Abstract
Interpretation of computerized tomography (CT) scans by a specialist is not readily available at the Emergency Department, Matsusaka-Chuo General Hospital. Thus, any CT findings that are missed on initial evaluation will subsequently be promptly reported to patients by a fulltime emergency doctor, so that they can be treated if necessary. This report describes an investigation of post-discharge follow-up reporting of CT findings in the last 3 years and details severe cases where radical treatment was required after the second diagnostic evaluation. Among 171 cases where findings were initially missed (1.1% of the total number of CT scans), many were neoplastic diseases (particularly lung neoplasms) or traumatic conditions (particularly intracranial hemorrhage). Several severe cases were aortic disease. Post-discharge aggravation was not confirmed in severe cases because of prompt follow-up reporting. The frequency of initially missed cases at our department tended to be lower than those previously reported. Based on our findings, CT images of suspected lung lesions, traumatic intracranial hemorrhage, and aortic diseases need to be carefully interpreted, with the causes of missed findings in severe cases being rare diseases, location of abnormalities (top/bottom edge of CT images), and minor findings. Overall, our post-discharge follow-up reporting system appears to be useful.
