Radiology Malpractice Claims: Missed Findings on Scans and X-Rays

## When Radiologists Miss Critical Findings

Radiology is one of the most high-stakes specialties in medicine — a missed tumor on a CT scan, an overlooked fracture on an X-ray, or a misread chest film can delay life-saving treatment by months or years. Radiologists interpret thousands of images and bear the responsibility of detecting abnormalities that other physicians rely on to guide treatment decisions. When a radiologist's failure to identify a finding — or failure to communicate a finding to the treating physician — causes patient harm, a malpractice claim may be warranted.

Missed diagnoses on radiology studies account for 36–75% of all radiology malpractice claims, with missed lung nodules, breast masses, and intracranial abnormalities topping the list.

Common Radiology Errors That Support Malpractice Claims

The standard of care requires radiologists to read studies with reasonable care, compare current imaging to prior studies when available, and communicate urgent or unexpected findings directly to the ordering physician via the critical findings notification protocol. Failures in any of these duties can have devastating consequences for patients whose treatment is delayed as a result.

Missed pulmonary nodules or masses on chest CT scans
Failure to identify breast masses on mammograms
Overlooked intracranial hemorrhage on head CT
Misidentification of abnormal bone lesions on X-rays
Failure to communicate critical findings to the treating physician
Comparison failure: not reviewing prior imaging to identify interval changes

How Causation Is Proven in Radiology Malpractice Cases

Proving causation requires a radiologist expert who can testify that the finding was visible on the study and should have been identified, combined with an oncologist or treating specialist who explains how earlier detection would have changed the treatment course and outcome. Imaging studies are preserved in DICOM format and can be re-read by any qualified radiologist — making evidence preservation in these cases straightforward once you act promptly.