This book describes and illustrates the gamut of errors that may arise during the performance and interpretation of imaging of both nontraumatic and traumatic emergencies, using a head-to-toe approach. The coverage encompasses mistakes related to suboptimal imaging protocols, failure to review a portion of the examination, satisfaction of search error, and misinterpretation of imaging findings. The book opens with an overview of an evidence-based approach to errors in imaging interpretation in patients in the emergency setting. Subsequent chapters describe errors in radiographic, US, multidetector CT, dual-energy CT, and MR imaging of common as well as less common acute conditions, including disorders in the pediatric population, and the unique mistakes in the imaging evaluation of pregnant patients. The book is written by a group of leading North American and European Emergency and Trauma Radiology experts. It will be of value to emergency and general radiologists, to emergency department physicians and related personnel, to general and trauma surgeons, and to trainees in all of these specialties.
This book offers a comprehensive review on the last development in the management and the treatment of acute and life-threatening conditions. Written by leading experts in the field, this book will help the clinician to understand the clinical problems and to select the methodological and technical options that will ensure prompt and effective response and correct interpretation of the clinical findings. This book is richly illustrated and will serve as unique source of information for radiologists and other specialists including neuroradiologists, surgeons, cardiologists, angiologists and gastroenteologists.
Rapid recognition of life-threatening illnesses and injuries expedites appropriate management and improves clinical outcomes. False-positive interpretations in radiology have been identified as a significant cause of error, leading to unnecessary investigation and treatment, increased healthcare costs, and delays in appropriate management. Moreover, it is important that radiologists do not miss important subtle diagnoses that need urgent intervention. Pearls and Pitfalls in Emergency Radiology provides an outline of common imaging artefacts, anatomic variants and critical diagnoses that the radiologist must master in order to guide appropriate care and avoid malpractice lawsuits. One hundred selected cases – illustrated with several hundred images from MRI, MDCT, PET, ultrasound and radiographs – are presented in a succinct and structured format, highlighting key pearls and potential diagnostic pitfalls. The text focuses on emergent presentations of diseases in all body regions in both adults and children.
Diagnostic errors are important in all branches of medicine because they are an indication of poor patient care. As the number of malpractice cases continues to grow, radiologists will become increasingly involved in litigation. The aetiology of radiological error is multi-factorial. This book focuses on (1) some medico-legal aspects inherent to radiology (radiation exposure related to imaging procedures and malpractice issues related to contrast media administration are discussed in detail) and on (2) the spectrum of diagnostic errors in radiology. Communication issues between the radiologists and physicians and between the radiologists and patients are also presented. Every radiologist should understand the sources of error in diagnostic radiology as well as the elements of negligence that form the basis of malpractice litigation.
Effectively and confidently interpret even the most challenging radiographic study A Doody's Core Title! "...should be a part of every emergency medicine resident's personal library. In addition to residents, I would highly recommend this book to medical students, midlevel providers and any other physician who is interested in improving their ability to interpret radiographic studies necessary to diagnose common emergency medicine patient complaints."--Annals of Emergency Medicine 4 STAR DOODY'S REVIEW! "The purpose is to help improve the reader's skills in ordering and interpreting radiographs. The focus is on conventional radiographs, as well as noncontrast head CT. For emergency physicians this is a vital skill, which can greatly aid in making difficult diagnoses. The book is well written and thorough in addressing how to read radiographs, as well as covering easy to miss findings. The numerous pictures and radiographs are invaluable in demonstrating the author's teaching points and in engaging the reader in the clinical cases....This well written book will be extremely useful for practicing emergency physicians. The clinical cases are interesting and help challenge the reader to improve their skills at evaluating radiographs more thoroughly."--Doody's Review Service Emergency Radiology: Case Studies is a one-of-a-kind text specifically designed to help you fine-tune your emergency radiographic interpretation and problem-solving skills. Illustrated with hundreds of high-resolution images, this reference covers the full range of clinical problems in which radiographic studies play a key role.Dr. David Schwartz, a leading educator, takes you step-by-step through the radiographic analysis of medical, surgical, and traumatic disorders, giving you an unparalleled review of the use and interpretation of radiographic studies in emergency diagnosis. Features 55 cases studies that highlight challenging areas in emergency diagnosis, including imaging studies with subtle, equivocal, or potentially misleading findings Detailed coverage of the broad spectrum of disorders for which radiographs are utilized in emergency practice Coverage of chest and abdominal radiology, the extremities, cervical spine and facial radiology, and head CT Cohesive template for each chapter, beginning with a case presentation, followed by a comprehensive discussion of the disorder under consideration Sections begin with an overview of the pertinent radiographic technique, anatomy, and method of radiographic interpretation Diagnosis-accelerating radiographs, ultrasound images, CT scans, and MR images Invaluable “pearls and pitfalls” of radiographic interpretation
Getting the right diagnosis is a key aspect of health care - it provides an explanation of a patient's health problem and informs subsequent health care decisions. The diagnostic process is a complex, collaborative activity that involves clinical reasoning and information gathering to determine a patient's health problem. According to Improving Diagnosis in Health Care, diagnostic errors-inaccurate or delayed diagnoses-persist throughout all settings of care and continue to harm an unacceptable number of patients. It is likely that most people will experience at least one diagnostic error in their lifetime, sometimes with devastating consequences. Diagnostic errors may cause harm to patients by preventing or delaying appropriate treatment, providing unnecessary or harmful treatment, or resulting in psychological or financial repercussions. The committee concluded that improving the diagnostic process is not only possible, but also represents a moral, professional, and public health imperative. Improving Diagnosis in Health Care, a continuation of the landmark Institute of Medicine reports To Err Is Human (2000) and Crossing the Quality Chasm (2001), finds that diagnosis-and, in particular, the occurrence of diagnostic errorsâ€"has been largely unappreciated in efforts to improve the quality and safety of health care. Without a dedicated focus on improving diagnosis, diagnostic errors will likely worsen as the delivery of health care and the diagnostic process continue to increase in complexity. Just as the diagnostic process is a collaborative activity, improving diagnosis will require collaboration and a widespread commitment to change among health care professionals, health care organizations, patients and their families, researchers, and policy makers. The recommendations of Improving Diagnosis in Health Care contribute to the growing momentum for change in this crucial area of health care quality and safety.
Since it was first published, Accident and Emergency Radiology: A Survival Guide has become the classic reference and an indispensable aid to all those who work in the Emergency Department. The core and substantial value lies in the step-by-step analytical approaches which help you to answer this question: "These images look normal to me, but . . . how can I be sure that I am not missing a subtle but important abnormality?" Ensure accuracy in reading and interpretation of any given image. Common sources of error and diagnostic difficulty are highlighted. Prevent mistakes. Pitfalls and associated abnormalities are emphasized throughout. Avoid misdiagnoses. Normal anatomy is outlined alongside schemes for detecting variants of the norm. Each chapter concludes with a summary of key points. Will provide a useful overview of the most important features in diagnosis and interpretation. Easily grasp difficult anatomical concepts. Radiographs accompanied by clear, explanatory line-drawings. Spend less time searching with an improved layout and design with succinct, easy-to-follow text. A templated chapter approach helps you access key information quickly. Each chapter includes key points summary, basic radiographs, normal anatomy, guidance on analyzing the radiographs, common injuries, rare but important injuries, pitfalls, regularly overlooked injuries, examples, and references. Grasp the nuances of key diagnostic details. Updated and expanded information, new radiographs, and new explanatory line drawings reinforce the book’s aim of providing clear, practical advice in diagnosis. Avoid pitfalls in the detection of abnormalities that are most commonly overlooked or misinterpreted. Access the complete contents and illustrations online at Expert Consult—fully searchable!
Over the past decade, radiological imaging tests - including CT scanning, MRI, PET, X-rays, ultrasound, fluoroscopy and other modalities - have become essential to the routine diagnostic process. While these modern advanced medical images and their striking anatomic detail have discovered underlying issues, they have also contributed to a false impression of infallibility. Unlike other straightforward diagnostic tests, such as the EKG or blood chemistry panel, radiological imaging tests are highly variable and complex, often yielding uncertain results, as well as frequent false-negatives and false-positives. The experts who interpret the images (the diagnostic radiologists) sometimes make mistakes: the practice of diagnostic radiology is a fallible, human endeavour, one involving complex perceptual, neuro-physiological and cognitive processes employed under a wide range of circumstances, and with a great deal of variability. Error and Uncertainty in Diagnostic Radiology opens the 'black box,' of medical imaging, exposing the remarkable inner workings of the process of diagnostic radiology-including how and why it can sometimes go tragically wrong. The occurrence of radiological error is shown to be fundamentally intertwined with the underlying high level of uncertainty known to be present in the diagnostic process. As a foremost expert on radiology quality and safety, Dr. Bruno provides insight into the various types of radiologist error, along with a conceptual framework for understanding error and uncertainty in radiology, leading to practical strategies for error prevention and for reducing the risk of harm to patients when errors inevitably occur. This book is essential for radiologists, members of the Society to Improve Diagnosis in Medicine, emergency physicians, medical educators, medical and hospice administrators, especially quality and safety officers, as well as malpractice insurance carriers.
This book presents a comprehensive and modern approach to the imaging of nontraumatic and traumatic emergencies in pregnant patients. Readers will find a careful review of the relevant imaging-related clinical literature, explanation of imaging appropriateness criteria and guidelines, and enlightening discussion of current controversies in the emergency imaging of obstetric patients. The opening chapter discusses general principles of emergency imaging during pregnancy and offers an overview of an evidence-based approach to imaging interpretation. The remainder of the book describes specific applications of ultrasound, MRI, radiography, and MDCT for the imaging of common as well as less common acute brain, spine, thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic conditions during pregnancy. Clear guidance is offered on the unique challenges that may be encountered during such imaging. Emergency Imaging of Pregnant Patients is written by a group of leading North American and European emergency and trauma radiology experts. It will be of value to emergency and general radiologists, to emergency department physicians and related personnel, to obstetricians and gynecologists, to general and trauma surgeons, and to trainees in all of these specialties.
