Purpose
To determine the rate of discrepancy between preliminary resident and finalised consultant CT brain reports.
Methods and materials
One radiologist retrospectively reviewed all the preliminary and final CT brain reports of patients presenting with acute neurological symptoms from March 2015 to February 2016.
Of the 1543 scans,
1283 had a preliminary resident report followed by a consultant report and were evaluated for minor or major discrepancy.
Major discrepancy was considered when the primary diagnosis was changed between the preliminary and final report.
Minor discrepancy was considered when any other amendment was made between the preliminary and final report that did not affect the...
Results
Out of the 1283 preliminary CT brain reports,
no discrepancy was seen in the final report of 161 (12.54%) patients.
42 (3.27%) had a major discrepancy,
out of which 19 (45.23%) were false negative (Fig.
1) and 11 (26.19%) were false positive for acute infarct.
Others were false negative for contusion (n=4),
subdural haemorrhage (n=3),
space occupying lesion (n=3) and diffuse cerebral oedema (n=2).
Major discrepancies were found in 2nd (n=20) and 3rd (n=22) year resident reports (Fig.
2).
Radiology Training Level
Number of preliminary...
Conclusion
There is a low discrepancy rate between preliminary resident and final reports.
This suggests that there is no detrimental effect on the quality of patient care when acute radiology resident CT brain reports are acted on prior to consultant review.
However,
the resident reports may be further improved in certain areas.
Personal information
Akash RajaramMD,
Department of Radiology,
M S Ramaiah Medical College,
Bangalore,
India;
[email protected]
References
[1] Ruchman,
RB,
Jaegerz J,
Wiggins EF,
Seinfeld S,
Thakral V,
Bollas S,
Wallachs,
S.
Preliminary Radiology Resident Interpretations versus Attending Radiologist Interpretations and the Impact on Patient Care in a Community Hospital.
AJR,
2007; 189: 523-526
[2] Barrett,
L.,
Barrett R.,
Hacking C.
(2014).
An audit of provisional versus final reports of on-call CT imaging.
2014 CSM,
Poster R-0102
