Breast Imaging in the Time of COVID-19: A Singapore-based Breast Center’s Experience in the Midst of a Pandemic

Mirpuri, Tarun M; Wah, Margaret L Y; Siew, Steven W B; Upadhyaya, Vidya S

The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic presented new and yet uncharted challenges to the field of radiology, and consequently to breast imaging as a subspecialty. Maintaining a certain standard of care whilst ensuring the safety of patients and staff in our small Singapore-based breast imaging center are equally important and has resulted in modifications of our clinical practice and workflows. Screening patients for COVID-19 symptoms, risk factors, and potential exposure history has become paramount. Workflow changes have also included progressively deferring, and in some cases halting, nonessential services such as biopsies deemed to have a low risk of malignancy, routine follow-up imaging in postoperative patients or those with prior Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System 3 findings, and mammographic screening. Breast radiologists within our practice are also adapting to the changing landscape by playing a more active role in general radiology and emergency department reporting in order to reduce turnaround time and facilitate the discharge of inpatients. We have also enabled a sense of geographical segregation within our breast center to reduce potential exposure and cross-contamination risks. Although the near future remains uncertain, breast imaging within the broader scope of radiology practice will have to continually adjust to meet the ever-changing realities as this pandemic evolves.