A single Chest X-ray Could Predict 10-Year CVD Risk

Researchers presented in the 2022 RSNA Annual meeting the results of a deep-learning model (AI) based on which a single chest x-ray could predict a patient's 10-year risk of dying from a heart attack or a stroke.

They tested the algorithm against a group of 11,430 outpatients, with an average age 60-years who underwent outpatient chest x-ray and were potentially eligible to receive statins.  Of those patients ,1096 or 9.6% had a major adverse cardiac event in a median 10-year follow up.

There was a significant association of the CVD risk found by chest x-ray and those found with MACE.

This is an example on how AI could detect clinically relevant outcomes with a widely used and low-cost screening test.

The paper was presented at 2022 RSNA meeting, Abstract T#-SSCH04-1

As today is the first of a new year I want to wish you all a happy and healthy 2023.  I would like to thank the 14,000+ who read the 174 posts I published the last 7 years.  

I also want to extend my sincere appreciation to three mentors of mine; my late Chairman Dr. V Capek MD and late Dean B. Siegel MD at UIC and Dean M Tzagournis MD at OSUMC for guiding and supporting me during my academic career. Also the many associates and trainees who daily enriched my experience in our specialty that had an explosive growth in the last 50 years.  

Finally, I want to let you know that starting next month the blog will have a new editor, a talented young radiologist, who with her ideas and knowledge of recent developments and advances in Radiology will make Radiology Monthly better for the benefit of all who read it.

American Women Prefer Annual Mammograms

The US Preventive ServicesTask Force (USPSTF) reaffirmed its recommendations to screen women ages 50-74 for breast cancer every two years stating that the harms of annual screening outweighed the benefits.  It also says the decision on frequency of screening should be individualized for women ages 40-49 based on risk.  The USPSTF found insufficient evidence to recommend for or against screening for women 75 or older.

Several professional societies like the American College of Radiology and Society of Breast Imaging advocate annual screening mammography starting at age 40.

A survey of 731 women indicated that 71% of the women who were 59 years old on average said they’d prefer a screening mammogram every year. Only 17% of participants felt having biennial screening would cause less anxiety. Of the patients who reported a prior abnormal mammogram, 13% believe biennial screening would cause less anxiety

The study was presented at the 103th annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America.