Radiology

How AI is enhancing patient care and improving radiologists’ lives

Tech
May 24, 2023

When the topic of the future of radiology comes up in conversation, I frequently find myself being asked a few recurring questions: “How will artificial intelligence affect radiology?” quickly followed by “Do you think AI will replace you?”

These are great questions that I have found myself contemplating as well. As someone with an overall technological curiosity and a radiologist who embraces technological advancements, I ponder these questions often.

Let’s start with …

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Breaking the silence on pelvic congestion syndrome: Diagnosing and treating chronic pelvic pain with interventional radiology

Conditions
May 11, 2023

One in six women in the U.S. suffers from chronic pelvic pain (CPP), yet many receive improper treatment for the condition, or no care at all. They’re frustrated – and rightfully so. Their health care providers are frustrated too because what their patients are experiencing has historically been very difficult to diagnose. It is estimated that about 30 percent of patients with CPP suffer from a condition that can be …

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The collaboration between radiologists and clinicians for optimal diagnostic outcomes

Physician
March 11, 2023

When I was doing my transitional year in internal medicine, I was essentially bullied for going into diagnostic radiology by my co-residents and the internal medicine attending doctors I worked with. They used to tell me that my “forever job” would be to sit on a chair in a dark room and dictate “correlate clinically” all day long. And I would immediately argue: No! That’s terrible! I would never do …

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A mundane ultrasound? The emotional weight of diagnostic tests.

Conditions
January 18, 2023

The word mundane is defined as an occurrence that is very ordinary and, therefore, not interesting. However, what may be mundane for one may be monumental for another, especially if one’s health is in question.

An ultrasound provides needed information to trained medical personnel for the evaluation of the health status of an individual. In many situations, it is a means to alert the physician to a potential problem situation for …

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A physician shows incredible strength and resilience in an emotional moment [PODCAST]

Podcast
January 14, 2023
YouTube video

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In this episode, we follow Houda Bouhmam, a radiology resident, as she struggles to deliver the devastating news to a patient that there is no cure for their disease. Despite the emotional toll it takes on her, …

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The CT contrast shortage is a learning opportunity

Conditions
June 3, 2022

There is currently a pandemic-related shortage of iodinated contrast used for CT scans, predicted to last for several months. While the industry is addressing its own lessons on the supply side of production and distribution, those of us in clinical medicine may use this shortage as an educational opportunity to address contrast demand.

There are multiple ways to perform a CT scan of the same body part, depending on the patient’s …

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Finding joy in my forgetfulness

Physician
February 26, 2022

Someone once described war as: “Long periods of boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror.”

Similar to flying: “Hours and hours of sheer boredom punctuated by moments of stark panic.”

My life is like that: Fairly mundane, routine and predictable — until it isn’t.

Near where I work is a sandwich shop. I have walked to it, but usually, under some time constraint, I drive. I have taken to getting a large sandwich, …

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The value of our time is equal

Physician
January 4, 2022

Funny (not necessarily “haha,” but sometimes that, too) how things sometimes start.

Somehow something got in my shoe.

It’s sort of like the sock that disappears in the dryer.

We don’t know how it happens, but it seems to.

In case you didn’t know, there’s actually a missing sock day — May 9.

I’m not sure how that was decided upon, but it’s been designated Lost Sock Awareness Day.

If you’re a believer in the Great …

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Inequity contributes to burnout among new academic physicians

Physician
December 29, 2021

I was still a resident in May 2013. My new long-distance girlfriend gave me directions to take the train from the airport to the opposite side of her massive metroplex. As is likely common for a hayseed like me, I got lost finding the correct rail station and instead walked through the city’s large academic medical center by accident. With luggage in tow, I walked past a 900-bed county hospital …

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A satirical response to an orthopedic surgeon’s letter to radiologists

Physician
December 27, 2021

A satirical response to “An open letter to radiologists from a jilted orthopedic surgeon.”

“I feel as though there is a deepening rift between our two specialties.”

You ask why the chasm has widened between our specialties. Well, maybe if you paid attention to me, you’d know. I’m an introverted radiologist, you’re a domineering surgeon, and neither of us specializes in communication. Our marriage – like an arthroplasty – …

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An open letter to radiologists from a jilted orthopedic surgeon

Physician
November 20, 2021

This article is satire.

As an orthopedic surgeon, it has always been clear that our specialties benefit from a somewhat symbiotic relationship. We feed you patients, and you often return the favor by providing us with the needed confirmation to operate. However, I feel as though there is a deepening rift between our two specialties. It has been developing gradually, almost imperceptibly, over time. Perhaps it is perpetuated by the belief …

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The exciting future of our physical exam with point-of-care ultrasound

Tech
November 15, 2021

In a 1968 episode of Star Trek, Captain Kirk is kidnapped by humanoid aliens, tortured unrelentingly, and shackled to the ceiling by his wrists. Science officer Spock and Dr. McCoy find him disheveled and minimally responsive. They release him from the chains and set him on a nearby table for examination. Dr. McCoy urgently takes out his medical tricorder, a device that can check organ function and …

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A quick CT scan for the frail and elderly

Physician
January 22, 2020

First, you have to call up your daughter to pick you up and take you to the lab. It’s hard for the nurse to find your vein. The pain from his fishing around in your arm is not nearly as bad as the pain you always have in your hip, and back, and shoulders, but it’s the straw that breaks the camel’s back, and you cry a little bit. The …

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The sad demise of an idealistic family physician

Physician
January 6, 2020

Graduation from my residency program was a bittersweet experience. At the time, my specialty was suffering from a crippling job shortage, so our futures were uncertain, and a dark mood had come to permeate my radiology residency. We were disgruntled with the specialty, with the system, and with medicine in general. I attended my graduation without any guests and only stayed long enough to receive my certificate.

I was, however, honored …

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The continuing battle between the emergency department and radiology

Physician
December 28, 2019

I overheard a disappointing phone call while supervising a radiology resident recently. I could tell that the resident was struggling in a conversation with an emergency department physician, so I asked him to switch over to speakerphone. Eventually, I heard the emergency physician say, “Listen. This is how it works. A patient points to what hurts. Then I have that part scanned, and you tell me what is wrong.”

Disheartening as …

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A guide to couples matching

Physician
October 29, 2019

I consider myself one of the lucky ones because my wife and I couples matched to the same institution for residency. At the time we put our residency match lists in, we were just boyfriend and girlfriend, and the decision to couples match felt like a bigger leap forward for our relationship than deciding to ask her to marry me about a year later. It was the right decision for …

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When you’re a physician, you’re a detective

Education
October 21, 2019

A professor recently romanticized my idea of clinical reasoning as he began our session by saying, “When you’re a physician, you’re a detective.” He elaborated: “Every fact you have, every piece of evidence you have, must be consistent with your leading diagnosis.” As he said this, my eyes narrowed, and I sat up a little taller.

My fellow first-year medical students and I have begun our official training in clinical reasoning, …

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4 reasons why this radiologist loves practicing teleradiology

Physician
August 18, 2019

Some radiologists perceive teleradiology as the “dark side” of our profession. I may have counted myself among those skeptics, but I now see the light and am happy to share a place among the converts.

Most of my career has been in traditional private practice, but there’s not a great deal of difference in how they operate versus a teleradiology practice. Both organizations exist to provide clinicians and patients with diagnostic …

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Radiation oncologists aren’t just strangers in the basement

Physician
February 6, 2019

“We have a consult for radiation oncology regarding a 60-year-old gentleman with a history of lung cancer and is currently admitted. His oncologist is Dr. Heme Onc.”

As a new radiation oncology resident, I was surprised to hear the consulting physician refer to the patient’s medical oncologist as “his oncologist.” What about the patient’s radiation oncologist? Indeed, I remembered the patient well: he was diagnosed with Stage IIIB non-small cell lung …

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