Taxonomy and Epidemiology of Error in Radiology

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of the prevalence and classification of error types in radiology, including the frequency and types of errors made by radiologists. We will review the relative contribution of perceptual error—in which findings are simply not seen—as compared to other common types of error. This error epidemiology will be considered in the light of the underlying variability and uncertainties present in the radiological process. The role of key cognitive biases will also be reviewed, including anchoring bias, confirmation bias, and availability bias. The role of attentional focus, working memory, and problems caused by fatigue and interruption will also be explored. Finally, the problem of radiologist error will be considered in the context of the overall problem of diagnostic error in medicine.