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Radiologists frequently miss hernias

Oklahoma residents could have a hernia even if they do not have an obvious bulge in their lower abdomen. Occult hernias that cannot be seen with the naked eye can be very difficult to diagnose, even with advanced imaging techniques. A patient with an undiagnosed hernia may still experience a lot of pain and discomfort.

At the Americas Hernia Society’s 206 annual meeting, members discussed the challenges of diagnosing hernias. One hernia specialist who spoke at the meeting told the group that she does not trust radiologists in this regard. The doctor explained that her distrust of radiologists was based on a study that showed that a majority of CT and MRI scans do not accurately diagnose hernias.

The study referenced by the hernia specialist was a review of 159 inguinal hernia radiology reports. According to the study, only 7 percent of CT scans and 33 percent of MRI scans accurately diagnosed occult inguinal hernias. Palpable inguinal hernias were a little easier to detect, but the number of misdiagnoses was still high. The study found that 25 percent of CT scans and 41 percent of MRI scans accurately diagnosed palpable inguinal hernias.

A patient with a hernia who does not receive an accurate diagnosis could be harmed by the medication that is prescribed for a different condition. In addition, such a failure to diagnose could lead to a worsened medical condition that requires aggressive and expensive medical care and treatment. Those who find themselves in this type of a position may want to meet with a medical malpractice attorney in order to see what recourse may be available.