Response to COVID-19 in breast imaging

• Authors: Linda Moy, New York University Langone Health; Hildegard K. Toth, New York University Langone Health; Mary Newell, Emory University; Donna Plecha, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center; Jessica W. T. Leung, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Jennifer A. Harvey, University of Rochester Medical Center
• Journal Title: Journal of Breast Imaging
• Volume: Volume 2, Number 3
• Publisher: Oxford University Press | 2020-05-01, Pages 180-185
• Type of Work: Article | Post-print: After Peer Review
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1093/jbi/wbaa025
• Subjects: Health Sciences, Health Care Management; Health Sciences, Epidemiology; Health Sciences, Public Health; Health Sciences, Radiology
• Keywords: Breast imaging; Radiology; Imaging Science; COVID-19; Severe acute respiratory distress syndrom; Novel virus; Biopsy; Breast screening; Patient care

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a novel respiratory virus first identified in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. Symptoms vary from asymptomatic (particularly at younger ages) to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. Death is estimated to occur in 1-2% of those who contract the disease; most of these occur in patients age 60 years and older. While COVID-19 is not known to have any effect on the breast or the risk of breast cancer, responsible leadership requires protection of our patients, staff, and radiologists in reducing potential exposure and disease, as well as the effective use of breast imaging staff and radiologists. Here we ask select leaders in breast imaging to respond either specifically or in general to the following questions: 1) What is necessary breast imaging? 2) What will be done if care will be delayed for 1 month? 2-3 months? Longer? 3) How are you protecting staff? 4) How are implementing social distancing? 5) What do breast radiologists do when the schedule is mostly cleared out? 6) What do staff do when the schedule is mostly cleared out?