Breast imaging and cancer diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic: recommendations from the Italian College of Breast Radiologists by SIRM

• Published in: Radiologia medica Vol. 125; no. 10; pp. 926 - 930
• Main Authors: Pediconi, Federica, Galati, Francesca, Bernardi, Daniela, Belli, Paolo, Brancato, Beniamino, Calabrese, Massimo, Camera, Lucia, Carbonaro, Luca A., Caumo, Francesca, Clauser, Paola, Girardi, Veronica, Iacconi, Chiara, Martincich, Laura, Panizza, Pietro, Petrillo, Antonella, Schiaffino, Simone, Tagliafico, Alberto, Trimboli, Rubina M., Zuiani, Chiara, Sardanelli, Francesco, Montemezzi, Stefania
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Milan Springer Milan 01-10-2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aftercare - organization & administration; Appointments and Schedules; Asymptomatic; Asymptomatic Diseases; Betacoronavirus; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Breast Neoplasms - psychology; Breast Neoplasms - therapy; Breast Radiology; Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology; Coronavirus Infections - prevention & control; Coronavirus Infections - psychology; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Diagnostic Radiology; Diagnostic systems; Early Detection of Cancer - standards; Female; Humans; Imaging; Interventional Radiology; Italy; Magnetic resonance imaging; Mammography; Medical imaging; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neuroradiology; Occupational Diseases - prevention & control; Pandemics; Pandemics - prevention & control; Patients; Personal Protective Equipment; Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology; Pneumonia, Viral - prevention & control; Pneumonia, Viral - psychology; Radiology; SARS-CoV-2; Schedules; Signs and symptoms; Societies, Medical; Symptom Assessment - methods; Symptom Assessment - standards; Ultrasound; Viral diseases; Italy; COVID-19; Priority categories; Breast cancer; Breast care recommendations; Personal protective equipment (PPE)
• ISSN: 0033-8362; 1826-6983
• DOI: 10.1007/s11547-020-01254-3

The Italian College of Breast Radiologists by the Italian Society of Medical Radiology (SIRM) provides recommendations for breast care provision and procedural prioritization during COVID-19 pandemic, being aware that medical decisions must be currently taken balancing patient’s individual and community safety: (1) patients having a scheduled or to-be-scheduled appointment for in-depth diagnostic breast imaging or needle biopsy should confirm the appointment or obtain a new one; (2) patients who have suspicious symptoms of breast cancer (in particular: new onset palpable nodule; skin or nipple retraction; orange peel skin; unilateral secretion from the nipple) should request non-deferrable tests at radiology services; (3) asymptomatic women performing annual mammographic follow-up after breast cancer treatment should preferably schedule the appointment within 1 year and 3 months from the previous check, compatibly with the local organizational conditions; (4) asymptomatic women who have not responded to the invitation for screening mammography after the onset of the pandemic or have been informed of the suspension of the screening activity should schedule the check preferably within 3 months from the date of the not performed check, compatibly with local organizational conditions. The Italian College of Breast Radiologists by SIRM recommends precautions to protect both patients and healthcare workers (radiologists, radiographers, nurses, and reception staff) from infection or disease spread on the occasion of breast imaging procedures, particularly mammography, breast ultrasound, breast magnetic resonance imaging, and breast intervention procedures.