Environmental Sustainability and AI in Radiology: A Double-Edged Sword.

Journal: Radiology
Published Date: Feb 1, 2024

Abstract

According to the World Health Organization, climate change is the single biggest health threat facing humanity. The global health care system, including medical imaging, must manage the health effects of climate change while at the same time addressing the large amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions generated in the delivery of care. Data centers and computational efforts are increasingly large contributors to GHG emissions in radiology. This is due to the explosive increase in big data and artificial intelligence (AI) applications that have resulted in large energy requirements for developing and deploying AI models. However, AI also has the potential to improve environmental sustainability in medical imaging. For example, use of AI can shorten MRI scan times with accelerated acquisition times, improve the scheduling efficiency of scanners, and optimize the use of decision-support tools to reduce low-value imaging. The purpose of this in Focus article is to discuss this duality at the intersection of environmental sustainability and AI in radiology. Further discussed are strategies and opportunities to decrease AI-related emissions and to leverage AI to improve sustainability in radiology, with a focus on health equity. Co-benefits of these strategies are explored, including lower cost and improved patient outcomes. Finally, knowledge gaps and areas for future research are highlighted.

Authors

  • Florence X Doo
    Department of Radiology, Mount Sinai Health System, New York, New York.
  • Jan Vosshenrich
    Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
  • Tessa S Cook
    Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (J.M.S., T.P., J.A., C.E.K., T.S.C.); and Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Mass (J.M.S.).
  • Linda Moy
    1 Department of Radiology, New York University School of Medicine, 160 E 34th St, New York, NY 10016.
  • Eduardo P R P Almeida
    From the University of Maryland Medical Intelligent Imaging (UM2ii) Center, Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD (F.X.D.); Department of Radiology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland (J.V., T.H.); Department of Radiology, New York University, New York, NY (J.V., L.M.); Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa (T.S.C.); Joint Department of Medical Imaging, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (E.P.R.P.A., K.H.); Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, Calif (S.A.W.); Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Ga (J.W.G.); Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, University of Toronto, 585 University Ave, 1 PMB-298, Toronto, ON, Cananda M5G 2N2 (K.H.); and Department of Medical Imaging, University Medical Imaging Toronto, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (K.H.).
  • Sean A Woolen
    From the University of Maryland Medical Intelligent Imaging (UM2ii) Center, Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD (F.X.D.); Department of Radiology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland (J.V., T.H.); Department of Radiology, New York University, New York, NY (J.V., L.M.); Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa (T.S.C.); Joint Department of Medical Imaging, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (E.P.R.P.A., K.H.); Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, Calif (S.A.W.); Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Ga (J.W.G.); Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, University of Toronto, 585 University Ave, 1 PMB-298, Toronto, ON, Cananda M5G 2N2 (K.H.); and Department of Medical Imaging, University Medical Imaging Toronto, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (K.H.).
  • Judy Wawira Gichoya
    Department of Interventional Radiology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon; Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
  • Tobias Heye
  • Kate Hanneman

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