in ductal anatomy, analogous to multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI),” said lead study author Laurence Klotz, M.D., chair of prostate cancer research at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto, Canada. “This technology has the potential advantages of relatively low cost, simplicity, and accessibility compared to mpMRI.”

In this study, the team evaluated images from 1,040 men from 11 sites in seven countries who previously underwent mpMRI and also micro-ultrasound-guided biopsy. These biopsies were captured from both mpMRI targets with a PI-RADS score of >3 and micro-ultrasound targets with a PRIMUS >3.

According to their analysis, 39.5 percent of men were diagnosed with clinically significant prostate cancer, meaning they had a Gleason grade group of greater than or equal to 2. For micro-ultrasound and mpMRI, sensitivity was 94 percent and 90 percent, respectively, and their negative predictive value was 85 percent and 77 percent, respectively. Both strategies had 22-percent specificity, and their positive predictive values were similar – 44 percent and 43 percent, respectively.

Given the higher sensitivity for clinically significant prostate cancer compared to mpMRI and its lower cost and single-session option for prostate screening and targeted biopsy, micro-ultrasound could be an attractive imaging strategy for some patients.

In this podcast, Klotz discussed the use of micro-ultrasound in detecting prostate cancer and the role it could play in supplementing multi-parametric MRI in searching for and more easily identifying the disease.

Dr. Laurence Klotz discusses micro-ultrasound as a faster, less invasive, more cost-effective screening strategy compared to mpMRI in this podcast. 

Micro-Ultrasound for Easier Prostate Cancer Screening

In this podcast, Tom Gentile, president and CEO at GE Healthcare Systems, explains that “the whole focus of imaging is moving beyond the quality of the image.” Patient care, physician productivity and reimbursement take on a renewed focus in light of healthcare reform efforts internationally, he says. Such issues will be the focus for GE Healthcare Systems at RSNA 2011.

, CT using Model Based Iterative Reconstruction (MBIR) technology to reduce dose and improve image quality.

Contrast-enhanced spectral mammography will also be a focus at RSNA 2011 for GE. Gentile talks about the speed and specificity of its newly approved product 

as well as newly mobile ultrasound technology,

, that makes ultrasound “the stethescope of the future.”

RSNA

In this podcast, Tom Gentile, president and CEO at GE Healthcare Systems, explains that “the whole focus of imaging is moving beyond the quality of the image.” Patient care, physician productivity and reimbursement take on a renewed focus in light of healthcare reform efforts internationally, he says.

Podcast: GE on MBIR, Spectral Mammography, Ultrasound and Themes for RSNA 2011

[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_crop","fid":"1735","attributes":{"alt":"","class":"media-image","id":"media_crop_7567161365917","media_crop_h":"0","media_crop_image_style":"-1","media_crop_instance":"201","media_crop_rotate":"0","media_crop_scale_h":"0","media_crop_scale_w":"0","media_crop_w":"0","media_crop_x":"0","media_crop_y":"0","title":" ","typeof":"foaf:Image"}}]]Imagine a fast, inexpensive method for breast cancer screening. That’s some of the promise behind a new innovation from a doctoral student who has discovered a way to use ultrasound and advanced algorithms to differentiate between benign and malignant tumors.

, a student at the department of mechanical, aerospace, and nuclear engineering at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, researched nonlinear elasticity imaging for breast cancer diagnosis. Here Geonezen and his faculty advisor, Assad Oberai, discuss this innovation and what it could mean for breast cancer diagnosis, as well as diagnosis of other diseases.

Imagine a faster, inexpensive method for breast cancer screening. That’s some of the promise behind a new innovation from doctoral student, Sevan Goenezen, who has discovered a way to use ultrasound and advanced algorithms to differentiate between benign and malignant tumors.

Podcast: Student Innovation Holds Promise for Breast Cancer Screening

Siemens demonstrated Sie-Reality at this year’s RSNA conference. The new ultrasound technology displays fetal images that take on a third dimension when viewed through 3D glasses. Still a work-in-progress, Sie-Reality is designed more for patients than physicians. Ultrasound operators would look at the console, according to Barbara Del Prince, ob/gyn segment marketing manager at Siemens, while patients view a special 3D screen through special glasses. Through this, expectant parents might bond with their unborn child or better understand any fetal abnormalities.

Siemens demonstrated Sie-Reality at this year’s RSNA conference. The new ultrasound technology displays fetal images that take on a third dimension when viewed through 3D glasses.

Siemens showcases stereoscopic 3D ultrasound

Dr. Ellen Mendelson is a co-author on a paper exploring the use of shear wave elastography to distinguish between benign and malignant lesions. In an interview with 

, she explains what shear wave elastography is and why it could become a standard element of breast imaging.

Dr. Ellen Mendelson is a co-author on a paper exploring the use of shear wave elastography to distinguish between benign and malignant lesions. In an interview with Diagnostic Imaging, she explains what shear wave elastography is and why it could become a standard element of breast imaging.

Shear wave elastography could become standard practice

The Exo Iris reportedly combines advanced silicon technology with imaging, workflow software and artificial intelligence (AI) to facilitate multidisciplinary use of point-of-care ultrasound.

Exo Debuts New Point-of-Care Ultrasound Modality

The Precision GI™ Endoscopic Ultrasound Biopsy Device reportedly provides a more efficient and less traumatic method of obtaining biopsy tissue for suspected gastrointestinal cancers.

Endoscopic Ultrasound Biopsy Modality Gets FDA Nod

The Microvascular Imaging Super Resolution Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound application reportedly leverages micro-bubble contrast media to provide enhanced spatial resolution for imaging of malignant lesions.

Philips Unveils New Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Application for EPIQ Elite Device

The TE Air is reportedly the first handheld ultrasound device to offer dual connectivity to mobile devices or touch-based ultrasound systems.

Mindray Launches New TE Air Handheld Ultrasound Device

Through the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and imaging modalities such as ultrasound, CT, and MRI, the newly FDA-cleared VisAble.IO software reportedly enhances planning and real-time assessment for liver tumor ablation procedures.

AI-Powered Liver Tumor Ablation Software Leverages CT, MRI and Ultrasound for Real-Time Image Guidance

Reportedly 365,000 people in the United States had breast augmentation procedures in 2021.

 Emerging research comparing digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) use in women with and without breast implants found a 22 percent lower cancer detection rate for women with breast implants. Yet there are currently no imaging guidelines specifically geared to breast cancer screening in patients with breast implants.

Society of Breast Imaging (SBI) conference

, Stephen Rose, M.D, pointed out the breast implants may obscure between nine to 44 percent of glandular tissue on imaging. In a recent video interview, Dr. Rose said there are a number of factors, ranging from age of the implant and fibrosis to implant size, implant-related scarring and breast size, that can affect interpretation of breast imaging in patients with breast implants.

In retrospective research presented at the SBI conference, Dr. Rose and colleagues reviewed data from 350,845 DBT exams (including 20,929 DBT exams for women with breast implants) performed at 49 community-based outpatient imaging centers in 2019. In addition to the aforementioned lower cancer detection rate in women with implants, Dr. Rose and colleagues found that women with breast implants had a nearly 5.5 percent increase in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and a 4.8 percent higher incidence of positive lymph node involvement in detected cancers.

(Editor’s note: For related content, see “

Breast Reconstruction: Current Principles and Emerging Concepts in Imaging

Study Highlights Use of Contrast-Enhanced Mammography in Women with Breast Implants

Has the time come for imaging guidelines that are more specific to the nuances and supplemental imaging needs for women with breast implants?

“Other than the same guidelines we use for women without breast implants, there really hasn’t been any specific guidelines by our societies that suggest doing more (for women with breast implants),” noted Dr. Rose, the founder and president of Rose Imaging Specialists. “It’s all been pretty anecdotal recommendations and it’s not like this is an insignificant number of patients. In some of our populations, 10 to 15 percent have implants.”

For more insights from Dr. Rose, watch the video below.

1. The Aesthetic Society. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery National Databank Statistics 2020-2021. Available at: https://cdn.theaestheticsociety.org/media/statistics/2021-TheAestheticSocietyStatistics.pdf . Accessed June 14, 2023.

In a recent video interview, Stephen Rose, M.D., reviewed a variety of factors that can impact interpretation of breast imaging for women with breast implants and discussed recent research showing a 22 percent reduction in cancer detection rate for this population in comparison to women without breast implants.

Radiology Challenges with Breast Cancer Screening in Women with Breast Implants

When evaluating an artificial intelligence (AI) model for initial assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) on echocardiograms, David Ouyang, M.D., said he was genuinely surprised that cardiologists had greater confidence in initial AI assessments than those provided by cardiac sonographers with an average of 14.1 years of experience.

In the randomized trial, recently published in 

, cardiologists revised 27.2 percent of initial LVEF assessments by sonographers in comparison to 16.8 percent of AI assessments.

“We initially thought of the tool as kind of a streamlining tool where it speeds things up. We actually designed the trial as a non-inferior trial. We weren’t expecting AI to be better than sonographers. Hopefully, it would be equivalent,” noted Dr. Ouyang, who is affiliated with the Department of Cardiology at the Smidt Heart Institute and the Division of Artificial Intelligence in Medicine at the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. “We were pleasantly surprised that AI actually was superior. This really speaks to the high level of precision that automation delivers.”

Study Finds AI More Effective Than Sonographer Interpretation of Cardiac Function on Echocardiograms

Can AI Improve Triage of CT Pulmonary Angiography Exams for Acute PE?

AI Platform for Ultrasound Detection of Cardiac Amyloidosis Gets FDA Breakthrough Device Designation

In a recent interview, Dr. Ouyang also discussed another 

 that employed deep learning segmentation of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine how variations in left ventricle sphericity can impact cardiovascular risks. Based on their findings from a large cohort of nearly 39,000 participants from the UK Biobank, Dr. Ouyang and colleagues found that one standard deviation increase in the left ventricle sphericity index led to a 47 percent increased risk for cardiomyopathy and a 20 percent higher risk of atrial fibrillation.

For more insights from Dr, Ouyang, watch the video below.

In a recent video interview, David Ouyang, M.D., shared insights from two recent studies he co-authored on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to improve initial assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) on echocardiography and ascertain cardiac risks associated with changes in the left ventricle sphericity index seen on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Emerging AI Advances in Cardiac Imaging

Recently published research suggests an emerging handheld ultrasound technique could be beneficial for breast cancer screening in underserved populations with limited or no access to conventional imaging modalities.

, assessed volume sweep imaging (VSI) of 170 palpable breast lumps with a handheld ultrasound probe (Butterfly iQ, Butterfly Network). The handheld VSI ultrasound scans were performed by medical students who received less than two hours of training on the VSI protocol and had no prior ultrasound training, according to the study.

The researchers found that the VSI handheld ultrasound technique had a 97 percent sensitivity for breast masses and an 87 percent agreement with conventional ultrasound devices on Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) assessments.

In a recent video interview, Thomas Marini, MD, discussed the VSI technique, the study findings, and the global need for increased access to ultrasound imaging.

“The Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) estimates that two-thirds of people in the world don’t have access to any form of medical imaging and that 70 to 80 percent of their conditions can be diagnosed with basic modalities like ultrasound and X-ray,” noted Dr. Marini, who is affiliated with the University of Rochester Medical Center.

For more insights from Dr. Marini, watch the video below.

In a recent video interview, Thomas Marini, MD discussed the need for ultrasound access to facilitate breast cancer screening in underserved populations and the potential utility of volume sweep imaging, a handheld ultrasound technique that requires minimal training and has a high rate of agreement with conventional ultrasound on BI-RADS assessments.

Can Volume Sweep Imaging with Ultrasound be a Viable Option for Breast Cancer Screening in Underserved Countries?

The purchase of new and cutting-edge imaging equipment comes with a lot of excitement—and a learning curve. That's where Canon Medical Education comes in, providing a host of education solutions for clients that include both in-person and virtual training and continuing education opportunities.

The education arm of Canon Medical Systems USA provides a customizable plan to ensure that all imaging associates are well-trained and comfortable operating advanced equipment including MR and CT, as well as vascular and cath applications, among others. 

Understanding that every learner is different, Canon offers educational opportunities that include in-person, at their Institute of Advanced Imaging in Irvine, California; on-site training at a client facility; online and instructor-led courses in their Canon Learning Center; as well as CE and non-CE webinars and special programs.

To learn more about Canon's educational offerings, 

Canon Medical Systems offer a range of in-person and virtual educational opportunities for their clients. 

Education in Radiology: Canon's Customized Approach

Although a concept that seemed unfamiliar to many at the onset of the pandemic, working from home--especially in health care--is nothing new for radiologist Elizabeth Hawk, M.S., M.D., Ph.D., an assistant professor of radiology at Stanford University Medical School. Hawk, who is also Director of Innovation Engagement and a Matrix Pod President for 

, has been working from home using teleradiology for years. 

, Hawk led a panel discussion focused on flexible work arrangements and their impact on career advancement for women radiologists. Hawk, who is a mother of 3, told 

 that a flexible work arrangement, whether it be working from home or on a personalized schedule, has clear positive effects on work-life balance and shouldn't be looked down upon as a disadvantage when it comes to professional advancement. 

sat down with Hawk to learn more about how radiologists can incorporate more flexible work arrangements into their career plans. Watch below:

During the pandemic and beyond, working from home as a radiologist can present clear work-life advantages.

Navigating Flexible Work Environments in Radiology: Elizabeth Hawk, M.S., M.D., Ph.D

RSNA 2021 is quickly approaching as members of the greater radiology healthcare community prepare to immerse themselves in five days of scientific sessions, key lectures, and exciting product demonstrations. 

 sat down with Canon Medical's David Hashimoto, Senior Director, Full Line BUs and Solutions Marketing, to learn more about what Canon has planned for their virtual participation in RSNA 2021. 

Canon Medical will offer attendees--both in-person and virtual--an immersive experience that includes live product demonstrations and scheduled briefings with Canon Medical experts across the breadth of their portfolio, including CT, molecular imaging, MRI, ultrasound, X-ray, interventional radiology, and healthcare IT. 

For the latest coverage of RSNA 2021, click here. 

In addition, Canon Medical will also be hosting a roundtable discussion, "State of AI in Radiology Today," featuring a distinguished panel of speakers who will discuss the financial, technical, clinical, and regulatory considerations of applying AI in today's radiology practice and in the future. 

Those interested in the roundtable discussion can 

To learn more about what Canon Medical will be sharing at RSNA 2021, 

Learn more about what Canon Medical will be showcasing virtually at RSNA 2021. 

RSNA 2021 Preview: Canon Medical Touts Advances Across Modalities

October and beyond, the role of breast imagers in radiology and healthcare overall extend far beyond the reading room. Breast imagers have a unique opportunity to closely interface with patients during screenings and follow-ups, offering not only encouragement but education. 

For Dana N. Bonaminio, M.D., choosing breast imaging as a focus was easy. "Breast imaging is not one of those subspecialties where you sit in a dark room and read images all day. It's very patient-centric, radiology-centric and it puts you at the front, so we're not hiding behind a screen, we're really interacting with our patients." 

Bonaminio, who is the Women's Imaging National Subspecialty Lead for Radiology Partners; Lead Breast Imager, Advanced Diagnostic Imaging; and Director of Breast Imaging at Ascension Saint Thomas Midtown Center for Breast Health in Nashville, Tennessee, uses her role to empower women to take control of their breast health. 

 to discuss what motivates her, how her practice has changed post-pandemic, and what exciting trends she's hoping to take advantage of to improve her radiology practice. 

The work of a breast imager goes far beyond the pink-out of every October.

Dana N. Bonaminio, M.D. on Priorities for Today's Breast Imagers

Welcome to Diagnostic Imaging’s Weekly Scan. I’m senior editor, Whitney Palmer.

Before we get to our featured interview this week with Dr. Katerina Dodelzon from Weill Cornell Medicine about COVID-19-vaccine related adenopathies that can mimic breast malignancies on imaging, here are the top stories of the week.

As more and more people get vaccinated for COVID-19, investigators from Weill Cornell have cautioned radiologists about a common side effect of vaccination – swollen lymph nodes. Based on their experience with four women in their institution – these adenopathies are showing up on breast imaging and can mimic breast malignancies. In fact, adenopathies can appear within two-to-four days in 11.6 percent of patients after one dose and 16 percent after two. The presentation on ultrasound and mammography has been the same for both the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines. In their study published in 

they recommend that radiologists consider vaccine-related adenopathy as a differential diagnosis for unilateral axillary adenopathy and ask a patient about her COVID-19 vaccine history. Doing so could reduce unnecessary node biopsies. However, you should conduct repeated targeted ultrasound within four-to-12 weeks after the second vaccine dose, and if the adenopathy is still there, conduct an ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy to rule out malignancy.

More evidence emerged this week in the debate over whether radiation exposure from CT scans can increase the likelihood of cancer. In a study published in 

investigators from South Korea looked at cancer incidence in patients who had a CT scan associated with acute appendicitis. They found that, in fact, the number of hematologic malignant neoplasms does increase with the number of CT scans performed, particularly in children under age 16. This can be problematic, they said, because appendicitis is common in children, and CT is increasing being used with the condition. By examining patient records from 825,820 individuals, they identified an incidence ratio rate of 1.26 for hematologic malignant neoplasm with the uptick beginning roughly 3 years post-CT exposure. The excess incidence ratio rate for all neoplasms reached 4.44, but in the CT group, specifically, it was 1.40 for leukemia. And, for patients under 16, it was 1.21 after one CT and 1.60 after two or more. The results, they said, underscored the need to abide by the Image Gently and Image Wisely guidelines.

For more coverage based on industry expert insights and research, subscribe to the Diagnostic Imaging e-Newsletter 

For prostate cancer, one of the most critical steps is being able to accurately identify which men will suffer a recurrence. According to a group from Case Western Reserve University, achieving that goal could get much easier thanks to their artificial intelligence tool, 

. They applied RadClip to pre-operative MRI scans from 200 patients who had undergone radical prostatectomy and found it can identify small heterogeneity and texture pattern differences both inside and outside the tumor. With that information, the team said, it is easier to estimate and predict post-surgical outcomes. Based on their findings, RadClip outperforms existing predictive strategies, such as Cancer of the Prostate Risk Assessment and the genomic-based Decipher® Prostate Cancer Test.

And, finally, this week, as mentioned earlier, anecdotal reports were published this week about COVID-19 vaccine-related adenopathies that can mimic malignant breast abnormalities. For the details of the study, 

 spoke with Dr. Katerina Dodelzon, assistant professor of radiology at Weill Cornell Medicine. Dodelzon, who is also a board-certified breast imager, discussed the findings of her team’s experience with the four women included in the study and what it means for radiologists, both in breast imaging and other sub-specialties. Here’s what she had to say.

COVID-19 Vaccine Adenopathies Mimic Breast Malignancies; Appendicitis, CT Exposure and Increased Cancer Risk; and MRI AI Tool for Prostate Cancer Recurrence Prediction

Diagnostic Imaging's Weekly Scan: Jan. 22, 2021

Before we get to our featured interview with Dr. Cynthia McCullough about recommendations for the use of lead shielding during imaging in light of last week’s research on the impact diagnostic scans can have on the risk of testicular cancer, here are the top stories of the week.

With now more than 250,000 COVID-19 deaths and a multitude of states hitting daily highs for newly diagnosed cases, providers are going to need a better way to diagnose patients who are suspected of being infected with the virus. According to a study published in 

 this week, that rapid test might already be here. Researchers from The Netherlands have found that pairing a chest CT with the CO-RADS scoring system can provide a quick, accurate diagnosis for patients who have exhibited symptoms of the virus for more than 48 hours. The team scored 1,070 chest CT scans and compared those assessments to RT-PCR results. For CO-RADS scores of 4 or higher, the team determined the CT/CO-RADS sensitivity for a correct diagnosis was 86 percent, and specificity was 81 percent for an odd ratio of 25.9. When compared to the clinical reference standard, sensitivity was 77 percent, and specificity was 90 percent for an odd ratio of 30.6. Having this combined test could make it easier to identify other causes of pulmonary symptoms, as well as more quickly identify which patients should be put into isolation while lessening any crowding in emergency departments.

Despite being over a week away, news is already being released from this year’s RSNA annual meeting. Researchers from the Emory University School of Medicine published their 

 this week that a new interventional radiology treatment, called cooled radiofrequency ablation, can provide relief for shoulder and hip joint pain in patients for whom anesthetic or corticosteroid injections are no longer effective. It could be a way to avoid both surgery and opioids, they said. This technique uses needles to deliver radiofrequency to the shoulder and hip joints, stunning the nerves, and slowing down pain transmissions to the brain. In a study with 23 patients with advanced degenerative arthritis, between 70 percent to 85 percent of patients reported pain reduction. The team says they plan to investigate how well the method works on pain associated with oncology and sick cell anemia.

Even though a good number of patients are descending upon the emergency department these days with worries about COVID-19, there are still a huge number of patients that present every year with complaints of abdominal pain. CT scans and ultrasounds are the first-line imaging studies ordered to diagnose what’s behind these problems, but a new study published in

Current Problems in Diagnostic Radiology 

hows that the overwhelming majority of those studies do not comply with the ACR’s Appropriateness Criteria. In fact, according to researchers from Brazil, 36 percent of CTs and 84 percent of ultrasounds were considered inappropriate. Based on their analysis of abdominal scans ordered between January 2019 and March 2019, they found that 85 percent of emergency providers recognize they order too many scans, and they point to fears of malpractice as the main reason why. But, the team determined a lack of education about the appropriateness guidelines is still a significant contributing factor. Most incorrectly ordered studies were requested for pancreatitis, renal failure, biliary disease, diverticulitis, appendicitis, and abdominal pain. They were considered inappropriate because they were ordered for the wrong modality, they were not the recommended test of first-use, or the results would not affect treatment or management.

 spoke with Dr. Cynthia McCullough, chair of the board of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine about the guidance around using lead shielding in diagnostic imaging. Recently, the recommendations on shielding have shifted away from using this protective measure because it can distort the image without providing any benefit. In light of research published last week on how diagnostic imaging scans can potentially increase a man’s risk of testicular cancer by 60 percent, McCullough offered some perspective not only on the official guidance but on how radiologists and radiologic technologists should proceed in daily practice. Here’s what she had to say.

Rapid COVID-19 Diagnosis with CT and CO-RADS; Cooled Radiofrequency Ablation for Pain Relief; Inappropriate Abdominal CT and Ultrasound Scans; and Lead Shielding Guidance

Diagnostic Imaging's Weekly Scan: Nov. 21, 2020

’s Weekly Scan. I’m senior editor, Whitney Palmer.

Before we get to our featured interview with Stephanie Johnston, a radiologic technologist at Solis Mammography in Texas, as well as the past president of the American Society of Radiologic Technologists about way to improve a patient’s mammography experience, here are the top stories of the week.

Our coverage of Breast Cancer Awareness month continued this week with a look at research published in the 

 According to researchers at the Center for South Asian Quantitative Health and Education at Rutger’s School of Public Health, women of Indian and Pakistani descent get diagnoses of more aggressive forms of breast cancer at younger ages. South Asian women have the fastest growing breast cancer rate in the United States, so identifying culturally targeted screening and prevention methods could be beneficial. Based on a comparison of 4,900 Indian and Pakistani women with breast cancer to 482,250 non-Hispanic white women with the disease, the team found that not only are the number of cancers in the study group growing, but they are also being diagnosed at more advanced stages. There are distinct sociocultural reasons that could play a role here, the team said. These women may not get screened because they have transportation difficulties, they may lack family support, or they could avoid screening due to modesty, fear, or a belief that the cancer is a punishment for past misdeeds. These factors are particular problems for women who have low English proficiency, have lived in the United States for less than a decade, and who do not have confidence in the U.S. healthcare system. Consequently, the team said, the industry must develop strategies to reach these women and encourage them to come in for screening.

This week also saw a great deal of news about prostate cancer. During the American Society for Radiation Oncology 

, investigators from the Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University shared the results of their EMPIRE-1 trial, revealing that adding the PET radiotracer fluciclovine to conventional imaging significantly benefits patients. In fact, they said fluciclovine PET is the “best available test” for imaging recurrent prostate cancer. According to their study results, they found that 75 percent of patients who used the PET molecular to guide their treatment were still disease-free three years later, creating an increased survival rate that was sustained for four years. This type of advanced imaging, the team said, helps providers better select patients for radiation therapy, as well guide radiation treatment decisions and planning. The team divided 165 men who had undergone radical prostatectomies, had abnormal PSA levels, and had CT or MRI imaging as part of their initial treatment planning into two groups – one that stuck with conventional imaging alone and one that underwent fluciclovine PET. At three years, the fluciclovine PET group has a 12-percent better cancer control rate, as well as a 24-percent improvement. Based on these results, the team recommends widely integrating it into prostate cancer treatment planning.

For more coverage based on industry expert insights and research, subscribe to the Diagnostic Imaging e-Newsletter

Breast Cancer Screening in Indian & Pakistani Women; Fluciclovine PET for Prostate Cancer Imaging; Cardiac Ultrasound & COVID-19; and Improving Mammography Patient Experience

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