Thresholds, rules and defensive strategies: how physicians learn from their prior diagnosis-related experiences

Diagnosis ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 115-121
Author(s):  
Norbert Donner-Banzhoff ◽  
Beate Müller ◽  
Martin Beyer ◽  
Jörg Haasenritter ◽  
Carola Seifart
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Original Diagnosis ◽  
Defensive Strategies ◽  
Analytical Reasoning ◽  
Gut Feelings ◽  
Extensive Collection ◽  
Diagnostic Work ◽  
Cognitive Mode ◽  
Work Up

AbstractBackgroundHealth professionals are encouraged to learn from their errors. Determining how primary care physicians (PCPs) react to a case, in which their original diagnosis differed from the final outcome, could provide new insights on how they learn from experiences. We explored how PCPs altered their diagnostic evaluation of future patients after cases where the originally assumed diagnosis turned out to be wrong.MethodsWe asked German PCPs to complete an online survey where they described how the patient concerned originally presented, the subsequent course of events and whether they would change their diagnostic work-up of future patients. Qualitative methods were used to analyze narrative text obtained by this survey.ResultsA total of 29 PCPs submitted cases, most of which were ultimately found to be more severe than originally assumed. PCPs (n = 27) reflected on changes to their subsequent clinical decisions in the form of general maxims (n = 20) or more specific rules (n = 11). Most changes would have resulted in a lower threshold for investigations, referral and/or a more extensive collection of diagnostic information. PCPs decided not only to listen more often to their intuition (gut feelings), but to also practice more analytical reasoning. Participants felt the need for change of practice even if no clinical standards had been violated in the diagnosis of that case. Some decided to resort to defensive strategies in the future.ConclusionsWe describe mechanisms by which physicians calibrate their decision thresholds, as well as their cognitive mode (intuitive vs. analytical). PCPs reported the need for change in clinical practice despite the absence of error in some cases.

scholarly journals Primary Breast Extranodal Marginal Zone Lymphoma in Primary Sjögren Syndrome: Case Presentation and Relevant Literature

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Ingravallo ◽  
Eugenio Maiorano ◽  
Marco Moschetta ◽  
Luisa Limongelli ◽  
Mauro Giuseppe Mastropasqua ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Marginal Zone ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
Original Diagnosis ◽  
Non Hodgkin Lymphoma ◽  
Primary Sjögren Syndrome ◽  
Histological Factors ◽  
Diagnostic Work ◽  
Work Up ◽  
Stimulation Of

The association between autoimmune diseases, mostly rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematous, celiac disease and Sjögren syndrome, and lymphoma has been widely demonstrated by several epidemiologic studies. By a not yet entirely elucidated mechanism, chronic activation/stimulation of the immune system, along with the administration of specific treatments, may lead to persistent stimulation of both of B- and T-cells, and to the onset of different types of lymphoma in such patients. Specifically, patients affected by may develop lymphomas may years after the original diagnosis. Several epidemiologic, hematologic and histological factors may anticipate the progression from Sjögren syndrome into lymphoma but, to the best of our knowledge, a definite pathogenetic mechanism for such progression is still missing. In fact, while the association between Sjögren syndrome and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, mostly diffuse large B-cell and extranodal marginal zone lymphomas is well established, many other variables, such as time of onset, gender predilection, sites of occurrence, subtype of lymphoma and predictive factors still remain unclear. We report on a rare case of primary breast lymphoma occurring three years after the diagnosis of Sjögren syndrome in a 57 y.o. patient. The diagnostic work-up, including radiograms, core needle biopsy and histological examination are discussed, along with emerging data from the recent literature, thus highlighting the usefulness of breast surveillance in Sjögren syndrome patients.

Die unklare Leberraumforderung

2019 ◽  
Vol 144 (23) ◽  
pp. 1651-1664
Author(s):  
Christoph Roderburg ◽  
Sven H. Loosen ◽  
Philipp Bruners ◽  
Tom Luedde
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
Focal Liver Lesions ◽  
Nodular Regenerative Hyperplasia ◽  
Liver Lesions ◽  
Nodular Hyperplasia ◽  
Diagnostic Work ◽  
Careful Distinction ◽  
Work Up ◽  
Malignant Neoplasia ◽  
Hepatocellular Adenomas

AbstractUnknown liver lesions represent a common clinical challenge, for example in the context of routine ultrasound examinations of primary care physicians. There are different data on the prevalence of primary liver lesions in the literature. As such, a forensic autopsy series described focal liver lesions in about 50 % of all examined men between 35 and 69 years of age with an increasing incidence for older people. In the diagnostic work-up of unclear liver lesions, a careful distinction between lesions that occur in asymptomatic and healthy individuals and are benign in over 95 % of cases, and lesion found in patients with pre-existing malignant, inflammatory or cirrhotic disease must be made. The main goal in the diagnosis of unclear liver lesions is to prove the benignity of the lesion and to exclude a malignant cause as reliably as possible. In case of benign lesions, an attempt should be made to achieve an exact classification. The most common benign focal liver lesions include liver cysts, focal fatty liver deposition or sparing, haemangiomas, focal calcifications, focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH), nodular regenerative hyperplasia, biliary hamartomas (von-Meyenburg complexes) and hepatocellular adenomas. Abscesses, inflammatory infiltrations or pseudotumors as well as sites of extramedullary haematopoiesis are observed much less frequently. Among the most frequent malignant focal liver lesions are metastases of other tumor entities such as colorectal cancer or pancreatic adenocarcinoma as well as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocellular carcinoma (CCA). Other entities such as hepatic lymphomas or mesenchymal malignant neoplasia are extremely rare.

The role of primary care in identification and ongoing management of dementia: a time of transition

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (9) ◽  
pp. 1409-1411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Constance Dimity Pond
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Drug Treatment ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
Roles And Responsibilities ◽  
Medication Prescription ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Diagnostic Work ◽  
Work Up ◽  
Diagnostic Work Up

In this edition of International Psychogeriatrics, Pertrazzuoli et al. (2017) address attitudes to dementia by primary care physicians (PCPs) across a range of European countries. The article focusses on diagnosis, screening instruments and drug treatment, and finds a wide range of approaches to the PCPs’ role in referral for diagnosis and medication prescription. The findings include that PCPs who are allowed to prescribe dementia drugs, engage in higher levels of diagnostic work up, despite all the barriers to identification ably summarized in the paper. Perhaps, this heterogeneity is not random: it may be that roles and responsibilities for PCPs in relation to dementia are in transition.

Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis as presenting feature of systemic lupus erythematosus in a Bangladeshi male patient: a rare case report

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-138
Author(s):  
Samiha Haque ◽  
Ishrat Jahan ◽  
Tufayel Ahmed Chowdhury ◽  
Muhammad Abdur Rahim ◽  
Mehruba Alam Ananna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ◽  
Lupus Erythematosus ◽  
Venous Pressure ◽  
Rapidly Progressive Glomerulonephritis ◽  
Initial Response ◽  
Systemic Lupus ◽  
Renal Manifestation ◽  
Rare Case Report ◽  
Diagnostic Work ◽  
Work Up

Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis is one of the most dramatic and tragic presentations of lupus nephritis (LN) or renal manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A 35-year-old Bangladeshi gentleman presented with worsening oedema, scanty, high colored, frothy urine and deteriorating renal function. He had puffy face, anaemia, oedema, normal jugular venous pressure (JVP), high blood pressure (150/90 mm Hg), ascites and bilateral pleural effusions. Diagnostic work-up confirmed SLE with class IV LN. His initial response to specific therapy showed improvement Birdem Med J 2020; 10(2): 137-138

scholarly journals Stroke masquerading as cardiac arrest: the artery of Percheron

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. e238681
Author(s):  
Megan Quetsch ◽  
Sureshkumar Nagiah ◽  
Stephen Hedger
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Arrest ◽  
Clinical Assessment ◽  
Altered Consciousness ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Consciousness Level ◽  
Artery Of Percheron ◽  
Conscious Level ◽  
Diagnostic Work ◽  
Work Up ◽  
Diagnostic Work Up

The artery of Percheron (AOP) is a rare arterial variant of the thalamic blood supply. Due to the densely packed collection of nuclei it supplies, an infarction of the AOP can be devastating. Here we highlight a patient who had an AOP stroke in the community, which was initially managed as cardiac arrest. AOP strokes most often present with vague symptoms such as reduced conscious level, cognitive changes and confusion without obvious focal neurology, and therefore are often missed at the initial clinical assessment. This case highlights the importance of recognising an AOP stroke as a cause of otherwise unexplained altered consciousness level and the use of MRI early in the diagnostic work-up.

scholarly journals Etiological Work-Up for Adults with Bronchiectasis: A Predictive Diagnostic Score for Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia and Cystic Fibrosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (16) ◽  
pp. 3478
Author(s):  
Frederic Schlemmer ◽  
Agnes Hamzaoui ◽  
Sonia Zebachi ◽  
Aurelie Le Thuaut ◽  
Gilles Mangiapan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cystic Fibrosis ◽  
Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia ◽  
Clinical Score ◽  
Adult Patients ◽  
Operating Characteristics ◽  
Diagnostic Score ◽  
Receiver Operating Characteristics Curve ◽  
Diagnostic Work ◽  
Work Up ◽  
Ciliary Dyskinesia

Background: etiological investigations are not done for all adult patients with bronchiectasis because of the availability and interpretation of tests. The aim of the study was to elaborate a score to identify patients at high risk of having cystic fibrosis or primary ciliary dyskinesia (CF/PCD), which require appropriate management. Methods: diagnostic work-ups were carried out on a French monocenter cohort, and results were subjected to logistic-regression analyses to identify the independent factors associated with CF/PCD diagnosis and, thereby, elaborate a score to validate in a second cohort. Results: among 188 patients, 158 had no obvious diagnosis and were enrolled in the algorithm-construction group. In multivariate analyses, age at symptom onset (8.69 (2.10–35.99); p = 0.003), chronic ENT symptoms or diagnosed sinusitis (10.53 (1.26–87.57); p = 0.03), digestive symptoms or situs inversus (5.10 (1.23–21.14); p = 0.025), and Pseudomonas. aeruginosa and/or Staphylococcus aureus isolated from sputum (11.13 (1.34–92.21); p = 0.02) are associated with CF or PCD. Receiver operating characteristics curve analysis, using a validation group of 167 patients with bronchiectasis, confirmed the score’s performance with AUC 0.92 (95% CI: 0.84–0.98). Conclusions: a clinical score may help identify adult patients with bronchiectasis at higher risk of having CF or PCD.

scholarly journals Death of unknown cause? Post-mortem diagnosis of fulminant course of an EBV-associated secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josia Fauser ◽  
Stefan Köck ◽  
Eberhard Gunsilius ◽  
Andreas Chott ◽  
Andreas Peer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Case Report ◽  
Macrophage Activation ◽  
Post Mortem ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Appropriate Therapy ◽  
Diagnostic Work ◽  
Work Up ◽  
Diagnostic Work Up ◽  
Secondary Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis

SummaryHLH is a life-threatening disease, which is characterized by a dysregulated immune response with uncontrolled T cell and macrophage activation. The often fulminant course of the disease needs a fast diagnostic work-up to initiate as soon as possible the appropriate therapy. We present herein the case of a 71-year-old patient with rapidly progressive hyperinflammatory syndrome, which post mortem resulted in the diagnosis of EBV-associated HLH. With this case report, we intend to highlight the relevance of the HScore in the diagnosis of HLH, to create a greater awareness for EBV as a trigger of HLH, and to demonstrate the importance of treating EBV-associated HLH as early as possible.

scholarly journals COVID-19 lung injury as a primer for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs)-related pneumonia in a patient affected by squamous head and neck carcinoma treated with PD-L1 blockade: a case report

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. e001870
Author(s):  
Angelo Dipasquale ◽  
Pasquale Persico ◽  
Elena Lorenzi ◽  
Daoud Rahal ◽  
Armando Santoro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lung Injury ◽  
Head And Neck ◽  
Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽  
Experimental Therapy ◽  
Common Mechanism ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽  
Immune Mediated ◽  
Diagnostic Work ◽  
Work Up ◽  
Diagnostic Work Up

By the beginning of the global pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 infection has dramatically impacted on oncology daily practice. In the current oncological landscape, where immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of several malignancies, distinguishing between COVID-19 and immune-mediated pneumonitis can be hard because of shared clinical, radiological and pathological features. Indeed, their common mechanism of aberrant inflammation could lead to a mutual and amplifying interaction.We describe the case of a 65–year-old patient affected by metastatic squamous head and neck cancer and candidate to an experimental therapy including an anti-PD-L1 agent. COVID-19 ground-glass opacities under resolution were an incidental finding during screening procedures and worsened after starting immunotherapy. The diagnostic work-up was consistent with ICIs-related pneumonia and it is conceivable that lung injury by SARS-CoV-2 has acted as an inflammatory primer for the development of the immune-related adverse event.Patients recovered from COVID-19 starting ICIs could be at greater risk of recall immune-mediated pneumonitis. Nasopharyngeal swab and chest CT scan are recommended before starting immunotherapy. The awareness of the phenomenon could allow an easier interpretation of radiological changes under treatment and a faster diagnostic work-up to resume ICIs. In the presence of clinical benefit, for asymptomatic ICIs-related pneumonia a watchful-waiting approach and immunotherapy prosecution are suggested.

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