Nearly a third of pancreatic cancer patients misdiagnosed
New York patients may be dismayed to learn that approximately 31 percent of all pancreatic cancer patients are initially misdiagnosed, according to a study published in 2015. The study was led by a University of Utah surgery resident.
Penicillin allergy not as common as diagnoses suggest
People in New York who suffer from allergies to medications have limited options when they need treatment for illnesses. One of the most commonly diagnosed medication allergies comes from penicillin. However, it is estimated that millions of Americans who believe they are allergic to penicillin may have been misdiagnosed.
Diagnosing Meckel’s diverticulum
Some New York residents may suffer from a condition known as Meckel’s diverticulum. This occurs when a small sac develops in the intestinal wall where it may obstruct the intestines. Symptoms include vomiting, pain, abdominal cramps and possibly bleeding, but it can be difficult to diagnose because these are the symptoms of many other conditions as well. It is sometimes misdiagnosed as appendicitis and discovered when surgery is being done for appendicitis.
Errors in diagnosis of cellulitis
Swelling and redness in a lower extremity that is accompanied by chills and a fever might indicate to a New York health care provider that a patient is dealing with a case of cellulitis. However, a Massachusetts study presents reason for caution in this area because of the prevalence of misdiagnosis related to the disease. Researchers evaluated the records of approximately 260 individuals and found that nearly one-third of them did not actually suffer from this serious condition.
Lumps and other signs of breast cancer
Public awareness efforts to educate New York women about signs of breast cancer may focus on lump detection through personal breast checks each month. However, less common symptoms could be just as serious. In fact, some breast cancer cases lack any breast-related signs. Because of these possibilities, additional facets might be warranted in education efforts to ensure that possible breast cancer cases are evaluated as quickly as possible.
Advances in breast cancer research offer promise
New Yorkers who are at risk for breast cancer might be interested in learning about some breakthroughs in cancer research that could potentially have major impacts on the diagnosis and treatment of the condition. While there still is no cure for cancer, these advances could bring the world closer to discovering one.
Rare diseases and diagnostic errors
New York residents who suffer from rare diseases face several obstacles. These illnesses may have less research devoted to them. Since they are rare, doctors often misdiagnose these conditions or a correct diagnosis is delayed, leading to potential harm.
COPD and asthma misdiagnoses
New York residents who suffer from breathing problems may want to know that the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has awarded a $1.5 million grant to analyze the use of spirometry testing and the effect of diagnostic error on patient outcomes. Contributing factors to the bestowing of the grant were studies that indicated 30 to 50 percent of patients may be given a misdiagnosis of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Transfer from hospital to nursing home risky for patients
When geriatric patients in New York and around the country return to their nursing homes after a hospitalization, they enter a danger zone for medical errors. When the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services studied data from 2014 about these patient transfers, researchers discovered that close to 25 percent of the people with complicated medical conditions experienced harm within a few days after returning to their nursing facilities. Inadequate follow-up care or monitoring and medication mistakes accounted for the majority of these incidents.
Medical diagnoses in the hands of computers
People depend on doctors to provide reliable health care. Unfortunately, many individuals across New York and the rest of the United States are faced with misdiagnoses every year. This leads to patients undergoing sometimes expensive and dangerous treatments that do them no good.