Medical impact of unedited preliminary radiology reports.

Abstract

To determine the potential frequency of adverse patient outcomes resulting from erroneous preliminary radiology reports. The authors determined the number of preliminary radiology reports that changed substantively between the preliminary and final version during a 10-day collection period. They analyzed 200 of 1,648 reports to determine the potential for adverse outcome. Only 5.6% of the preliminary radiology reports were changed substantively. Two percent of all reports contained changes that would have led to additional testing or treatment and, possibly, increased morbidity. Immediate electronic transfer of a preliminary radiology report results in a small but important number of adverse outcomes; however, if a final edited report follows within 24 hours and referring physicians are called whenever the preliminary report contains erroneous information, the benefits of rapid information transmission may outweigh the additional risks.