What were the top 10 radiology stories of 2023 in The Imaging Wire? From worklist cherry-picking to a wearable breast ultrasound scanner – and with lots of AI in between – this year’s top 10 list demonstrates the fascinating new developments going on every day in medical imaging.
1. The Perils of Worklist Cherry-Picking
If you’re a radiologist, chances are at some point in your career you’ve cherry-picked the worklist. But picking easy, high-RVU imaging studies to read before your colleagues isn’t just rude – it’s bad for patients and bad for healthcare. That’s according to a study in Journal of Operations Management that analyzed radiology cherry-picking in the context of operational workflow and efficiency.
2. Tipping Point for Breast AI?
Have we reached a tipping point when it comes to AI for breast screening? A study in Radiology demonstrated the value of AI for interpreting screening mammograms.
3. Autonomous AI for Medical Imaging is Here. Should We Embrace It?
What is autonomous artificial intelligence, and is radiology ready for this new technology? In this paper, we explored one of the most exciting autonomous AI applications, ChestLink from Oxipit.
4. Undermining the Argument for NPPs
If you think you’ve been seeing more non-physician practitioners (NPPs) reading medical imaging exams, you’re not alone. A study in Current Problems in Diagnostic Radiology found that the rate of NPP interpretations went up almost 27% over four years.
5. Reimbursement Drives AI Adoption
It’s no secret that insurance reimbursement drives adoption of new medical technology. But an analysis in NEJM AI showed exactly how reimbursement is affecting the diffusion into clinical practice of perhaps the newest medical technology – artificial intelligence.
New research on the cancer risk of low-dose ionizing radiation could have disturbing implications for those who are exposed to radiation on the job – including medical professionals. In a study in BMJ, researchers found that nuclear workers exposed to occupational levels of radiation had a cancer mortality risk that was higher than previously estimated.
What will cardiac imaging look like in 2040? It will be more automated and preventive, and CT will continue to play a major – and growing – role. That’s according to an April 11 article in Radiology in which Dr. David Bluemke and Dr. João Lima looked into the future and offered a top 10 list of major developments in cardiovascular imaging in 2040.
What impact do incorrect AI results have on radiologist performance? That question was the focus of a study in European Radiology in which radiologists who received incorrect AI results were more likely to make wrong decisions on patient follow-up – even though they would have been correct without AI’s help.
9. The 35 Best Radiology Newsletters, Blogs, and Websites to Follow
We dedicated March 6th’s top story to the people and publications that we rely on to find the most interesting medical imaging stories. Assuming that you already subscribe to The Imaging Wire, these are the 35 other newsletters, websites, blogs, and accounts to follow if you want to know what’s happening in radiology.
10. Breast Ultrasound Gets Wearable
Wearable devices are all the rage in personal fitness – could wearable breast ultrasound be next? MIT researchers have developed a patch-sized wearable breast ultrasound device that’s small enough to be incorporated into a bra for early cancer detection. They described their work in a paper in Science Advances.
The Takeaway
The Imaging Wire’s list of top 10 articles for 2023 shows that, while artificial intelligence featured prominently during the year, there was much more to radiology than just AI. We hope you enjoyed reading our content this year as much as we enjoyed bringing it to you.
