By Patrick Book

Thousands of diagnostic scans performed in Swift Current area are being called into question

Jan 14, 2011 | 3:48 PM

Thousands of diagnostic scans performed in the Swift Current area are being called into question.

The Cypress Hills Health Region admits a review of more than 7,500 CT scans triggered after an audit by the College of Physicians and Surgeons has shown roughly 12 per cent may have been wrongly interpreted.

The tests were originally done between 2005 and 2010.

Interim CEO Beth Vachon admits there is obviously some concern that patient's health could be impacted.

“We need to determine whether or not a different care plan is required, if the diagnosis is correct following an interpretation, whether or not further investigations are needed,” Vachon explained in an interview Friday.

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She notes that 95 per cent of the patients that may have been affected by misread tests have already been contacted.

The work of one radiologist that has since retired is the focus of the concern.

A further 8,000 CT scans done between late 2004 and the end of 2007 will also begin immediately.

She says it's difficult to estimate how long it will take, as the information from those tests needs to first be logged into a computer system so that radioligists in Alberta providing the reinterpretations can access them.

Some that were included in the first round of re-tests or patients that have had the same area re-scanned in the years since won't have to be re-tested.

There are 6,200 patients in that group that may have been affected.

They'll also be notified by letter, but Vachon also encourages anyone with concerns to call the health region or their doctor.

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