Investigating Canadian Radiology Residents' Personal Financial Literacy: A Nation-Wide Assessment.

Purpose: Canadian resident physicians carry large debt to finance their education, which impacts their wellness and their future decision making. The objective of this observational study is to assess the financial literacy of Canadian radiology residents through testing their financial knowledge and examining their current financial status. Methods: A survey was designed to assess the financial literacy and current financial status of radiology residents, which was distributed to Canadian radiology residents via Google Forms. Descriptive analyses on preliminary data and the association between level of training and financial quiz scores were obtained. Results: 104 valid responses from 16 universities were received. The majority (53%) of residents indicated that their debt was greater than $150 000. Residents on average scored 71% on the financial quiz and the scores were not associated with training level (P = .71). The majority (89%) of residents indicated a strong interest in a formal financial literacy curriculum, with 80% preferring a physician-led curriculum. Conclusion: Overall, residents face a high debt burden. Current resident physicians value a formal financial literacy curriculum as a part of their residency program despite existing financial knowledge. Most importantly, residents feel that a curriculum created with involvement of other physicians would be optimal.

Current Practice Patterns, Challenges, and Need for Education in Performing and Reporting Advanced Pelvic US and MRI to Investigate Endometriosis: A Survey by the Canadian Association of Radiologists Endometriosis Working Group.

Purpose: The Canadian Association of Radiologists (CAR) Endometriosis Working Group developed a national survey to evaluate current practice patterns associated with imaging endometriosis using advanced pelvic ultrasound and MRI to inform forthcoming clinical practice guidelines for endometriosis imaging. Methods: The anonymous survey consisted of 36 questions and was distributed electronically to CAR members. The survey contained a mix of multiple choice, Likert scale and open-ended questions intended to collect information about training and certification, current practices and protocols associated with imaging endometriosis, opportunities for quality improvement and continuing professional development. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the results. Results: Canadian radiologists were surveyed about their experience with imaging endometriosis. A total of 89 responses were obtained, mostly from Ontario and Quebec. Most respondents were community radiologists, and almost 33% were in their first five years of practice. Approximately 38% of respondents reported that they or their institution performed advanced pelvic ultrasound for endometriosis, with most having done so for less than 5 years, and most having received training during residency or fellowship. 70% of respondents stated they currently interpret pelvic endometriosis MRI, with most having 1-5 years of experience. Conclusion: Many radiologists in Canada do not perform dedicated imaging for endometriosis. This may be due to a lack of understanding of the benefits and limited access to training. However, dedicated imaging can improve patient outcomes and decrease repeated surgeries. The results highlight the importance of developing guidelines for these imaging techniques and promoting a multidisciplinary approach to endometriosis management.

CAR Practice Statement on Advanced Pelvic Ultrasound for Endometriosis.

The Canadian Association of Radiologists (CAR) Endometriosis Working Group was tasked with providing guidance and benchmarks to ensure the quality of technique and interpretation for advanced imaging modalities associated with diagnosing endometriosis. This practice statement provides an overview of the state of the art of advanced pelvic ultrasound in the diagnosis and mapping of pelvic endometriosis. While acknowledging that advanced pelvic ultrasound in some practices falls within the scope of clinical colleagues rather than imaging departments, the statement seeks to guide radiologists interested in implementing these techniques into their practice for patients referred for evaluation and diagnosis of endometriosis. The statement covers indications, some components of the ultrasound assessment and technique, reporting, and recommendations for starting an ultrasound endometriosis evaluation program.

Cellular fibroepithelial lesions diagnosed on core needle biopsy: Is there any role of clinical-sonography features helping to differentiate fibroadenomas and phyllodes tumor?

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to determine the role of clinico-sonographic features of breast cellular fibroepithelial lesions (CFELs) diagnosed on core needle biopsy (CNB) in the differentiation between fibroadenoma (FA) and phyllodes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Results of consecutive women with a CNB showing CFEL from 2005 to 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical and sonographic findings were compared with surgical outcomes. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used followed by a regression model for statistical analysis. RESULTS: A total of 131 women with 134 CFEL were included in the study; 89 (66%) were FAs and 45 (34%) were phyllodes (32 benign; 13 malignant). Significant predictors of increased risk of phyllodes tumor were patient age equal to or greater than 50 years (P = .021) and lesion size less than 2 cm at sonography (P = .043). No other imaging or clinical features were able to differentiate FA from phyllodes tumors. CONCLUSION: CFEL with a larger size in older women is associated with the surgical pathological result of phyllodes tumor and management should be tailored accordingly. Younger patients with small size nodules might be approached less aggressively, depending on a personalized discussion with the surgeons, taking into account the results obtained in this study.