Ongoing Impact of COVID-19 on Breast Radiologists' Wellness

OBJECTIVE

Assess the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on mental well-being of breast radiologists nationwide two years after the start of the pandemic and compared to early in the pandemic.

METHODS

A 27-question survey was distributed from December 2021 to January 2022 to physician members of the Society of Breast Imaging. Psychological distress and anxiety scores were calculated, and factors associated with them were identified with a multivariate logistic model.

RESULTS

A total of 550 surveys were completed (23% response rate); the mean respondent age was 50 +/- 10 years. Fifty percent (265/526) of respondents reported two or more psychological distress symptoms, down from 58% in 2020 (P = 0.002), whereas 70% (362/526) of respondents reported increased anxiety, down from 82% in 2020 (P < 0.001). As in 2020, reporting financial strain and childcare adversely affecting job ability were associated with worse psychological distress scores (OR 3.6, 95% CI: 1.6-8.3, P = 0.02 and OR 6.0, 95% CI: 2.5-14.4, P = 0.002, respectively). Less time spent consulting, educating, and discussing results with patients was associated with higher psychological distress (OR 5.3, 95% CI: 2.1-13.2, P = 0.036) and anxiety (OR 6.4, 95% CI: 2.3-17.5, P < 0.001). Diminished research collaboration was associated with higher anxiety (OR 1.8, 95% CI: 1.1-2.9, P = 0.019).

CONCLUSION

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause mental health symptoms in breast radiologists, especially for those with pandemic-specific childcare needs and financial distress. Pandemic-related decreased opportunities to connect with patients and colleagues negatively impacts radiologists' mental health.

COVID-19 and Breast Radiologist Wellness: Impact of Gender, Financial Loss, and Childcare Need

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the emotional and financial impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on breast radiologists to understand potential consequences on physician wellness and gender disparities in radiology.

METHODS

A 41-question survey was distributed from June to September 2020 to members of the Society of Breast Imaging and the National Consortium of Breast Centers. Psychological distress and financial loss scores were calculated on the basis of survey responses and compared across gender and age subgroups. A multivariate logistic model was used to identify factors associated with psychological distress scores.

RESULTS

A total of 628 surveys were completed (18% response rate); the mean respondent age was 52 ± 10 years, and 79% were women. Anxiety was reported by 68% of respondents, followed by sadness (41%), sleep problems (36%), anger (25%), and depression (23%). A higher psychological distress score correlated with female gender (odds ratio [OR], 1.9; P = .001), younger age (OR, 0.8 per SD; P = .005), and a higher financial loss score (OR, 1.4; P < .0001). Participants whose practices had not initiated wellness efforts specific to COVID-19 (54%) had higher psychological distress scores (OR, 1.4; P = .03). Of those with children at home, 38% reported increased childcare needs, higher in women than men (40% versus 29%, P < .001). Thirty-seven percent reported that childcare needs had adversely affected their jobs, which correlated with higher psychological distress scores (OR, 2.2-3.3; P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Psychological distress was highest among younger and female respondents and those with greater pandemic-specific childcare needs and financial loss. Practice-initiated COVID-19-specific wellness efforts were associated with decreased psychological distress. Policies are needed to mitigate pandemic-specific burnout and worsening gender disparities.

Patterns of Fractionation and Boost Usage in Adjuvant External Beam Radiotherapy for Ductal Carcinoma in Situ in the United States

BACKGROUND

While the roles of hypofractionated (HFxn) radiotherapy and lumpectomy boost in the adjuvant management of invasive breast cancer are supported by the results of clinical trials, randomized data supporting their use for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) are forthcoming. We sought to evaluate current national trends and identify factors associated with HFxn and boost usage using the National Cancer Database.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We queried the National Cancer Database for women diagnosed with DCIS from 2004 to 2014 undergoing external beam radiotherapy after breast conservation surgery. Patients were categorized as receiving either conventional fractionation (CFxn) or HFxn and as either receiving or not receiving a boost. Multiple logistic regression was performed to identify demographic, clinical, and treatment factor associations.

RESULTS

A total of 101,615 women were identified, with 87,641 (86.2%) receiving CFxn, 13,974 (13.8%) receiving HFxn, and most patients in each group (84.9% and 57.7%, respectively) receiving a boost. Implementation of HFxn increased from 4.3% in 2004 to 33.0% in 2014, and the use of a boost declined from 83.3% to 74.6%. HFxn receipt was independently associated with later year of diagnosis, older age, higher income, greater distance from treatment facility, greater facility volume, academic facility type, Western residence, smaller lesions, and nonreceipt of a boost. Factors associated with boost receipt included earlier year of diagnosis, younger age, higher income, community facility type, adverse pathologic features, and nonreceipt of HFxn.

CONCLUSION

Although CFxn with a boost remains the most common external beam radiotherapy strategy for DCIS, implementation of HFxn without a boost appears to be increasing. Practice patterns at present seem to be driven by guidelines for invasive breast cancer and nonclinical factors.

Cerebral radiation necrosis in pediatric patients

Radiation necrosis is a well-described toxicity following radiation therapy in the brain. There is little data regarding the incidence of radiation necrosis in pediatric patients. We retrospectively reviewed our experience with 101 children with solid brain tumors. Radiation necrosis was diagnosed by examination of magnetic resonance imaging. Median follow-up for all patients was 13 months (range 3-51). Radiation necrosis occurred in 5% (5/101) of cases with a median time to onset of 1.2 months. In three of these children, the child was symptomatic, requiring management with steroids and bevacizumab. Radiation necrosis did not correlate with the administration of chemotherapy, age at treatment, or planning treatment volume. Our experience with pediatric patients treated with radiotherapy for solid brain tumor suggests that children may have an increased likelihood to develop radiation necrosis compared to adults.

Fractionated stereotactic radiosurgery for recurrent ependymoma in children

Outcomes for children with relapsed ependymoma are poor. Re-irradiation is a potentially viable salvage option in these patients. Data were reviewed for 12 patients (median age 5.6 years) with relapsed ependymoma who received fractionated stereotactic radiosurgery (fSRS) following maximal surgical resection from 1995 to 2012. Four patients experienced a second recurrence, including 2 in-field and 2 distant failures. Median time to second recurrence (32 months) was significantly longer than time to first recurrence (24 months) (p = 0.008). Three-year local control was 89 %, and median event free survival from fSRS was 3.4 years. Radiation necrosis was observed in 6 patients, 3 who were symptomatic. In conclusion, fSRS offers durable response with a tolerable toxicity profile in children with recurrent EPN.