Misdiagnosis rate six times the norm, claims radiologist
Related Articles
THE rate of breast cancer misdiagnosis at Portlaoise Hospital was six times higher than in the best diagnostic centres.
The revelation was made yesterday by consultant radiologist Dr Ann O'Doherty, whose report followed her examination of over 3,000 mammograms at Portlaoise and the discovery that nine patients there were wrongly given the all-clear.
Her estimation of the high scale of misdiagnosis appears to contradict statements made by embattled Health Service Executive chief executive Brendan Drumm. At the launch of Dr O'Doherty's report on Wednesday, Prof Drumm suggested the rate of errors in Portlaoise was "within the norm".
But the HSE chief yesterday insisted both their statements were "100pc aligned".
Both Prof Drumm and National Director of Cancer Control Tom Keane were repeatedly quizzed at a press conference on Wednesday on whether the women in Portlaoise were at "higher risk".
Both rejected this and referred to Dr O'Doherty's report, which stated the mistake rate fell within the range of that found in similar reviews.
Journalists at the press conference queried what level of risk the women faced in the absence of checks such as triple assessment and multi disciplinary meetings.
Both men were not clear on what other reviews Dr O'Doherty was referring to and were vehement the women attending Portlaoise were not at higher risk. But in a surprise intervention yesterday, Dr O'Doherty decided to go on national radio to clarify the figures and said the other reviews referred to involved recalls of women in Northern Ireland and Manchester due to misdiagnosis fears.
Misdiagnosis
She added the rate of breast cancer misdiagnosis in the best centres such as St Vincent's in Dublin was 1pc, but in Portlaoise it was 6pc.
"I think it is fair to say that this is a high level of misdiagnosis . . . I say in the report that this level of misdiagnosis is in the mid-range of similar reviews in the past. That is the crucial issue."
When asked if the fact that the mammogram machine being used in Portlaoise was 15 years old -- five years beyond its normal lifespan -- was relevant to the misdiagnosis, she added: "I have no doubt the machine was a factor."
This also contradicted an assertion by Prof Drumm, who, on the basis of Dr O'Doherty's report, believed the poor images produced were due to technical know how.
When quizzed about Dr O'Doherty's comments, Prof Drumm yesterday said he didn't hear the interview.
But he insisted he was confident any of his statements at the launch of Dr O'Doherty's report would show he was not comparing Portlaoise with the best centres for rate of mistakes.
"We are 100pc at one -- anything you read from me (on Wednesday) will be 100pc aligned," he said.
"I don't think for one minute that Dr O'Doherty is claiming you won't have huge rates of error in those circumstances."
Prof Drumm also challenged anyone to find a statement he made which was inconsistent with Dr O'Doherty's view.
He added: "There are many other centres -- I can take you up and down trauma centres and intensive care units today, and you will find exactly the same outcome -- until somebody decides to make the tough decisions and not support them.
"The mortality rates in many of our units are far too high. This strengthened the case for the closure of smaller units and the concentration of services in larger hospitals."
- Eilish O'Regan, Health Correspondent
