Breast Cancer Screening during COVID-19 Emergency: Patients and Department Management in a Local Experience

Abstract

Background: During the COVID-19 public health emergency, our breast cancer screening activities have been interrupted. In June 2020, they resumed, calling for mandatory safe procedures to properly manage patients and staff. Methods: A protocol supporting medical activities in breast cancer screening was created, based on six relevant articles published in the literature and in the following National and International guidelines for COVID-19 prevention. The patient population, consisting of both screening and breast ambulatory patients, was classified into one of four categories: 1. Non-COVID-19 patient; 2. Confirmed COVID-19 in an asymptomatic screening patient; 3. suspected COVID-19 in symptomatic or confirmed breast cancer; 4. Confirmed COVID-19 in symptomatic or confirmed breast cancer. The day before the radiological exam, patients are screened for COVID-19 infection through a telephone questionnaire. At a subsequent in person appointment, the body temperature is checked and depending on the clinical scenario at stake, the scenario-specific procedures for medical and paramedical staff are adopted. Results: In total, 203 mammograms, 76 breast ultrasound exams, 4 core needle biopsies, and 6 vacuum-assisted breast biopsies were performed in one month. Neither medical nor paramedical staff were infected on any of these occasions. Conclusion: Our department organization model can represent a case of implementation of National and International guidelines applied in a breast cancer screening program, assisting hospital personnel into COVID-19 infection prevention.

Evolution of CT Findings and Lung Residue in Patients with COVID-19 Pneumonia: Quantitative Analysis of the Disease with a Computer Automatic Tool

“…Several previous studies [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ] have described the main CT signs of COVID-19, summarized as GGO, crazy-paving pattern, and consolidation. Several methods of disease extent quantification at chest CT using machine learning and AI tools have been proposed, including the extent of emphysema, GGO, and consolidation [ 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 ]. Few studies have investigated the changes in CT findings associated with COVID-19 pneumonia in the follow-up, quantifying the evolution and the absorption of the abnormalities visible on CT using a computer automatic aided tool.…”

Quantitative Analysis of Residual COVID-19 Lung CT Features: Consistency among Two Commercial Software

“…According to Johns Hopkins University, case-fatality rates of COVID-19 patients ranges between 1% and 7% based on days since first confirmed case, testing efficacy, local pandemic response policies, and the population age [45][46][47][48][49]. Multi-organ manifestations of COVID-19 are now well-documented [50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57], but the potential long-term implications of these manifestations remain to be uncovered. Several studies have reported impaired exercise capacity and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DL CO ) in SARS-CoV-1 survivors extending from 6 months to 15 years of follow-up [58][59][60][61][62][63][64], suggesting impairment of the intra-alveolar diffusion pathway.…”

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on breast cancer screening indicators in a Spanish population-based program: a cohort study

“…Restrictive measures were slowly withdrawn during the following 3 months until June 21, when the lockdown ended ( La Vanguardia, 2021 ). To reintroduce the screening programs as soon as possible while continuing to control the risk of COVID-19 transmission, mammography centers established new safety guidelines ( Maio et al, 2021 ; Pediconi et al, 2020 ).…”