Patients with LBD at risk of misdiagnosis
Lewy body dementia refers to a particular kind of dementia that has three possible initial presentations. New Yorkers who have LBD are sometimes misdiagnosed as having Alzheimer’s because the two conditions have some of the same symptoms. This can be harmful to people with LBD because they may respond positively to some dementia medications that are less likely to be prescribed if they are erroneously diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and because people with LBD may respond negatively to some Alzheimer’s drugs, sometimes with lasting side effects.
Dermatology consults could prevent cellulitis misdiagnoses
Typically, cellulitis is diagnosed based on how the affected area looks and what the patient reports as symptoms. There are a number of other skin conditions that might have symptoms similar to those of cellulitis, so it is sometimes misdiagnosed. Cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection that causes skin inflammation. New York residents might be interested in the results of a study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital that demonstrates early dermatologist consultation for patients who were thought to have cellulitis improved outcomes and prevented misdiagnoses.
Rheumatology assessments may improve pulmonary disease diagnosis
When it’s suspected that a New York patient has interstitial lung disease (ILD), diagnosis typically involves invasive techniques such as checking a tissue sample and performing a bronchoscopy with specialized instruments to view airways. According to a study specific to ILD and similar pulmonary conditions, routine rheumatology assessments may minimize the need for more invasive diagnostic procedures in some instances. Researchers also believe diagnosis accuracy may be improved with adjustments to testing processes.
Study looks at accuracy of cancer test
When New York men are diagnosed with prostate cancer, doctors might also use a test known as prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography imaging to determine whether the cancer has metastasized. When PSMA is detected as a highly expressive enzyme in tissue, it can be an indication that the cancer is spreading.
Study shows many acute optic neuritis patients misdiagnosed
People in New York typically approach eye doctors when they are experiencing eye pain or vision problems. Time constraints on doctors and their failure to think about alternative diagnoses could result in diagnostic mistakes when patients present with symptoms somewhat out of the ordinary. An analysis of 122 patients diagnosed with acute optic neuritis and referred to a university neuro-ophthalmology clinic determined that 59.8 percent of them had received the wrong diagnosis.
Study finds failure to diagnose AMD
Some older people in New York who are in the early stages of age-related macular degeneration may not be properly diagnosed. A study by researchers at the University of Alabama, Birmingham that was published in “JAMA Ophthalmology” found that one quarter of patients who had signs of the condition were not diagnosed.
Study says radiology-related malpractice often ends in death
Coverys, the provider of liability insurance for medical practitioners, has released a report that may be of interest to New York residents. After studying over 10,000 radiology-related medical liability claims filed between 2013 and 2017, researchers found that the misinterpretation of clinical tests was behind 80 percent of all diagnosis-related claims.
Guidelines issued for diagnosing minimally conscious states
New Yorkers who suffer brain injuries may fall into vegetative or minimally conscious states. For people who have prolonged periods of problems with consciousness, getting the proper diagnosis is vital for their chances of recovery. Now, guidelines have been released for the proper diagnosis of people who are in minimally conscious or vegetative states.
Facts about hand, foot and mouth disease
New York residents and others may have heard of something called hand, foot and mouth disease. It is an ailment that causes symptoms such as a rash, fever and blisters. It can also cause a person to feel tired for several days. While the symptoms generally go away after a few days, children can remain contagious for several weeks after this happens. Generally, the condition afflicts young children, but is possible for adults to get it too.
Abdominal X-rays may do more harm than good
Doctors in New York and around the country are increasingly discouraging the practice of taking X-rays when children have abdominal pain. Overall, the practice of medicine changes with the evolution of science and the collection of evidence that points to a particular treatment method. However, while it is highly uncommon for doctors in adult emergency medicine to give an X-ray to patients who arrive complaining of abdominal pain, they are commonly given to pediatric patients.
