The frequency of diagnostic errors in radiologic reports depends on the patient's age.
BACKGROUND
Patients who undergo treatment may suffer preventable medical errors. Some of these errors are due to diagnostic imaging procedures.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the frequency of diagnostic errors in different age groups in an urban European population.


METHODS
A total of 19 129 reported radiologic examinations were included. During a 6-month period, the analyzed age groups were: children (aged 0-9 years), adults (40-49 years), and elderly (86-95 years).


RESULTS
The frequency of radiologic examinations per year was 0.3 in children, 0.6 in adults, and 1.1 in elderly. Significant errors were significantly more frequent in the elderly (1.7%) and children (1.4%) compared with adults (0.8%). There were 60 false-positive reports and 232 false-negative reports. Most errors were made by staff radiologists after hours when they reported on examinations outside their area of expertise.


CONCLUSIONS
Diagnostic errors are more frequent in children and the elderly compared with middle-aged adults.
Diaz
Sandra
S
Diagnostic Centre of Imaging and Functional Medicine, Malmö University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden. sandra.diaz@med.lu.se
Ekberg
Olle
O
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D011871:Radiology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*