We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

MedImaging

Download Mobile App
Recent News Radiography MRI Ultrasound Nuclear Medicine General/Advanced Imaging Imaging IT Industry News

AI Reduces CT Turnaround and Wait Times for Positive Pulmonary Embolus

By MedImaging International staff writers
Posted on 10 Apr 2023
Print article
Image: AI has been shown to cut CT turnaround and wait times for positive pulmonary embolus (Photo courtesy of Freepik)
Image: AI has been shown to cut CT turnaround and wait times for positive pulmonary embolus (Photo courtesy of Freepik)

In individuals experiencing an acute pulmonary embolism (PE), prompt treatment (such as starting anticoagulation) is crucial for improving patient outcomes. A study was carried out to assess the impact of using artificial intelligence (AI)-based radiologist worklist reprioritization on the report turnaround times for CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) examinations that were positive for acute PE. The results indicated that utilizing AI-driven worklist reprioritization led to shorter report turnaround time and waiting periods for PE-positive CTPA examinations.

The study conducted by researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW, Dallas, TX, USA) involved patients who had undergone CTPA in two periods: before (October 1, 2018–March 31, 2019) and after (October 1, 2019–March 31, 2020) the implementation of an FDA-approved AI tool. This tool was designed to reprioritize CTPA examinations at the top of radiologists' reading lists when acute PE was identified. By analyzing timestamps from electronic medical records and dictation systems, the researchers determined three durations: the waiting period (from examination completion to report initiation), reading time (from report initiation to availability), and overall report turnaround time (the sum of waiting and reading times). The team then compared the durations for PE-positive reports, using final imaging as a reference, between the two periods.

The research discovered that the AI-powered worklist reorganization tool was linked to considerably reduced report turnaround (47.6 vs. 59.9 minutes) and wait times (21.4 vs. 33.4 minutes) for CTPA reports indicating acute PE. However, there was no significant difference in reading times (26.3 vs. 26.5 minutes) for CTPA reports positive for acute PE when compared to reports prior to AI implementation. From these results, the investigators deduced that the AI tool could potentially facilitate quicker diagnoses by radiologists, ultimately leading to earlier interventions for acute PE cases.

Related Links:
UTSW

New
HF Stationary X-Ray Machine
TR20G
Silver Member
X-Ray QA Meter
T3 AD Pro
New
MRI Infusion Workstation
BeneFusion MRI Station
Portable Color Doppler Ultrasound System
S5000

Print article

Channels

MRI

view channel
Image: The AI tool can help interpret and assess how well treatments are working for MS patients (Photo courtesy of Shutterstock)

AI Tool Tracks Effectiveness of Multiple Sclerosis Treatments Using Brain MRI Scans

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition in which the immune system attacks the brain and spinal cord, leading to impairments in movement, sensation, and cognition. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) markers... Read more

Imaging IT

view channel
Image: The new Medical Imaging Suite makes healthcare imaging data more accessible, interoperable and useful (Photo courtesy of Google Cloud)

New Google Cloud Medical Imaging Suite Makes Imaging Healthcare Data More Accessible

Medical imaging is a critical tool used to diagnose patients, and there are billions of medical images scanned globally each year. Imaging data accounts for about 90% of all healthcare data1 and, until... Read more