Dear AuntMinnie Member,
We're starting to understand more about how the COVID-19 vaccine can cause morphological effects that appear to be signs of pathology on imaging exams.
In a pair of new studies released this past week, researchers showed that the vaccine's aftereffects -- in particular adenopathy -- can appear on images from a variety of different imaging modalities. They advised radiologists to be aware of a patient's vaccine status when interpreting images.
And more research continues to be published on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on radiology staff morale, such as a recent study from Australia, where some imaging personnel said they felt underappreciated.
Saving radiology AI
Why isn't artificial intelligence (AI) being adopted more rapidly in radiology? That's the question asked by imaging consultant Michael J. Cannavo -- the PACSMan -- in a new column in our Artificial Intelligence Community.
Mike points out that while AI achieved a major milestone in 2020 by securing Medicare reimbursement for some algorithms, there are a number of potential issues with the new technology add-on payment that may prevent it from being a panacea to all the issues holding AI back.
Despite these concerns, new research on AI continues apace. Learn about an AI model that was able to detect most types of trauma-related findings on pelvic radiographs, as well as an algorithm that found precancerous polyps on CT colonography exams.
Also read about a study that used an AI algorithm along with 4D data from dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI exams to classify breast lesions, and another model for predicting the risk of cancer in patients with pulmonary nodules on CT lung cancer screening studies.
ECR 2021 on tap
Finally, be sure to visit our sister site, AuntMinnieEurope.com, for coverage of next week's European Congress of Radiology (ECR), set to start on March 3. This year's ECR is being held virtually once again, but we'll be providing daily reporting. And if you're curious about who the winners were in this year's EuroMinnies awards, there's a page for that too!
