Vaping Associated Lung Injury Requiring Bilateral Lung Transplant in an Adolescent

Purpose: E-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury (EVALI) is a newly recognized entity that is being reported with increasing frequency in the literature and mainstream press. The aim of this case report is to radiographically illustrate the fairly rapid progression of a severe case of EVALI that ultimately required a successful bilateral lung transplant, and to describe a unique histopathology correlation. Case Report: Our patient is a 16-year-old, previously healthy male with a two year history of vaping who presented to an outside hospital for dyspnea and nonproductive cough. He was initially treated with antibiotics for community acquired pneumonia. Initial contrast-enhanced CT of the chest demonstrated subtle bilateral but right lower lobe predominant centrilobular nodules, ground glass opacities (GGO) and mild septal thickening. Bronchial alveolar lavage, microbiology studies and autoimmune panel were negative for an infectious or autoimmune etiology. Repeat chest CT only five days later following clinical deterioration demonstrated a dramatic worsening of bilateral nodular airspace opacities, septal thickening, GGO and dependent diffuse consolidations. Pneumomediastinum and mild bronchiectasis were also present. Our patient’s condition continued to decline requiring intubation and subsequent ECMO support. He was transferred to our tertiary care center for bilateral lung transplant. Histopathology of the explanted lungs described predominant acute necrotizing and granulomatous bronchopneumonia with areas of organizing pneumonia. Discussion: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention currently considers EVALI a diagnosis of exclusion with a confirmed case requiring the use of an e-cigarette 90 days before symptom onset, pulmonary infiltrates on chest imaging, absence of pulmonary infection and no other plausible diagnoses. Various imaging patterns of EVALI have been reported including hypersensitivity pneumonitis, diffuse alveolar hemorrhage, acute eosinophilic pneumonia and lipoid pneumonia, among others. This case demonstrates progression of a severe case of EVALI requiring bilateral lung transplant in an adolescent. Acute necrotizing and granulomatous bronchopneumonia were the predominant histologic features in our patient and have not previously been described in association with EVALI. It is important to consider EVALI in adolescents with a history of e-cigarette use who have a negative infectious and autoimmune work up presenting with severe respiratory symptoms and patterns of lung injury on chest imaging. As the popularity of these inhalational products evolves, radiologists must be informed of the emerging radiographic appearances of EVALI.https://scholarlycommons.henryford.com/merf2020caserpt/1101/thumbnail.jp

Imaging Findings in Non-Neoplastic Sinonasal Disease: Review of Imaging Features With Endoscopic Correlates

Non-neoplastic sinonasal disease is common and imaging often plays an important role in establishing the proper diagnosis, guiding clinical management, and evaluating for complications. Both computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are commonly employed in the imaging evaluation and it is important to understand the imaging characteristics of the unique types of pathology affecting the sinonasal cavities. This article reviews a variety of infectious, inflammatory, and other non-neoplastic sinonasal pathologies, highlighting imaging features that aid in their differentiation

Diagnostic Imaging Utilization in the Emergency Department: Recent Trends in Volume and Radiology Work Relative Value Units

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to quantify and characterize the recent trend in emergency department (ED) imaging volumes and radiology work relative value units (wRVUs) at level I and level III trauma centers. METHODS: Total annual diagnostic radiology imaging volumes and wRVUs were obtained from level I and level III trauma centers from January 2014 to December 2021. Imaging volumes were analyzed by modality type, examination code, and location. Total annual patient ED encounters (EDEs), annual weighted Emergency Severity Index, and patient admissions from the ED were obtained. Data were analyzed using annual imaging volume or wRVUs per EDE, and percentage change was calculated. RESULTS: At the level I trauma center, imaging volumes per EDE increased for chest radiography (5.5%), CT (35.5%), and MRI (56.3%) and decreased for ultrasound (-5.9%) from 2014 to 2021. Imaging volumes per EDE increased for ultrasound (10.4%), CT (74.6%), and MRI (2.0%) and decreased for chest radiography (-4.4%) at the level III trauma center over the same 8-year period. Total wRVUs per EDE increased at both the level I (34.9%) and level III (76.6%) trauma centers over the study period. CONCLUSIONS: ED imaging utilization increased over the 8-year study period at both level I and level III trauma centers, with an increase in total wRVUs per EDE. There was a disproportionate increased utilization of advanced imaging, such as CT, over time. ED utilization trends suggest that there will be a continued increase in demand for advanced imaging interpretation, including at lower acuity hospitals, so radiology departments should prepare for this increased work demand

COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates: Impact on Radiology Department Operations and Mitigation Strategies

OBJECTIVE: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine mandates are being implemented in health systems across the United States, and the impact on the radiology department workforce and operations becuase of vaccine hesitancy among health care workers is currently unknown. This article discusses the potential impact of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate on a large multicenter radiology department as well as strategies to mitigate those effects. METHODS: Weekly vaccine compliance data were obtained for employees across the entire health system from August 17, 2021, through September 13, 2021, and radiology department-specific data were extracted. Vaccine compliance data was mapped to specific radiology job titles and the five different hospital locations. RESULTS: A total of 6% of radiology department employees were not fully vaccine compliant by the initial deadline of September 10, 2021. MR technologists and radiology technology assistants had the highest initial rates of noncompliance of 37% and 38%, respectively. Vaccine noncompliance rates by the mandate deadline ranged from 0.5% to 7.0% at the five hospital sites. Only one hospital required a decrease in imaging hours of operation because of the vaccine mandate. CONCLUSION: Despite initial concerns about the impact of vaccine mandate noncompliance on departmental operations, there was ultimately little effect because of improved vaccine compliance after the mandate. Understanding individual employee and locoregional differences in vaccine compliance can help leaders proactively develop mitigation strategies to manage this new challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on radiology physician work RVUs at a large subspecialized radiology practice

PURPOSE: As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, efforts by radiology departments to protect patients and healthcare workers and mitigate disease spread have reduced imaging volumes. This study aims to quantify the pandemic\u27s impact on physician productivity across radiology practice areas as measured by physician work Relative Value Units (wRVUs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: All signed diagnostic and procedural radiology reports were curated from January 1st to July 1st of 2019 and 2020. Physician work RVUs were assigned to each study type based on the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. Utilizing divisional assignments, radiologist schedules were mapped to each report to generate a sum of wRVUs credited to that division for each week. Differential impact on divisions were calculated relative to a matched timeframe in 2019 and a same length pre-pandemic time period in 2020. RESULTS: All practice areas saw a substantial decrease in wRVUs from the 2020 pre- to intra-pandemic time period with a mean decrease of 51.5% (range 15.4%-76.9%). The largest declines were in Breast imaging, Musculoskeletal, and Neuroradiology, which had decreases of 76.9%, 75.3%, and 67.5%, respectively. The modalities with the greatest percentage decrease were mammography, MRI, and non-PET nuclear medicine. CONCLUSION: All radiology practice areas and modalities experienced a substantial decrease in wRVUs. The greatest decline was in Breast imaging, Neuroradiology, and Musculoskeletal radiology. Understanding the differential impact of the pandemic on practice areas will help radiology departments prepare for the potential depth and duration of the pandemic by better understanding staffing needs and the financial effects

Challenges of acute phase neuroimaging in VA-ECMO, pitfalls and alternative imaging options

Large vessel occlusion in patients on ECMO is challenging to appreciate clinically secondary to sedation or induced paralysis, thus placing more emphasis on neurovascular imaging. However, emergent CTA and CTP are both inaccurate and unreliable in ECMO patients due to altered circuitry and interference with normal physiologic hemodynamics. In this review, the utility of DSA is discussed in evaluating the altered hemodynamics of VA-ECMO circuits and patency of major vasculature. In addition, the potential use of TCD in ECMO patients is discussed