Washington AE et al, in an article in JAMA on climate change and healthcare. 

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Breast Imaging

Breast Screening Goes Green

Earth Day will be celebrated on April 22, and the event is a good opportunity to step back and take a look at medical imaging’s (not insignificant) contribution to climate change. Fortunately, a new paper in Health Policy details how one imaging service – breast screening – can be made more environmentally friendly. 

Previous studies have documented that medical imaging is a substantial contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, given the massive energy consumption required to keep all that big iron humming. 

• Researchers have recommended a variety of solutions to reduce radiology’s environmental footprint, from powering equipment down overnight to switching to alternative energy sources to power medical facilities. 

The new study gets even more specific, analyzing the greenhouse emissions inherent in cancer screening – in particular patient travel – and offering ways to make it more planet-friendly. 

• Researchers reviewed cancer screening programs in the Italian region of Tuscany, quantifying the CO₂ emissions for different screening services. 

Greenhouse gas emissions could be cut dramatically by switching from a provider-centric model that requires patients to travel to centralized screening facilities to one in which mobile vans were sent into the field. Using model calculations for mammography screening, they found that in one district alone …

• Breast screening was the most polluting cancer screening service, mostly because it had the highest number of invitees (3.4k women) traveling for screening
• Institution-based breast screening generated CO₂ emissions of 35,870 kgCO₂-eq/km annually
• Mobile breast screening had emissions of 805 kgCO₂-eq/km – just 2.2% of emissions from site-based screening

The study is unique in that it views sustainability and environmental pollution as a healthcare issue that’s fully within the purview of providers to address. 

The Takeaway

The new study outlines a holistic approach to healthcare services that – right now – many US providers might believe is outside the scope of their operations. But as Earth Day approaches, it’s worth at least considering how in years to come healthcare could be delivered within a broader context of social and environmental stewardship.

Automated Solutions for Patient and Provider Sharing

What’s the latest news from Clearpath? Find out how its fully automated patient and provider solutions for sharing medical records and images are making waves in healthcare.

AI-Powered Informatics to Drive Healthcare Value

The DeepHealth OS is a cloud-native operating system that orchestrates all data to drive value across the healthcare enterprise. Learn more about how DeepHealth elevates the radiologist beyond radiology and across the entire care pathway.

Approaches to Deploying Clinical AI

Join this April 30 educational webinar hosted by Aidoc and Merge by Merative to learn about real-world approaches to deploying AI solutions. Don’t miss this chance to learn how AI can be integrated into your workflows and help transform patient care.

The Wire

• CEM vs. Breast MRI: A study in Clinical Breast Cancer that compared contrast-enhanced mammography to breast MRI as a supplement to breast screening came to a split decision. Researchers studying 116 patients found that breast MRI had higher sensitivity (100% vs. 98%) but lower specificity (75% vs. 82%), and the differences weren’t statistically significant. But in the clinical setting CEM may have an edge thanks to greater availability: all the CEM exams were performed at the researchers’ institution, while 57% of the breast MRI scans had to be referred out.  

• AI Collaboration for ICH: AI developer Viz.ai is partnering with minimally invasive neurosurgery firm NICO to combine their technologies for diagnosis and treatment of intracerebral hemorrhage. Through the collaboration, providers can use the Viz ICH Plus module to detect ICH; brain clots can then be accessed and removed with NICO’s BrainPath and Myriad technologies. Results with the NICO technologies were recently published in the ENRICH trial in NEJM.

• Q Bio Launches Quantitative MRI: MRI software developer Q Bio is launching Tensor Field Mapping, an MRI scanning protocol designed to acquire quantitative measures of tissue properties. Q Bio claims the protocol has a number of advantages, including lower computer processing requirements and harmonized image data for better sharing and knowledge pooling. The company will include TFM in the Mark I MRI scanner it is developing for performing 10-minute full-body scans. 

• Rayus to Offer Ezra Full-Body MRI: Imaging services provider Rayus Radiology will be offering Ezra full-body MRI screening exams under a new partnership between the companies. The alliance will make Ezra scans available through 150 Rayus locations across the US. and will complement the 22 locations the company is already operating. Ezra offers full-body scans to detect over 500 conditions in up to 12 organs; the company raised $21M earlier this year. 

• Kicking the Smoking Habit with Lung Screening: CT lung cancer screening and smoking cessation therapy can work together to save lives. In a new study in European Respiratory Therapy, UK researchers found that among 2.2k people attending lung screening, 80% accepted an offer to speak to a smoking-cessation advisor, and 75% accepted weekly support. What’s more, 15% said they had quit smoking four weeks later, with higher quit rates among men and people who had tried to quit in the past. 

• UCSF Spinoff’s 510(k) for AR Software: UCSF spinoff Sira Medical has received FDA 510(k) clearance for its augmented reality software for use in preoperative surgical planning. Sira’s application uses data from CT and MRI scans to create patient-specific holograms that enable surgeons to see around anatomy that may be hidden on conventional CT or MRI scans. The holograms can also be used for patient education and training; Sira is offering the technology using a SaS-based platform. 

• AI for Osteoporosis Screening: Another FDA clearance was received by Canadian software developer 16 Bit, which got clearance for Rho, an AI application designed for opportunistic screening of low bone mineral density. Rho analyzes standard X-rays acquired for other indications and alerts radiologists if it recognizes patterns that could indicate low BMD. The FDA granted Rho breakthrough designation in March 2021, and 16 Bit believes the software could identify many individuals with low BMD who haven’t received DEXA scans. 

• GPT-4 Detects Report Errors: You’ve heard about ChatGPT being used to draft radiology reports, but what about checking reports from humans for errors? German researchers in Radiology used GPT-4 to analyze 200 radiology reports for errors like omissions, incorrect insertions, and side confusion. The algorithm had an error detection rate of 83%, below senior radiologists (89%) but better than attending radiologists and radiology residents (80%). Overall, one senior radiologist detected 95% of errors; there was no difference between GPT-4 and all the other radiologists combined. 

• How to Spot GenAI in Research Papers: Recent revelations on the use of large language model AI algorithms like ChatGPT to write academic papers have rocked the publishing world. A new analysis posted by Stanford researchers to arXiv finds that 18% of computer science papers were written with AI; telltale words to look for that are signs of LLM authorship include “showcasing,” “pivotal,” “intricate,” and “realm,” as the appearance of these terms has skyrocketed since ChatGPT launched in November 2022. 

• Blackford Adds Lucida: AI platform developer Blackford has added prostate AI tools from Lucida Medical to its Blackford Platform. Blackford is making Lucida’s Pi prostate intelligence tool for automating prostate MR image analysis available to hospitals in the UK and Europe. Lucida joins Radiobotics, Pixyl, Imbio, Avicenna, Bot Image, See-Mode, and Rayscape among recent additions to Blackford Platform. 

• Volpara Shareholders Approve Lunit Buy: Shareholders of breast health software developer Volpara Health approved Lunit’s proposal to buy the company this week. The companies announced the acquisition in December 2023 in a deal that would unite Volpara’s mammography software with Lunit’s AI applications. The acquisition is expected to be completed in May on receipt of final approval from a New Zealand court, after which Lunit will pay Volpara shareholders 75 cents a share (US). 

• What’s Inside AR/VR Headsets: The industrious folks at industrial CT developer Lumafield are at it again. Hot off their materials analysis of the iconic Stanley Quencher mug, they’ve scanned virtual reality headsets from Apple and Meta to see what’s inside. The internal workings of the Meta Quest headsets are simple and exemplify Meta’s goal of accessibility, while the Apple Vision Pro headset reflects Apple’s historic emphasis on design (as well as the headset’s premium price point); the scans show how it’s packed with sensors to support eye and hand tracking.

Visit United Imaging at ISMRM 2024

If you’re attending ISMRM 2024 in Singapore next month, be sure to visit United Imaging in booth A18 to explore their latest advances in MRI technology and learn how United is shaping the future of healthcare through innovation.

The Difference Is in the Details

Riverain Technologies has developed the capability to create synthetic nodules automatically and place them in relevant anatomical contexts. Hear Chief Science Officer Jason Knapp explain the company’s unique position in this video.

Radiology Automation Simplified

Validate, deploy, and discover radiology AI with CARPL.ai. Learn more about the company’s work in taking AI from bench to clinic by booking a demo today.

The Resource Wire

• Looking to Get Started with AI? Learn how Milton Keynes University Hospital adopted a successful AI strategy in this on-demand webinar from Blackford. You’ll discover how to evaluate and select the best AI solutions for your facility, tips for getting started with AI, and more. 

• Your Single Solution for AI, 3D, and Full Interoperability: Realize immediate value across your organization with subscription-based advanced visualization and AI from TeraRecon that accelerates imaging workflows and improves patient outcomes. Schedule a demo today. 

• AI Helps Residents Detect Fractures: Gleamer’s BoneView AI algorithm helped radiology residents detect fractures on adult and pediatric radiographs. Learn more about how it worked in this research summary. 

• An Update from Intelerad: Since joining Intelerad as CEO in 2023, Jordan Bazinsky has set the company on a course to address some of the major challenges facing radiology and healthcare today. Hear his thoughts in this episode of The Imaging Wire Show. 

• Faster MRI Scans with No Compromise: What if you could speed up your MRI scans with no compromise on image quality? In this video, hear from SpinTech MRI how their STAGE software is making this vision a reality.

• The Artistry of Radiology: How can an appreciation for fine art influence a radiologist’s image interpretation? Find out in this edition of The Radiology Report podcast, featuring Erin Cooke, MD, and Medality Co-Founder and CEO Daniel Arnold. 

• Echo AI and Mobile Health: Powered by AI-automated software, mobile ultrasound devices are taking echo exams out of the conventional clinical setting and on the road. In this article, learn how Singapore is using Us2.ai’s echo AI software to complete the full mobile exam pathway while maintaining high clinical standards.  

• Calantic by Bayer’s ECR Highlights: What were the hot topics in the booth of Calantic by Bayer at ECR 2024? AI was definitely a highlight in this video interview with Calantic executives Lucía Fernández and Juan Gutiérrez, MD.

• Radiology Data Standardization with AI: Enlitic offers healthcare providers a transformative approach to patient care, operational efficiency, and resource utilization. Learn how the company’s ENDEX solution can help you generate a return on investment through AI-based radiology data standardization. 

• AI-Powered Solutions to Drive Efficiency: Explore Nuance’s latest virtual series, Home for Dinner, showcasing AI-powered solutions to drive efficiency – saving radiology teams time at work so they can be home for dinner – or whatever matters most. The next demo on April 23 will feature Nuance Precision Imaging Network for seamlessly integrating AI into your existing reporting workflow. Sign up today. 

• Missed Appointments and No-Show Costs Can Add Up: Every missed appointment can cost providers an average of $200. Find out how providers are reducing no-show rates by up to 30% with Appointment Reminders by PocketHealth.

• Building a Mobile Lung Cancer CT Screening Program: The number of patients eligible for low-dose CT lung cancer screening has expanded, and so has the need to reach at-risk patients closer to where they live. That’s why Siemens Healthineers’ Mobile Lung Screening Solution combines the quality, ease of use, and flexibility needed to create a program that meets the real-life needs of your community.

• Make Health Smarter with Merge: Address your imaging needs today and face the future with confidence with Merge by Merative. Learn more about enabling better outcomes for your physicians and patients with Merge Imaging Suite.

• Go Virtual with Ease: Visage Imaging’s new Visage Ease VP solution makes it easy for you to take advantage of the unique clinical capabilities of the new Apple Vision Pro spatial computing environment. Learn how it can change your practice today.