title: Errors in neuroradiology.
abstract: Approximately 4 % of radiologic interpretation in daily practice contains errors and discrepancies that should occur in 2-20 % of reports. Fortunately, most of them are minor degree errors, or if serious, are found and corrected with sufficient promptness; obviously, diagnostic errors become critical when misinterpretation or misidentification should significantly delay medical or surgical treatments. Errors can be summarized into four main categories: observer errors, errors in interpretation, failure to suggest the next appropriate procedure, failure to communicate in a timely and a clinically appropriate manner. Misdiagnosis/misinterpretation percentage should rise up in emergency setting and in the first moments of the learning curve, as in residency. Para-physiological and pathological pitfalls in neuroradiology include calcification and brain stones, pseudofractures, and enlargement of subarachnoid or epidural spaces, ventricular system abnormalities, vascular system abnormalities, intracranial lesions or pseudolesions, and finally neuroradiological emergencies. In order to minimize the possibility of error, it is important to be aware of various presentations of pathology, obtain clinical information, know current practice guidelines, review after interpreting a diagnostic study, suggest follow-up studies when appropriate, communicate significant abnormal findings appropriately and in a timely fashion directly with the treatment team.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Neuroradiology, Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy, ferdinandocaranci@libero.it.
authors.forename: Ferdinando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caranci
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tedeschi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reginelli
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gatta
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Ettore
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Squillaci
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Briganti
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brunese
mesh_terms: D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D006801:Humans; D059906:Neuroimaging; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education