Background: Phantom studies are widely used to assess variability in measurements. This study aimed to assess the reliability and accuracy of point Shear Wave elastography (pSWE) measurements of an elasticity phantom. Methods: Measurements were obtained by an experienced certified clinical sonographer at three different depth levels in kPa, using a curvilinear 5-1MHz transducer of the EPIQ7 ultrasound imaging system. Results: A total of 180 pSWE measurements were obtained at three different depth levels (three cm, five cm, and seven cm) of the phantom background. The mean CV of pSWE was low at all depths (3 cm: 8.8%; 5 cm: 7%; 7 cm: 7.2%). There was a significant difference between measurements at depths of 3 cm vs. 7 cm (MD: −0.85, 95% CI −1.5, −0.11, p = 0.024) and measurements at depths 5 cm vs. 7 cm (MD: −1.1, 95% CI −1.7, −0.47, p = 0.001). An overestimation of mean pSWE measurements at a depth of 7 cm was noted compared to the manufacturer’s value (2.7%, p = 0.006). Conclusions: Superficial phantom SWE measurements in this study had low variability compared to deep measurement. pSWE measurements at deep levels can be overestimated.

Purpose: To date, limited studies have specifically addressed the reliability of ultrasound point shear-wave elastography (pSWE). Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the reproducibility of ultrasound pSWE within and between operators using two ultrasound scanners.Methods: iU22 and EPIQ7 ultrasound scanners were used to assess the reliability of pSWE measurements of four inclusions [L I (8 kPa), L II (14 kPa), L III (48 kPa), and L IV (80 kPa)] at a depth of 3.5 cm in an elasticity phantom using a curvilinear 5-1 MHz transducer. The intraoperator, inter-operator, and inter-scanner reproducibility of pSWE was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). Bland-Altman plots were used to establish bias and limits of agreement (LoA) between measurements. The accuracy of pSWE from manufacturer values was determined using the one-sample t-test.Results: Intra-operator agreement was excellent, with an ICC >0.90. The bias in measurements for operator A was -0.36±3.13 kPa (LoA, -6.47 to 5.75), and for operator B it was 1.97±6.29 kPa (LoA, -10.25 to 14.21). Inter-operator agreement was excellent, with an ICC of 0.95. The bias in measurements between operators was -0.42±5.00 kPa (LoA, -10.24 to 9.38). The inter-scanner agreement between EPIQ7 and iU22 was excellent, with an ICC of 0.96. The bias in measurements between scanners was 1.74±4.44 kPa (LoA, -6.95 to 10.45). There was significant overestimation for L I (17.75%) and L II (31.14%) and underestimation for L III (-15.28%) and L VI (-98.00%) relative to the manufacturer-reported values.Conclusion: Phantom ultrasound pSWE was reproducible within and between operators, and between Philips ultrasound scanners; further studies using different ultrasound systems and transducers are required.

The 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic has not only created massive public health issues, it has also produced excessive psychological disorders in healthcare professionals, including radiology staff. The aim of this study is to assess the risk perception and mental health of radiology staff in Saudi Arabia during the COVID-19 pandemic. The researcher asked radiology staff to complete an online Google Forms questionnaire, between June 10, 2020 and June 17, 2020, which contained demographic data and self-designed questions related to anxiety, insomnia, depressive symptoms, and mental health services during the pandemic. A total of 168 radiology staff participated in the study. The results indicated that 53.05% and 57.14% of the participants were experiencing mild to severe symptoms of anxiety and depression, respectively. Moreover, 47.02% of the participants were experiencing insomnia symptoms. Among all the participants, only 16.61% had received psychological materials from their hospital during the pandemic, while 22.02% had accessed online psychological assistance techniques. The health of roughly one-third (30.95%) of the participants was worse than it had been before the pandemic. COVID-19 is a source of mental health disorders for healthcare professionals, particularly radiology staff. The findings of this study indicate that more than 70% of radiology staff in Saudi Arabia are concerned about insufficient protective measures and the risk of infection. In addition, a large percentage of them have experienced mental health disorders, such as anxiety, insomnia, and depression. Regular mental healthcare services are required to decrease the negative impact of the pandemic and enhance the overall mental health of the radiology staff.

Trends in routine laboratory tests, such as high white blood cell and low platelet counts, correlate with COVID-19-related intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. Other related biomarkers include elevated troponin, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate transaminase levels (liver function tests). To this end, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of changes in laboratory test parameters on ward-based and ICU COVID-19 patients. A total of 280 COVID-19 patients were included in the study and were divided based on admission status into ICU (37) or ward (243) patients. ICU admission correlated significantly with higher levels of several tested parameters, including lactate dehydrogenase, creatinine, D-dimer, creatine kinase, white blood cell count, and neutrophil count. In conclusion, routine laboratory tests offer an indication of which COVID-19 patients are most likely to be admitted to the ICU. These associations can assist healthcare providers in addressing the needs of patients who are at risk of COVID-19 complications.

Background/Objectives: Early diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis is crucial to improve patient outcomes. Although ^99mTc-MDP is less sensitive than other bone-avid tracers for detecting ATTR-CA, it is widely used for routine bone imaging in this region. Incidental cardiac uptake on ^99mTc-MDP bone scintigraphy may therefore offer a practical opportunity for identifying suspected ATTR-CA in resource-limited settings. To evaluate incidental cardiac uptake, warranting further evaluation for ATTR-CA on routine ^99mTc-MDP bone scans as an incidental flag method for patients who require further evaluation and to propose a referral pathway in resource-limited settings. Methods: A retrospective review of 229 patients was performed. The assessment of myocardial uptake was performed using the Perugini visual score and H/CL ratio analysis. Patients’ medical records were reviewed, and available cardiac imaging reports were evaluated for further assessment of cardiac involvement. Results: Nine patients demonstrated a Perugini score = 2; of these, five underwent echocardiography, demonstrating abnormalities that may indicate amyloid involvement. No patient had confirmatory ATTR-CA testing, AL-CA exclusion testing, (CMR), biopsy, or amyloid typing. In patients without prior cardiac disease, echocardiographic abnormalities may potentially represent subclinical disease, such as cardiac amyloidosis, though this requires further confirmation. In patients with HTN or diabetes, the echocardiographic changes may be attributed to the underlying conditions. Echocardiographic characteristics suggestive, but not specific, for cardiac amyloidosis were observed in patients selected based on positive ^99mTc-MDP uptake. Conclusions: Incidental cardiac uptake with a Perugini score ≥ 2 can highlight patients for ATTR-CA investigation. These results provide preliminary evidence that incidental ^99mTc-MDP cardiac uptake can flag patients who require further evaluation for ATTR-CA and support the implementation of a referral pathway from local evaluation to a specialized center.

Cardiovascular ultrasound is an operator-dependent modality that requires careful sequencing of the theoretical and practical training to optimize skills acquisition. This study compares lecture-first (LF) versus practical-first (PF) teaching strategies in undergraduate radiologic sciences students to evaluate the impact of 2 different teaching strategies on students' scores. In a randomized controlled trial, 54 students were allocated to LF (n=25) or PF (n=29) groups. The LF group received didactic lectures followed by hands-on practice, while the PF group reversed this sequence. Outcomes were measured using a multiple-choice question (MCQ) exam for theoretical knowledge and an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) for practical skills. Evaluation was performed by blinded faculty using standardized rubrics. An exploratory analysis of the impact of supplemental practice sessions was also performed. LF students demonstrated superior overall performance (median score: 0.9 vs. 0.82, P =0.009, effect size: d =0.72) and practical skills (0.95 vs. 0.82, P =0.002, effect size: d =0.85). Theoretical knowledge scores were comparable between groups, with median scores of 0.86 for LF and 0.85 for PF ( P =0.9). Students attending extra practice sessions achieved significantly higher scores across all domains (overall: 0.9 vs. 0.83, P =0.004; skills: 0.93 vs. 0.87, P =0.01). Teaching strategy in which a lecture is delivered first, followed by a practical session, was associated with improved scores compared with the design starting with a practical session. Attending additional hands-on sessions can significantly enhance students’ knowledge and skills for performing ultrasound examinations. This study suggests that sequencing can influence student academic achievement and indicates that arranging practical sessions after lectures and providing extra practical sessions can enhance learning in the cardiovascular ultrasound curriculum.