When a doctor orders an x-ray, a CT scan or MRI, they’re relying on radiology to provide a clear and accurate picture of what’s going inside your body. Radiology is one of the most powerful diagnostic tools in modern medicine, but it’s also one of the most prone to errors. Missed diagnoses that stem from radiology errors are more common than many people realise and unfortunately, the consequences can be devastating.

Understanding how and why these errors occur is important for patients and their families, particularly when a missed or diagnosis has led to serious harm.

What are radiology errors?

Radiology errors happen when a medical imaging study is either not performed correctly, isn’t interpreted accurately or isn’t communicated properly to the treating physician.

These errors fall into several broad categories.

• Perception errors are the most common kind of errors. This happens when a radiologist fails to notice an abnormality that’s clearly visible on the image. A hairline fracture, a small tumour or an early-stage lesion may be present but completely overlooked. Studies suggest that perception errors account for the majority of radiological mistakes, and even experienced radiologists can miss findings, especially when they’re fatigued, have a heavy workload or are under stress.
• Interpretation errors occur when an abnormality is seen but identified incorrectly. A radiologist may note that something looks unusual but attributes it to a benign cause when it’s actually a sign of serious disease. For example, a shadow on a lung scan might be dismissed as scarring from an old infection when it’s really a malignancy.
• Communication failures represent another major type of error. Even when a radiologist correctly identifies and interprets an abnormality, the findings may not be communicated clearly or at all to the ordering physician. Critical findings buried in lengthy reports or never flagged as urgent often result in delays of days, weeks or even months before a patient receives the right diagnosis.
• Technical errors are less common but equally significant. Poor image quality due to improper patient movement or incorrect imaging protocols can make it difficult, if not impossible, to detect certain conditions. If a scan is technically inadequate and not repeated, a diagnosis could be missed entirely.

Why do these errors happen?

Radiology errors rarely happen because a radiologist simply doesn’t know what they are doing. More often, they occur because of systemic pressures and human limitations that affect even the most skilled professionals.

Workload and fatigue also play a significant role. Radiologists often read hundreds of imaging studies per day. The volume of scans in modern healthcare has grown substantially over the years, and staffing hasn’t always been able to keep up. When a radiologist is reading their sixth hour of scans at the end of a long shift, the likelihood of a perception error increases.

Anchoring bias can also lead to missed diagnoses. This happens when a radiologist focuses on one finding such as a broken bone and stops looking for additional abnormalities. A patient who comes in with an obvious injury may have a second, less obvious problem that goes undetected because attention was focused elsewhere.

Inadequate clinical history is another contributing factor. Radiologists interpret images more accurately when they understand why the scan was ordered and what the treating physician suspects. If that information is incomplete or missing, it makes it harder to recognize subtle abnormalities that might otherwise raise concern.

Overreliance on technology can also be a pitfall. Artificial intelligence tools and computer-aided detection software are being used in radiology to flag potential abnormalities. While these tools can be helpful, they are not infallible. Placing too much confidence in a system that misses a finding, or dismissing an AI flag without sufficient review, can increase the risk of errors.

The impact of a missed diagnosis and what you can do

The consequences of a radiology error can range from a delayed treatment to life-threatening situations. Cancer diagnoses are among the most serious examples. When a tumour is missed on an initial scan and isn’t caught until months or years later, it may have progressed to a stage where treatment options are significantly more limited or no longer curative. Similar outcomes can result from missed strokes, pulmonary embolisms, spinal injuries and other time-sensitive conditions.

Patients who have been harmed by a radiology error may have legal recourse. In cases where a radiologist or healthcare provider failed to meet the accepted standard of care, meaning they did not perform or communicate imaging in the way that a reasonably competent professional would have, that failure may constitute medical malpractice. A missed diagnosis claim first requires establishing that the error caused bodily harm that wouldn’t have happened had an accurate diagnosis been made in a timely manner.

If you or a loved one has experienced a delayed or missed diagnosis that you believe was connected to a radiology error, it might be worth speaking with a personal injury attorney who handles medical malpractice cases. These cases can be complex, requiring expert testimony and comprehensive review of imaging records, reports and treatment timelines. An experienced medical malpractice lawyer like the attorneys at McCoy & Hiestand, PLC can help evaluate whether negligence actually occurred and what options might be available to you.

Radiology is a vital part of modern medicine, and the vast majority of imaging studies are read accurately and without incident. But errors do happen, and when they do, the consequences can be dire. Understanding the types and causes of radiology errors is an important first step in recognising when something may have gone wrong and knowing what steps to take next.

Robert Haynes, a psychology graduate from the University of Hertfordshire, has a keen interest in the fields of mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.