Dear Digital X-Ray Insider,
During the COVID-19 pandemic, radiography has carved out a role for itself as a useful tool for diagnosing and managing patients -- especially in cases where CT is neither available nor advisable. In this edition of the Digital X-Ray Insider, we describe how portable x-ray has been used in Pakistan for managing COVID-19 patients.
Researchers from a hospital in Islamabad described how they used portable chest x-ray to monitor disease progression, in particular to determine which patients might have a poor prognosis. They employed a lung scoring system to guide their diagnosis. Find out how well it worked in this edition's Insider Exclusive -- which you can read before the rest of the AuntMinnie.com membership.
There have been plenty of other important developments in the world of radiography in the past few weeks. On March 26, a new study found that physicians interpreting x-rays of coal miners for signs of black lung may be biased in favor of whoever is paying them -- whether it's a mining company or a miner's union. The findings could be a sign that revisions are needed in the U.S. government's B-reader program for black lung detection.
In another major development, the World Health Organization on March 23 announced that it would support the use of computer-aided detection (CAD) software as part of tuberculosis screening programs. This could be a big boost, both for CAD software developers and for many programs in developing countries that are chronically understaffed.
Speaking of CAD, that technology and the related discipline of artificial intelligence (AI) are finding fertile ground in radiography. Researchers from the U.K. found that an AI model they were using could be employed to analyze orthopedic implant models on radiographs, aiding in preoperative planning of revision arthroplasty.
See below to learn about other important stories in the world of radiography:
- A new literature review is questioning whether it's wise to put too much stock in results from AI algorithms produced by what they call "Frankenstein" datasets.
- Our friends at Healthcare Administrative Partners get you up to speed on recent updates to evaluation and management (E/M) service billing for interventional radiology.
- The Society of Interventional Radiology had its annual meeting earlier this month, and presenters questioned whether uterine artery embolization is being underutilized for postpartum bleeding.
- Radiologists perform most lumbar puncture procedures, according to a new study from the American College of Radiology's Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute.
- A group from New York City was able to successfully reduce the use of routine chest x-ray for patients being admitted to the intensive care unit -- a practice they said was expensive and unnecessary.
Be sure to check back in your Digital X-Ray Community for more stories like these!
