Multimodality Multisystem Imaging of Pregnancy-Related Changes: Featuring Neurologic, Cardiothoracic, Breast, Gynecologic, and Musculoskeletal Issues.

ABSTRACT: Pregnancy and the puerperium are a time of significant physiologic change, and with an average of 4 million births in the United States yearly, radiologists encounter pregnancy-related imaging findings regularly. While many of these findings represent physiologic changes, a significant number represent pathology, making it paramount for radiologists to distinguish between the two. This case-based article reviews imaging findings within the nervous, cardiovascular, pulmonary, breast, gynecologic, musculoskeletal, digestive, hematologic, and integumentary systems throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Comprehensive Imaging Review of the Superior Vena Cava.

The superior vena cava (SVC) is the largest central systemic vein in the mediastinum. Imaging (ie, radiography, computed tomography [CT], magnetic resonance [MR] venography, and conventional venography) plays an important role in identifying congenital variants and pathologic conditions that affect the SVC. Knowledge of the basic embryology and anatomy of the SVC and techniques for CT, MR imaging, and conventional venography are pivotal to accurate diagnosis and clinical decision making. Congenital anomalies such as persistent left SVC, partial anomalous pulmonary venous return, and aneurysm are asymptomatic and may be discovered incidentally in patients undergoing imaging evaluation for associated cardiac abnormalities or other indications. Familiarity with congenital abnormalities is important to avoid image misinterpretation. Acquired abnormalities such as intrinsic and extrinsic strictures, fibrin sheath, thrombus, primary neoplasms, and trauma can produce mild narrowing to complete occlusion, the latter leading to SVC syndrome. Each imaging modality plays a role in evaluation of the SVC, helping to determine the site, extent, and cause of pathologic conditions and guide appropriate management. Commonly performed interventional procedures for fibrin sheath and benign and malignant strictures include low-dose thrombolytic infusion, fibrin sheath disruption, venous angioplasty, and stent placement.

Promoting Progress and Learning from Mistakes: Results of a Radiology Department LGBTQ Inclusion Audit.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: As radiology programs seek to recruit and retain diverse and competitive applicants, it is important to critically review existing department policies to ensure they meet the needs of their residents. To evaluate a radiology program's inclusivity measures, an interdepartmental committee developed an "LGBTQ inclusion index" and performed an LGBTQ inclusion audit to identify gaps in policy and to craft proposals for administrative review. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An LGBTQ inclusion index was compiled through the collaboration of an interdisciplinary committee of residents, faculty, institutional and community representatives. Five inclusion milestones were identified relating to department policy, department facilities, institutional culture, department culture, and community engagement. Milestones were scored as 0, for milestone not at all met, 1, for milestone partially met, and 2, for milestone completely met, with a total score of 10. Program scores were calculated for the 2018-2021 academic years. RESULTS: The radiology program LGBTQ inclusion index score increased over the course of the study period. The program LGBTQ inclusion index score was 4 of 10 in 2018 and 2019, but after formation of an LGBTQ inclusion task force by the diversity and inclusion committee, increased to 7 of 10 in 2020. The LGBTQ inclusion audit identified several areas that required improvement and the committee drafted proposals to address these gaps. By 2021, the program scored 9 of 10 on the inclusion index. CONCLUSION: Promoting an inclusive and affirming radiology department is an important step to providing culturally competent healthcare and mitigating health disparities. An LGBTQ inclusion audit and a robust department diversity committee can help to identify and address gaps in policy, facilities, and culture.