Women's perceptions and attitudes to the use of AI in breast cancer screening: a survey in a cancer referral centre.

OBJECTIVE: Although breast cancer screening can benefit from Artificial Intelligence (AI), it is still unknown whether, to which extent or under which conditions, the use of AI is going to be accepted by the general population. The aim of our study is to evaluate what the females who are eligible for breast cancer screening know about AI and how they perceive such innovation. METHODS: We used a prospective survey consisting of a 11-multiple-choice questionnaire evaluating statistical associations with Chi-Square-test or Fisher-exact-test. Multinomial-logistic-regression was performed on items with more than two response categories. Odds ratio (OR) with 95% CI were computed to estimate the probability of a specific response according to patient's characteristics. RESULTS: In the 800 analysed questionnaires, 51% of respondents confirmed to have knowledge of AI. Of these, 88% expressed a positive opinion about its use in medicine. Non-Italian respondents were associated with the belief of having a deep awareness about AI more often than Italian respondents (OR = 1.91;95% CI[1.10-3.33]). Higher education level was associated with better opinions on the use of AI in medicine (OR = 4.69;95% CI[1.36-16.12]). According to 94% of respondents, the radiologists should always produce their own report on mammograms, whilst 77% agreed that AI should be used as a second reader. Most respondents (52%) considered that both the software developer and the radiologist should be held accountable for AI errors. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the females undergoing screening in our Institute approve the introduction of AI, although only as a support to radiologist, and not in substitution thereof. Yet, accountability in case of AI errors is still unsolved. advances in knowledge:This survey may be considered as a pilot-study for the development of large-scale studies to understand females's demands and concerns about AI applications in breast cancer screening.

Gastrointestinal Bleeding in Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Infection Managed by Interventional Radiology.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to evaluate the technical and clinical success of trans-arterial embolization (TAE) as a treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients and to describe its safety; moreover, we describe the characteristics of these patients. METHODS: Thirty-four COVID-19 hospitalized patients presented with GIB. Risk factors, drugs administered for COVID-19 infection, and clinical and biological parameters were evaluated. Furthermore, intraprocedural data and outcomes of embolization were analyzed. RESULTS: GIB was more frequent in male. Overweight, hypertension, diabetes, previous cardiac disease, and anticoagulation preadmission (48.5%) were frequently found in our population. Previous or actual COVID Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and a high level of D-dimer were encountered in most cases. Upper GIB was more frequent than lower GIB. Technical and clinical success rates of embolization were 88.2% and 94.1%, respectively. The complication rate was 5.9%. CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlights the most frequent characteristics of COVID-19 patients with GIB. Embolization is feasible, effective, and safe.

Percutaneous US-guided MWA of small liver HCC: predictors of outcome and risk factors for complications from a single center experience.

The aim of the present study was to identify predictors of outcome and complications in patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated by percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA). Patients with non-previously treated small (≤ 3 cm) HCCs who underwent ultrasound (US)-guided percutaneous MWA between July 2016 and January 2019 were included. For each patient, the following variables were registered: age, sex, albumin, platelet count, INR/PT, PTT ratio, total bilirubin, liver status, etiology of liver disease, Child-Pugh classification, tumor dimension, margin, and hepatic segment, tumor subcapsular, perihilar or perivascular location, HCC focality, ascites. During follow-up, complications and outcomes were registered. Variables were then analyzed in relation to both outcomes and complications. 74 patients were included. Mean CT follow-up was 6.2 months (range 1-24 months). At least one complication occurred in 48% of patients, the majority being asymptomatic imaging findings not requiring intervention. One major complication was registered (duodenal perforation: 1.3%). The occurrence of complications was associated with HCC multifocality and abnormal INR/PT, duodenal wall edema with tumor dimension, portal vein thrombosis with Child Pugh score, perihepatic free fluid with abnormal platelet count and comorbidities. Incomplete response rate at 1 month was 18.9%. Local tumor progression and new HCC nodules rates were 13.5% and 27%, respectively. Incomplete response at 1 month was associated with both alcoholic etiology of liver disease and II segment tumor location, new HCC nodules with PBC. Despite the small series analyzed, significant factors related with complications and outcomes may be kept in mind when planning the best treatment for each patient.

Radiation overexposure from repeated CT scans in young adults with acute abdominal pain.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to assess the dose of ionizing radiation caused by repeated CT scans performed to investigate non-traumatic acute abdominal conditions in young adults. METHODS: Over 26 months, we collected a cohort of patients aged 18 to 45 years who were subject to at least one urgent contrast-enhanced abdomen/pelvis CT. Patients affected with urolithiasis, HIV infection, tumors, and vascular and chronic inflammatory bowel diseases were excluded. All abdomen/pelvis CT scans carried out at our institution for over 6 years were retrospectively tallied, and the effective doses (EDs) were computed by multiplying the total dose-length product by the appropriate anatomic conversion factor. Examples of age- and gender-adjusted lifetime attributable cancer risks were estimated using the online calculator Radiation Risk Assessment Tool. RESULTS: Sixty-one patients (average age 34.2 years) received multiple CT scans (average 2.7 scans per patient). ED largely varied among single- and multi-phase acquisitions. Cumulative ED ranged from 14.1 mSv to a maximum of 436.6 mSv (average 70.1 mSv per person). Twenty-five patients (40.9%) received more than 50 mSv, 84% of them within year; 12 (19.7%) and 4 (6.6%) patients received more than 100 and 200 mSv, respectively. CONCLUSION: Young adults are subject to repetitive CT imaging to monitor urogenital, intestinal, hepatobiliary, and pancreatic disorders during non-operative management to detect and follow up abdominal emergencies requiring surgical intervention and to assess post-surgical complications. In this population, the risk of accruing high cumulative radiation exposure should be considered.