Ct Scan. how reliable?
By Emerald
@chavezrmc (6095)
Philippines
February 22, 2011 5:46pm CST
I am just wondering how reliable CT scan is. Can they make mistakes too in their findings knowing that a doctor who read is a new practitioner but he is a specialist in his field. Can there be chance of wrong readings?
4 responses
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
23 Feb 11
I worked for an imaging certain for a long time and there is no such thing as wrong reading. There are missed findings and or trandcriptionist errors. The most times I saw errors was when they meant to say the left side and it was the right they meant. Three check points are the radiologist read, the transcriptionist not putting findings together with the area and then the radiologist signing the report.
Happens very often and mainly because they are too in hurry to dictate. Not read but dictate, their findings and get interrupted quite a bit.
@chavezrmc (6095)
• Philippines
23 Feb 11
hmmmnnnn aren't misreading and misfindings the same? just thing if you misread it then then you will have wrong findings as well... just a thought. I guess i should have asked how accurate is the reading of the CT Scan?
@chavezrmc (6095)
• Philippines
23 Feb 11
no problem at all i am having a good learning from all of you that share their opinions
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
23 Feb 11
Actually I should have been a bit clearer what I was trying to say is that if ever something is not on the report and pointed out they do not even need to see the actual tests and immediately say, without the test in front of them the entire diagnosis.
The problem with them is that they are in such a rush to read, most radiologist read for several locations and not just one, sort of multitasking so unfortunate for them when they are dictating the report their cell rings or someone walks into the room and they get sidetracked. So they forget where they left off, and or mistaken the right for the left. Main reason why many malpractice insurance companies payout settlements without going to court as there is no excuse.
I have seen it so many times. At any rate if there is anything uncertain, I would suggest you pick up the result copies and you can have another radiologist check. However the ordering doctor is going to get the results and it is at the time, most times that the doctor catches before the patient. The only time a patient is aware of the error is if they get the report before their doctor, which is common for independent facilities to hand to the patient to save on mailings. Larger hospitals cannot afford the law suits so they send them directly to the patient.
Hope this is clearer, sorry about that.
@frontvisions101 (16043)
• Philippines
23 Feb 11
There are several factors that can affect CT scan's accuracy. The doctor might misunderstand the readings, for instance. Or the machine could malfunction. Although CT scan is the most reliable tool on its field nowadays. I mean, what other methods can you substitute for it.
1 person likes this
@chavezrmc (6095)
• Philippines
23 Feb 11
i know there are other test depends on the illness. well maybe you are right its accurate, only the readings can be different, based on people who will be reading it
@housechaos7 (609)
•
22 Feb 11
It is highly unlikely they will get things wrong as now adays they always have 2 people check results and you can always ask for a second opinion by rights.
@chavezrmc (6095)
• Philippines
23 Feb 11
well i mean, maybe there will be a what we call misreadings.
@changjiangzhibin89 (16532)
• China
23 Feb 11
Along with science and technology advancing all sorts of advanced medical testing equipment such as CT,MRI etc.have come out.There are always two sides to everything,the doctors unduly rely on the equipment and yet their ability to diagnose declines,just as we have calculator our ability to do sums in our head declines.Go without saying,the equipment often makes mistakes,the case of erroneous diagnosis is nothing new.
