Emergency radiology in displaced populations: imaging and practical challenges

Migrants and refugees tend to use emergency departments as their primary source of care, leading to a substantial increase in emergency radiological imaging. Migrants and refugees have risk factors, such as low vaccination rates, poor hygiene, malnutrition, and inadequate self-care, which increase their risk of contracting infectious diseases. For example, the prevalence of tuberculosis among refugee populations in host countries is increasing, and imaging findings related to tuberculosis are frequently observed by radiologists. Strengthening screening programs in host countries for tuberculosis and other infectious diseases among migrant populations can help mitigate the risk of transmission within migrant communities. Another condition, cystic echinococcosis, is more common among refugees and migrants from the Middle East and Afghanistan. For radiologists working in host countries, echinococcosis involving the liver and lungs should be considered in the differential diagnosis. Both intentional (e.g., violence, assault) and unintentional (e.g., workplace injuries, accidents) traumas are frequently encountered in emergency radiology, particularly among refugees and immigrants. Workplace injuries are four times more common among migrants and refugees than among the local population due to their work in high-risk industries, such as construction and heavy industry, and emergency radiology frequently encounters radiological findings of organ injuries due to falls from height. In addition, healthcare professionals in emergency radiology face various challenges when dealing with migrant and refugee patients, such as communication barriers, social security problems, and psychological distress.