CSBI Let's Chat 6th edition.

Date: stay tuned

CSBI is offering an informal on-line, live chat so that those involved in the breast imaging community can get together and informally discuss challenges and successes in these difficult times. It's a drop in format. It’s an opportunity to share information with each other.

Members will be emailed login information.

 

 

Covid-19: Safe Guidelines for Breast Imaging During the Pandemic.

(updated version released May 26, 2020)

Link to publication: CAR Journal

Abstract: During the COVID-19 pandemic, breast imaging must be performed using safe practices. Balancing the need to avoid delays in diagnosis of breast cancer while avoiding infection requires careful attention to personal protective equipment (PPE) and physical distancing and vigilance to maintain these practices. The CSBI/CAR guideline for breast Imaging during COVID19 is provided, based on priority according to risk of breast cancer and impact of delaying treatment. A review of the best practices is  presented that allow breast imaging during COVID19 to maximize protection of patients, technologists, residents, fellows and radiologists and minimize spread of the infection. The collateral damage of delaying diagnosis of breast cancer due to COVID-19 should be avoided when possible.

This guideline covers the following topics:
• Heath care workers, personal protective equipment, physical distancing measures and
teams approach
• Resuming with screening and lower priority breast imaging
• Financial impact on breast imaging
• Canadian Society of Breast Imaging (CSBI)/Canadian Association of Radiologists (CAR)
recommendations
• Collateral damage on breast cancer diagnosis and treatment

 

The Canadian Society of Breast Imaging (CSBI) and the Canadian Association of Radiology (CAR) Guidelines for Breast Imaging during the COVID-19 Pandemic

(released April 2, 2020)

CAR-CSBI_Breast_Imaging_Guidelines_During_COVID-19_2020_04_02_EG

Universal precautions should be taken to protect health care workers from infection or disease spread during breast imaging procedures, particularly mammography, breast ultrasound, breast MRI and breast intervention procedures, such as biopsy, during the pandemic outbreak of COVID-19 in Canada. The close proximity of both the patients’ and healthcare workers’ faces during these imaging procedures raises concern for droplet contamination in addition to blood spatter contamination, which may occur during image-guided interventions (e.g. breast biopsy) and spread by saliva through talking during imaging. These precautions extend to ALL patients, not just those with clinical symptoms or proven COVID-19 as undocumented infections facilitates the rapid dissemination of novel coronavirus (1). Please refer to full statement link above for more information.

Canadian Society of Breast Imaging and Canadian Association of Radiologists Joint Position Statement on COVID-19

(Released March 16, 2020)

Covid 19 statement CSBI_CAR (1)

Dear Members,

In this unprecedented time, every action that we take now can have a profound impact on our patients, our colleagues, technologists and families. To comply with recommendations for social distancing in order to blunt the spread of COVID -19 (novel coronavirus) and avoid significant impact to our patients and staff, the CSBI and CAR recommend that all average risk and high-risk screening mammography, ultrasound and breast MRI be discontinued temporarily with immediate effect.  These should be postponed for 6-8 weeks.

In addition to the WHO recommendations for social distancing, this action would be in line with the CDC advisory that medical facilities "reschedule non-urgent outpatient visits".

Our breast imaging patients are generally healthy, and their condition is deemed as non-life threatening where service can be delayed without anticipated change in outcome. Patients who are already screened and have abnormal screening results that are not highly suspicious should be delayed for 6-8 weeks. The feasibility of an assessment for a highly suspicious screening result during the 6-8 weeks of a pandemic wave will depend upon availability of local resources. Cancer diagnostic assessments for higher priority cases should not stop but should be based on level of severity and local hospital policies for abundance of caution.

Please consider postponing all screening work and help flatten the curve of the COVID19 outbreak. Please follow the directives of our public health agencies for further direction. In the meantime, keep safe practices and remember to thank your colleagues, technologists and administrators for their hard work during these difficult times.

Dr. Jean Seely
President, CSBI
Dr. Mike Barry
President, CAR

Approved by CSBI and CAR Board of Directors on March 16, 2020

 

Énoncé de position conjoint de la Société canadienne de l'imagerie mammaire et de
l'Association canadienne des radiologistes sur COVID-19

Cher Membres,

En cette période sans précédent, chaque action que nous entreprenons maintenant peut avoir un impact profond sur nos patients, nos collègues, les technologues et les familles.

Pour se conformer aux recommandations de distanciation sociale afin de limiter la propagation du COVID -19 (nouveau coronavirus) et éviter un impact significatif sur nos patients et notre personnel, le CSBI et le CAR recommandent que toutes les mammographies de dépistage à risque moyen et à haut risque et l'IRM mammaire et écographie de dépistage soient interrompu temporairement avec effet immédiat. Ceux-ci doivent être reportés de 6 à 8 semaines. En plus des recommandations de l'OMS pour l'éloignement social, cette action serait conforme à l'avis du CDC selon lequel les structures médicales "reprogramment les visites ambulatoires non urgentes".

Nos patientes d'imagerie mammaire sont généralement en bonne santé, et leur état est considéré comme ne mettant pas leur vie en danger lorsque le service peut être retardé sans changement anticipé des résultats. Les patients qui sont déjà dépistées et dont les résultats de dépistage sont anormaux et qui ne sont pas très suspects doivent être retardés de 6 à 8 semaines. La faisabilité d'une évaluation d'un résultat de dépistage très suspect au cours des 6 à 8 semaines d'une vague pandémique dépendra de la disponibilité des ressources locales. Les évaluations diagnostiques du cancer pour les cas de priorité plus élevée ne doivent pas s'arrêter mais doivent être basées sur le niveau de gravité et les politiques des hôpitaux locaux pour plus de prudence. Veuillez envisager d'interrompre tous les travaux de dépistage et aider à aplanir la courbe de l'épidémie de COVID-19.

Veuillez suivre les directives de nos agences de santé publique pour plus d'informations. En attendant, gardez des pratiques sûres et n'oubliez pas de remercier vos collègues, technologues et administrateurs pour leur travail
acharné en ces temps difficiles.

Dr. Jean Seely
Présidente, CSBI
Dr. Mike Barry
Président, CAR