Large Thyroid Nodules Have Higher Risk of Cancer Even if Needle Biopsy is Normal

A recent 2015 study revealed that large thyroid nodules (over 3cm) have a higher risk of cancer and that needle biopsies are not very accurate in diagnosing cancer in such large nodules. This is hardly the first study to demonstrate this. In a 2009 study , surgeons at the University of Wisconsin found that fine needle aspiration  biopsy  (FNAB) in 26 of 52 FNAB reported as benign (50.0%) turned out to be either neoplastic (22) or malignant (4) on final pathologic analysis after  thyroidect…

1/27/2015 1

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Wrong Site Surgery Performed by ENT

In 2010, an ENT performed a tongue tie release on a 5 years old child who was supposed to undergo a tongue lesion biopsy (apparently 1cm in size over the central dorsal tongue). Tongue tie release was NOT consented for nor discussed with the parents who expected a tongue biopsy to be performed instead. In the investigative report  performed by the Department of Public Health: "When the surgeon was asked whether he examined the patient in the preop area prior to the surgery, he stated…

9/01/2012 2

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Dr. House Video Clip Illustrating Doctor-Patient Communication Problems

In this classic video clip , Dr. House interviews a patient with asthma. Their interaction illustrates the problem of communication between doctor and patient that unfortunately too often occurs. Errors in doctor-patient communication as shown by this video clip: Doctors assume that patients know how to use medications (or understand treatments) when they don't. Patients assume that they know how to use medications (or understand treatments) even if they don't. Doctors can be in…

12/10/2010 2

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RANDOM: Media Confuses PA Students with Med Students in Medical Error

So I read this disturbing news report on MSNBC titled " Needle error puts 50 people at risk in N.M. " where "MED" students improperly pricked multiple patients while testing blood sugar during a health fair. Later in the article , the story stated "Students from UNM's physician assistant program conducted the free blood sugar tests during the cultural center's American Indian Week Pueblo Days." I should hope that a reputable news media outlet like MSNB…

5/14/2010 0

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