Breast imaging and cancer diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic: recommendations from the Italian College of Breast Radiologists by SIRM
Open Access
- 13 July 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in La radiologia medica
- Vol. 125 (10), 926-930
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s11547-020-01254-3
Abstract
The Italian College of Breast Radiologists by the Italian Society of Medical Radiology (SIRM) provides recommendations for breast care provision and procedural prioritization during COVID-19 pandemic, being aware that medical decisions must be currently taken balancing patient’s individual and community safety: (1) patients having a scheduled or to-be-scheduled appointment for in-depth diagnostic breast imaging or needle biopsy should confirm the appointment or obtain a new one; (2) patients who have suspicious symptoms of breast cancer (in particular: new onset palpable nodule; skin or nipple retraction; orange peel skin; unilateral secretion from the nipple) should request non-deferrable tests at radiology services; (3) asymptomatic women performing annual mammographic follow-up after breast cancer treatment should preferably schedule the appointment within 1 year and 3 months from the previous check, compatibly with the local organizational conditions; (4) asymptomatic women who have not responded to the invitation for screening mammography after the onset of the pandemic or have been informed of the suspension of the screening activity should schedule the check preferably within 3 months from the date of the not performed check, compatibly with local organizational conditions. The Italian College of Breast Radiologists by SIRM recommends precautions to protect both patients and healthcare workers (radiologists, radiographers, nurses, and reception staff) from infection or disease spread on the occasion of breast imaging procedures, particularly mammography, breast ultrasound, breast magnetic resonance imaging, and breast intervention procedures.Keywords
This publication has 28 references indexed in Scilit:
- ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Breast Imaging of Pregnant and Lactating WomenJournal of the American College of Radiology, 2018
- Breast ultrasound: recommendations for information to women and referring physicians by the European Society of Breast ImagingInsights into Imaging, 2018
- 4th ESO–ESMO International Consensus Guidelines for Advanced Breast Cancer (ABC 4)Annals of Oncology, 2018
- Association of Screening and Treatment With Breast Cancer Mortality by Molecular Subtype in US Women, 2000-2012JAMA, 2018
- Diagnostic Performance of MRI Versus Galactography in Women With Pathologic Nipple Discharge: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisAmerican Journal of Roentgenology, 2017
- Depression in cancer: The many biobehavioral pathways driving tumor progressionCancer Treatment Reviews, 2016
- Mammography: an update of the EUSOBI recommendations on information for womenInsights into Imaging, 2016
- Time to Surgery and Breast Cancer Survival in the United StatesJAMA Oncology, 2016
- Breast MRI: EUSOBI recommendations for women’s informationEuropean Radiology, 2015
- Loneliness and Social Isolation as Risk Factors for MortalityPerspectives on Psychological Science, 2015