Wearable Brain Scanners, Mammography's COVID-19 Rebound, and Avoiding Post-COVID-19 Burnout

Welcome to Diagnostic Imaging. I'm Senior Editor, Whitney Palmer. We're back this week with the latest in radiology news.

Researchers from the University of Nottingham have designed a prototype of a lightweight helmet that can be used as a brain scanner. This 49-channel device, described in the journal NeuroImage, can scan the entire brain, even while the patient moves, making it perfect for children or patients who have difficulty remaining still during imaging procedures. The device has the potential, investigators said, to shed light on a variety of neurological conditions from autism to Alzheimer’s.

After months of low image volumes, more than 75 percent of the hospitals and imaging centers that provide mammography services are seeing patients again. According to a data analysis from breast imaging analytics company Volpara Solutions, mammography volumes are on the rise. Throughout the pandemic, volumes declined nationally by up to 70 percent. But, the analysis, based on 20 million anonymized mammography images, revealed that most sites have rebounded to within 10 percent of pre-pandemic levels, and approximately 5 percent have climbed above previous volumes.

Re-opening your practice after months of restricted activity can present challenges, particularly as your image workload is likely to balloon quickly. It can be easy to get stressed. To help you avoid potential burnout, Dr. David Fessell, professor of radiology at Michigan Medicine, offered four micro-practices to side-step this problem. He pointed to mindfulness moments, naming your emotion, gratitude practice, and diaphragmatic breathing as effective stress-relief methods.

And, in that vein, it will be critical in the next phase of the pandemic for you to give some attention to self-care and well-being. As volume levels rise and the pressures for social distancing and maximum disinfection continue, taking care of yourself will ensure you can continue to provide the best patient care. This week, Diagnostic Imaging spoke with Dr. Rebecca Seidel, associate professor of breast imaging at Emory University about the importance of self-care and available resources. Dr. Seidel is also chair of Emory’s Wellness Committee and a member of the American College of Radiology’s Well-Being Workgroup. Here’s what she had to say.