Download PDF
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Indian J Radiol Imaging 2011; 21(03): 236-237
DOI: 10.4103/0971-3026.85377
Miscellaneous

Left behind radiological investigations: An inherent problem

Giridhar A Govindswamy
Department of Radio Diagnosis, M S Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
,
Srinath M Gopinath
Department of Radio Diagnosis, M S Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
,
Adekal Ashok Kumar
Department of Radio Diagnosis, M S Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
› Author Affiliations
› Further Information
Also available at
  PDF Download Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the number of investigations left behind by patients in radiology department, their cost, and the possible methods of reducing the problem. Materials and Methods: A total of 1424 radiographs, 160 computed tomography (CT) scans, 300 ultrasonography (USG) reports, and 46 Doppler reports were left behind by patients in one financial year. The total cost of these left behind investigations was calculated and the reports were categorized into normal and abnormal for each modality. Results: Of the radiographs left behind 658 were abnormal, with 211 among these being radiographs of postoperative patients. Thirty-seven percent of CT scans had positive findings. Sixty-eight percent of USG reports had positive findings while 46% of Doppler reports were abnormal. Conclusion: We believe that the cost and number of these left behind investigations over a period of time would definitely be significant for the health care system in a developing country. It is time to think of the possible reasons and methods for containing this problem.

Keywords

Cost - left behind investigations - postoperative - radiographs


Publication History

Article published online:
30 July 2021

© 2011. Indian Radiological Association. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Ltd.
A-12, Second Floor, Sector -2, NOIDA -201301, India

 

  • References

  • 1 Göktan C, Pekindil G, Orgüç S, Tunçyürek O, Bayindir P, Oner M. CT and MRI examinations left behind in the radiology department. Diagn Interv Radiol 2007;13:173-5.
  • 2 Capaccio E, Podesta. How of the do patients ask for the results of their radiological studies ? Insights Into Imaging. Berlin: Springer; 2010. p. 83-5.
  • 3 Ibbott GS, Zhang Y, Mohiuddin M, Adams E. Reproduction of radiologic images on plain paper. Radiographics 1998;18:755-60.