Doctors Incorrectly Diagnose Symptoms 10-15% of the Time

Although we all like to think doctors are infallible... we are far from it. Studies on doctors' diagnostic skills have consistently shown error rates around 10-15% based on different approaches. Why aren't we better? It's because human biology is complex and doctors are human. When a patient comes in with a symptom... let's take dizziness ... there are numerous possible causes for this particular symptom: stroke, medication side effect, alcohol intoxication, BPPV , Meniere…

7/18/2015 0

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Lawsuit Over Neck Cancer Misdiagnosed by Smell

In December 2012, a physician assistant (PA) excised a 3 cm right neck mass from a patient. In perhaps one of the more bizarre steps taken in this case, the physician assistant than smelled the excised mass, declared it non-cancerous, and threw it out in the garbage. Unfortunately, it was actually cancer which was correctly diagnosed 6 months later after the mass which had regrown was excised and sent to pathology by a doctor. The patient ultimately underwent a radical neck dissection and …

8/01/2014 0

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Top 4 Causes of Dizziness (Table)

Dizziness is an extremely common disorder that afflicts an estimated 10-20% of individuals older than 70 years old. Even for those younger, dizziness is a not uncommon problem. Several studies have been performed over the years to try and quantitate what are the most common causes of dizziness to help narrow the possibilities given the workup for dizziness can be long, tedious, and time-consuming which often frustrates patients. Also frustrating is the fact that without a diagnosis, trea…

5/15/2014 1

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Gwyneth Paltrow's Dad Had Throat Cancer

Image by Andrea Raffin from Wikipedia Gwyneth Paltrow recently divulged that her father was diagnosed with throat cancer in 1998 and eventually passed away in 2002 due to pneumonia complications. It is unclear exactly what type of throat cancer Mr. Paltrow had, but it could have been anything from tonsil cancer to vocal cord cancer . Depending on the location, symptoms and physical signs (ie, neck mass ) may have been present which ultimately would have required a biopsy. Once the…

5/20/2013 0

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Diagnose Cancer with Flash of a Light!

Traditionally, cancer is diagnosed by a surgical biopsy  with pathology results taking days later. Supportive evidence for a cancer is also determined based on visualizing the lesion as well as radiological studies (CT, MRI, Ultrasound, etc). However, there is a very exciting breakthrough technology that may be able to make a cancer determination under 1 second with only a flash of a light... meaning no biopsy with associated pain and scar to go along with it. Called Verisante Aura , a p…

3/15/2013 0

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Laryngospasm in a Child

Washington Post published a story July 23, 2012 regarding a child who suffered from laryngospasm attack that was erroneously diagnosed as asthma. Laryngospasm is when the true vocal cords (TVC) come together rather than apart when breathing. Normally, only when talking do the vocal cords come together (or adduct) and vibrate to create a voice. When breathing, the vocal cords separate (or abduct) to allow air to pass between the vocal cords and into the lungs. Watch video . What the st…

7/24/2012 0

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TV Show HOUSE Exploring ENT Problems

I must clarify that I never really like TV show House for reasons explained here ... but patients who love watching House have alerted me to some episodes this season that touched on ENT problems. So... here goes... Episode 21 (Season 8): Holding On Diagnosis: Persistent Stapedial Artery 19 years old cheerleader was admitted after suffering from dizziness, massive nosebleed, and auditory hallucinations. It was ultimately determined that he was suffering from a persistent stapedial art…

5/22/2012 0

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Dr. House of TV Fame Would Never Survive in Real World

Would YOU as the patient see a doctor who is a well-known jerk, abuses drugs, gives the wrong diagnosis more often than not, and is known to like ordering very invasive tests??? Be honest... The other week, a patient with a chronic cough exclaimed to me that she wished the fictional character Dr. House of TV fame actually existed in real life, because he was somebody who can diagnose anything. I looked her straight in the eye and told her that somebody like Dr. House in the real world …

12/03/2011 0

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Using The Internet To Radically Misdiagnose Your Children (Humor)

Saw this from The Onion , published June 2, 2006 (Issue 42; 22) ... Though this was meant to be humorous from the folks at The Onion , it does happen unfortunately...

9/19/2010 0

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A New Way to Diagnose Exercise-Induced Vocal Cord Dysfunction!

Researchers in Helsinki, Finland validated a new method to diagnose exercise-induced vocal cord dysfunction (VCD). And what a simple idea they came up with! In a study titled " Fiberoptic videolaryngoscopy during bicycle ergometry: A diagnostic tool for exercise-induced vocal cord dysfunction ," the authors performed fiberoptic video laryngoscopy WHILE a patient was exercising on a bicycle. Given that so often the symptoms of vocal cord dysfunction occur ONLY when a patient has bee…

8/08/2009 0

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