Radio-Diagnostic Error

The purpose of much research into radio-diagnostic error is to understand the visual search methods (process) and the perceptive and cognitive processes (performance) used in the interpretation of medical images. Investigation into the reasons for radiological error began more than fifty years ago after a study comparing radiological techniques failed to provide an answer because of significant variability in the performance of the subjects used for the task [1]. Results found that chest images of patients with suspected tuberculosis (TB) were read differently by radiologists in 10-20% of cases. Each radiologist undertook interpretations of four sets of images and found that not only did he disagree with fellow radiologists in seemingly straightforward interpretations, but he even disagreed with himself in a significant number of images from the same dataset when he interpreted them a second time. The Board of Roentgenology advised that such findings be subjected to a thorough investigation. This, accordingly, led to the investigation of error in radiology and the causes that influence radiological …show more content…
Since perception is central to the radiological task, anything that interferes with observation and subsequent decision making may affect an accurate radio-diagnosis. The effect of this expectation phenomenon on the visual search of complex stimuli such as radiographic images, and the cognitive processes involved in radio-diagnosis has rarely been explored. Perception is determined by what we see, and is strongly influenced by an expectation of what we might see or have seen [13] and, as such, is a valid and important area for research into its effect on radiological search, perception and decision