If you have received a Radiology Report that says that your tumor is unremarkable, there are a few things that you should keep in mind. The first thing to keep in mind is that if the report says that your tumor is unremarkable, this does not mean that you have cancer. Oftentimes, the underlying cause of cancer is unknown. A CT scan can be used to determine the cause, but the results are not always clear.
CT scan results may be unclear
There are several reasons why CT scan results may be unclear in a radiology report. These include the lack of regulation, financial conflicts of interest, and a radiologist’s own bias in his or her writing. Nonetheless, it’s worth learning how to write a good report. The result can be improved health outcomes and increased productivity.
One of the most important contributions a radiologist can make to patient care is to write an accurate and concise radiology report. As medicine continues to evolve, radiologists must adapt their reporting techniques to meet evolving needs.
An effective report is a combination of personal preferences, institutional needs, and a clear understanding of the clinical situation. It is the most important communication between the radiologist and the ordering provider.
Radiologists can use the report to make recommendations and identify treatment options. They also can inform the ordering provider of symptoms, diagnoses, and other key factors. A radiologist may choose to combine the findings of the exam with laboratory test results.
While a radiology report may contain more technical language, it doesn’t necessarily translate to a better medical understanding. It’s also worth noting that some patients may be more sensitive to radiation than others.
For instance, an 11-year-old girl may have had a CT scan for possible appendicitis. But the radiologist may not have noticed a small tumor on her liver.
Another common reason for an unclear report is an overabundance of technical terms. This can cause confusion and result in unnecessary follow-up tests.
Some studies suggest that physicians who own scanners use imaging more than their counterparts. However, heavy use of CT scanning may not result in better health outcomes for patients. In addition, it’s possible that overuse of technology could contribute to skyrocketing national health care costs.
When the CT report isn’t clear, it’s time to ask the question, “why?”. Asking this will help a radiologist determine why a particular diagnostic procedure is necessary. If the answer isn’t obvious, a patient may want to find another radiologist.
In fact, a patient’s response to the simplest of tests may be the best way to decide whether or not to pursue further testing. Many doctors find the urge to order additional exams irresistible.
Preserved flow voids suggesting patency
In a radiology report, preserved flow voids are often noted to suggest patency. This is not a sure sign of patency, however, and it does not mean that the vessels have actually been occluded. It can be an indication of a normal flow void, a narrowed void, or a thrombosis.
Flow voids can be detected on a CT scan or on a T1-weighted MR image. They can also be seen on a CT-scan after contrast administration. The signal loss in MR venography is due to the effects of in-plane saturation. If a patient has in-plane saturation, the signal will appear bright and may be mistaken for a patency.
MRI coronary angiography has become a new tool for evaluating the patency of the major arteries of the coronary circulation. Combined with anatomical MRI, it provides an important new approach for diagnosing and monitoring coronary artery disease.
MRI coronary angiography is an effective method of detecting large stenoses in the major arteries. However, it is limited in spatial resolution. Because of this, it may not be an effective approach to detect significant stenoses in patients referred for diagnostic contrast angiography. Besides, MRI coronary angiography has to be combined with anatomical MRI, functional MRI, and clinical testing.
In a report, preserved flow voids are most likely to be found in the sigmoid sinus. However, they can be observed in other areas, as well. For example, internal carotid arteries and basilar arteries are known to have some degree of flow void. These vessels are often dilated, but they are also mobile. Hence, they can show a flow void on axial images.
In addition to axial images, the left circumflex and right sphenoid arteries were evaluated on oblique sections. The results showed that oblique sections were superior for the distal segments of these arteries. The results of this study indicated that oblique sections were more accurate than axial sections for detecting flow voids.
Aqueductal patency was also examined. Four major epicardial arteries were individually graded, and aqueduct patency was rated as grade 0 (no aqueductal flow) or grade 1 (flow void in one compartment). Grade 1 means a flow void in only one compartment. On the other hand, grade 2 means flow void in two compartments.
Observations are interpreted on the basis of a single hypothesis
One of the more elusive beasts in the scientific arena is a single test subject that is free from the tyranny of time and space. That is no small feat, as the likes of the late Sir Isaac Newton would know. So a big name like Harvard University’s Department of Clinical Laboratory Science (HCLS) has thrown its weight behind a new initiative to make the clinical trial a more attainable endeavor for the many individuals on its bookshelf. The new scheme, dubbed HCLS IMPACT, will seek to make the trials more palatable for the average member of the hive. To further its laudable goal, it has embarked on an initiative to develop a database of patient data for research purposes, something that is not as common in academics as it is in the corporate setting. The program has garnered a fair amount of attention in the media, including the award for most innovative paper in the department. Nevertheless, the aforementioned neophyte has a plethora of other competitors in the oscar denominator category. Despite the competition, HCLS remains a true aficionado of scientific and medical research. It is also the first organization in the field to adopt a formal research and development strategy based on a data-sharing model. Ultimately, HCLS hopes to turn its burgeoning databank into an epicenter for medical agnosticism. Among other things, it will conduct research into the most promising compounds and metabolites to aid in the search for the holy grail.
Radiologists are most frequently sued in malpractice lawsuits involving breast cancer
When the Physicians Insurers Association of America (PISA) examined the malpractice histories of 8,000+ radiologists, they discovered that the most common reason for a medical malpractice claim is the failure to diagnose breast cancer. Among the reasons included were inadequate communication, improper follow-up, and procedural complications.
While the prevalence of misdiagnosis was relatively high, the number of claims filed against radiologists was relatively small. Interventional procedures involving series of images guided minimally invasive techniques. The highest aggregate indemnity award was for a neurologically impaired newborn.
Interestingly, the number of physicians interpreting mammograms has decreased by 5% over the past three years. This is because of the fear of malpractice litigation. It has also been attributed to a decline in interest in mammography.
A study published in the journal Radiology explored the malpractice history of radiologists. Researchers reviewed data from One-Call Medical Network. They found 4,793 claims against 2,680 radiologists in 47 states.
A survey of radiologists interpreting mammograms was mailed in 2006. Participants were asked to respond to questions on their malpractice history and the clinical practice of radiology. Results showed that 14 percent of the radiologists had previously filed a mammography-specific malpractice claim.
Radiologists’ estimates of their chances of being sued in the next five years were varied, but their perceptions of the risk were skewed toward those who had been sued. Their average score on the uncertainty scale ranged from 13-53 of 60 possible points. Higher scores indicate more concern for bad outcomes.
Those who had been sued had significantly higher 5-year estimates of their risks. However, these were not associated with other factors, such as gender, clinical experience, or workload.
Failure to communicate was the third most common malpractice claim. This was a reluctance by the radiologist to inform the patient about their findings. Other common reasons for suits included failure to perform an investigation and inadequate information.
There were also a few malpractice claims relating to failure to recommend additional testing. Failure to recommend follow-up tests was the fourth most common reason for a lawsuit.