Journal of the American College of Radiology : JACR
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The devastating impact from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic highlights long-standing socioeconomic health disparities in the United States. The purpose of this study was to evaluate socioeconomic factors related to imaging utilization during the pandemic. ⋯ During the pandemic, there was a significant change in imaging utilization varying by socioeconomic factors, consistent with the known health disparities observed in the prevalence of COVID-19. These findings could have significant implications in directing utilization of resources during the pandemic and subsequent recovery.
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African Americans were underrepresented in lung cancer screening (LCS) trials, despite having higher lung cancer incidence and worse outcomes compared with Caucasians. There is concern that the 30-pack-year threshold excludes some African Americans who may benefit from LCS. ⋯ This is the first review of LCS in African Americans who self-reported <30 pack-years. Although retrospective, these data raise concern that the 30-pack-year threshold may not be an appropriate LCS criterion in African Americans.
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Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is growing, but few data exist regarding its effects on radiology ultrasound (Rad US) volumes. The authors studied changes in Rad US ordered by emergency medicine (EM) as POCUS began and grew at their pediatric hospital. ⋯ Rad US overall and specifically for SSTI increased or remained stable during the introduction and growth of EM POCUS. Rather than decreasing Rad US, EM POCUS had a complementary role.