Womens Imaging

Women’s imaging encompasses many radiology procedures related to women and the diseases that are most prevalent to women such as breast cancer or gynecological issues. Mammogram, breast ultrasound, breast MRI and breast biopsy are the most commonly used procedures.

Fewer radiologists are interpreting breast imaging exams, with key workforce implications
From 2013 to 2022, the percentage of rads submitting breast care claims to Medicare dropped from about 47% down to 34%.
Experts caution patients on the dangers of boutique fetal ultrasounds
Due to the elective, rather than diagnostic, nature of these exams, operators are not required to complete formal training or be registered if the scans are done in privately owned entities.
FDA grants De Novo marketing authorization for at-home prenatal ultrasound
Women's health experts are calling the approval a "long-awaited leap forward" for obstetrical care.
45% of seniors report longer wait times for care than 1 year ago, new RBMA survey finds
About 60% of those experiencing delays said they’ve struggled to find doctors who accept Medicare, the Radiology Business Management Association reports.
Mammography services suspended at 2 hospitals following ACR review
A news release indicates the suspensions are due to breast images not meeting the college's clinical quality standards.

Age and workload affect reader performance for screening mammograms

Age, specialty training and reading volume give readers an edge over their peers when it comes to screening mammogram interpretations.

Contrast-enhanced mammography uses iodine contrast injected into a patient and mammography system to image contrast uptake or areas of increased vascular activity, which is typical of cancers. This can help image through dense breast tissue to find cancers that are otherwise masked by dense breast tissue.

Radiologists should be aware of these clinical factors when reading CEM scans

The degree of background parenchymal enhancement on CEM during certain days of a premenopausal woman's cycle could impact how radiologists interpret the exam.

Prenatal MRI reveals placental damage caused by COVID

In general, any COVID diagnosis raises risks of fetal harm during pregnancy, but fetuses of women who have been diagnosed with a pre-Omicron variant of the virus are most at risk of developmental impairment, according to new research.

DBT guidance produces a significant drop in procedure time during radioseed localization

The savings in time and radiation dose do not come at the expense of surgical outcomes or complications.

Automated breast ultrasound (ABUS) allows for reproducible breast imaging without variation based on which sonographer performs the exam. It also can help centers were they are short on qualified breast sonographers. Breast ultrasound can help identify cancers, or benign cysts, even in women with very dense breast tissue. At the GE Healthcare booth at RSNA.

Commercially available AI systems excel in cancer detection in dense breasts

A multi-modal AI approach can combine information from both ABUS and DM, which could be especially beneficial in resource poor regions where experienced radiologists might not be readily available.

Example of artificial intelligence generated measurements to quantify the size of a lung cancer nodule during a followup CT scan to see if the lesion is regressing with treatment. This type of automation can aid radiologists by doing the tedious, time consuming work. Photo by Dave Fornell

8 trends in radiology technology to watch in 2023

Here is a list of some key trends in radiology technology from our editors based on our coverage of the radiology market.

Lawmaker pushes to eliminate OOP costs for supplemental breast imaging

HB 575 would remove financial barriers for women who are recommended to undergo supplemental breast imaging, such as an MRI, CT or ultrasound, when the exams are deemed medically necessary.

New data on DCIS surveillance imaging has experts concerned

A concerning number of women do not follow through with recommended surveillance imaging following treatment for breast cancer.

Womens Imaging

Fewer radiologists are interpreting breast imaging exams, with key workforce implications

Experts caution patients on the dangers of boutique fetal ultrasounds

FDA grants De Novo marketing authorization for at-home prenatal ultrasound

45% of seniors report longer wait times for care than 1 year ago, new RBMA survey finds

Mammography services suspended at 2 hospitals following ACR review