Page 12 - Diagnostic Radiology - Interpreting the Risks Part Two_Neat

SVMIC Diagnostic Radiology: Interpreting the Risks

estimated to be as high as 10-15 percent. Due to the highly

subjective nature of radiographic interpretation, the rate is
higher for radiology. As we noted in this course’s “By the

Numbers” section, errors in diagnosis are the most common
cause of malpractice suits against radiologists, by far.

Because more than one billion radiographic examinations are

performed worldwide annually, a 4 percent error rate translates
into approximately forty million interpretive errors per year.

Fortunately, most errors are minor or, if significant, are found
and corrected quickly enough to avoid serious harm to the

patient. Yet, many interpretation errors do result in harm to
patients and also result in malpractice lawsuits against and

indemnity payments made on behalf of radiologists. Here’s one
example.

CASE STUDY

A 58-year-old male was transported to the emergency

department after flipping a riding lawnmower over on top
of himself. The patient had thoracic x-rays read by the

radiologist as a compression fracture at T-10 (which later
was discovered to be an injury at T-9, not T-10). Nothing

else was noted. The patient was discharged but returned
to the ED two days later with complaints of dehydration,

inability to void, decreased responsiveness, renal failure,
and increased enzymes. A CT of the abdomen was

ordered and the same radiologist interpreted the scan
as “unremarkable”. An MRI was ordered a couple of days

later revealing a burst fracture at T-9 with spinal cord
involvement. The patient has permanent motor and neuro

deficits.
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