Oncology errors in diagnosis. Cancer and misdiagnosis

The death of Darya Starikova from Apatity, who turned to the president in May 2017, due to an incorrect diagnosis, is far from the first case in Russia. According to Gazeta.Ru, in the Murmansk region alone, over the past five years, 150 people have died due to falsely diagnosed “osteochondrosis”, which eventually turned out to be oncology. After doctors still found cancer, people managed to live no more than one year.

Osteochondrosis put dozens of Russians

The fact that a resident of Apatity Darya Starikova, who died on May 22 at the Research Institute of Oncology named after. Herzen was diagnosed incorrectly, it became known back in June 2017. Then, during a “straight line”, she told Russian President Vladimir Putin that before being diagnosed with stage four cancer, she was treated for osteochondrosis for a long time.

After appealing to the head of state, the Investigative Committee recognized Starikova as a victim and opened a criminal case “On Negligence” against the doctors of the Apatity-Kirov Central City Hospital. At the moment, the investigation is ongoing.

“In such cases, there are special provisions of the Criminal Code - there is no period [after the death of the victim]. The circumstances, the presence or absence of defects in the provision of medical care are established. The term of the investigation can be extended as long as necessary to establish the truth,” the investigators said.

To prolong the life of Starikova for almost a year, the most modern methods of treating cancer were used, consultations were held with foreign specialists. However, not every Russian can fall under the personal supervision of the country's leading oncologist Andrey Kaprin.

The case of the girl from Apatity is far from unique. Dozens of people die due to incorrectly diagnosed "osteochondrosis", which eventually turns out to be oncology.

As journalist Alexander Kalugin told Gazeta.Ru, his father-in-law was also a victim of an incorrect diagnosis. Sergey Pavlov, who, like Daria Starikova, lived in the Murmansk region.

“In January last year, he went to the Murmansk polyclinic and complained of fatigue and weakness. The clinic took a blood test, which showed a drop in hemoglobin. This is the first sign of possible cancer. But the doctor refused to extend the sick leave for Sergei, prescribed vitamins to raise hemoglobin, but did not look for the main cause of the problem, ”Kalugin said.

According to him, a week later, his father-in-law got worse - he went for an examination to the local Sevryba hospital, but even there the doctors could not detect the disease.

“I called the Minister of Health of the region Valery Peretrukhin and asked that my father-in-law be taken to the hospital in an ambulance and examined again. But he did his best not to answer my call. And when I did get through to him, he verbally promised to look into it, but in fact did not provide any help, ”said Kalugin.

The further development of events is very similar to the story of Darya Starikova, who was hospitalized with bleeding less than a month after the incorrect diagnosis of "intervertebral osteochondrosis" was made. So, Kalugin said, a few days after Pavlov was discharged from the hospital, he again got there in an ambulance with stomach bleeding. Only then the doctors were able to make the correct diagnosis - stage 4 stomach cancer.

“Several years ago, my father-in-law’s wife died of a similar illness at Sevryb, so we no longer had any confidence in this hospital. We went to St. Petersburg for treatment.

First, we entered the Alexander Hospital, where the doctors, having learned our diagnosis, said understandingly, “Oh! Murmansk” and then they said that with too late diagnosed cancer, patients from Murmansk come to them in batches, ”Kalugin emphasized.

A relative of the patient noted that his father-in-law underwent three courses of chemotherapy. The last, fourth course he completed in September 2017. In April 2018, at the age of 66, he passed away. From the moment the correct diagnosis was made, the man lived a little over a year, as did Starikova, a resident of Apatity.

“All this is thanks to the doctors in St. Petersburg. We are very grateful to them, because for their part they did everything they could. However, specialists from Murmansk could not help. And our case is not isolated. Oncology is a problem in the region. No diagnostic quality.

Of course, after Starikova called the president and said that not only she, but also other townspeople could not receive normal medical care, mass hysteria and ostentatious events began with the delivery of patients by plane.

However, not every cancer patient can afford treatment in another city, moving there is expensive," Gazeta.Ru's interlocutor said.

About 150 people with cancer have been misdiagnosed in the Murmansk region over the past five years, Kalugin said. This figure, according to the man, was reported to him by one of the high-ranking regional doctors. The same data is provided by the regional news agency FlashNord. The specialist himself, referred to by Kalugin, refused to answer Gazeta.Ru's questions.

Kalugin wrote a statement to the Investigative Committee in the summer of last year demanding that a criminal case be initiated against a doctor from a polyclinic who made an incorrect diagnosis.

“We begged him to send his father-in-law for examination, but he did not. Many patients complain about this doctor. He always ends up with a prescription for vitamins, ”he explained.

The response from the investigators came on the day of Starikova's death, May 22. The man was told that a criminal case had been opened. Nevertheless, Kalugin believes, this story has no prospects. As Gazeta.Ru found out, the general practitioner against whom the case was initiated continues to work at the Murmansk polyclinic at the moment.

“Now we are considering the option of filing a lawsuit against the government of the Murmansk region, because the hospital is subordinate to the region. This healthcare optimization leads to such results,” Kalugin is convinced.

History repeats itself in the Sverdlovsk region

Another victim of an incorrectly established diagnosis was Evgenia Popova, a resident of Krasnoturinsk. In October 2017, she began to experience pain in her chest and spine, which made her unable to move freely. The woman was sent from one doctor to another, did a CT scan and numerous tests, her cousin Olesya Zheltova said in a conversation with AiF-Ural.

Local doctors diagnosed her with osteochondrosis and said that there was no cause for concern. Seals in the mammary glands that appeared in a woman, doctors associated with the consequences of breastfeeding.

A mother of many children went to the oncology department of the city hospital - there she underwent computed tomography, ultrasound and x-rays. None of the studies revealed cancer.

Popova's condition worsened - she significantly lost weight and could hardly move. The woman was transferred to a clinic in Yekaterinburg. Only there the doctors diagnosed her with stage IV cancer. Repeated tomography revealed multiple metastases in the liver and bones.

The tumor was inoperable. Chemotherapy was also excluded - the body was weakened, it could not withstand such a load. They tried to alleviate the woman's condition with medicines, but the doctors refused to prescribe them for free without a certificate of disability. The patient's relatives prepared an appeal to the Ministry of Health of the Sverdlovsk Region in connection with an incorrect initial diagnosis.

The Ministry of Health has launched a check. On January 11, 2018, it became known that Evgenia Popova had died. Her friend Natalya Kalinina announced this on Facebook. Three of her children were left without a mother - the youngest was a little over six months.

The next day, the Investigative Committee for the Sverdlovsk Region launched an investigation into the circumstances of the death of a resident of the city of Krasnoturinsk. “It is being checked whether she received medical assistance in full, whether the disease was diagnosed in a timely manner,” the investigators added.

“After such procedures, he should already be running”

In February 2014, in the month of his 55th birthday, a resident of Petrozavodsk, Evgeny Mekkiev, complained of pain in his back and chest, radiating to his right thigh. The doctors of the Departmental Clinical Hospital, to which he was attached as an employee of the Russian Railways, diagnosed him with an exacerbation of osteochondrosis.

The man was prescribed drugs. According to his relatives, who are quoted by the Petrozavodsk edition of the Daily, after three months there were so many medicines that they did not fit on the windowsill. However, doctors continued to prescribe new ones. Five months after Mekkiyev's visit to the railway polyclinic, he was examined by several specialists: two different therapists, a neuropathologist, and a surgeon. All doctors made one diagnosis - osteochondrosis.

“In the clinic, he was given sick leave for two weeks, and then he was discharged. And he just couldn't work. Colleagues saw that he could not, and said: "Zhenya, don't work, sit down, we'll do it." And only the doctors didn’t seem to notice how bad he was,” said a relative of Mekkiyev.

In the summer of 2014, Yevgeny was hospitalized for two weeks in a railway hospital. There he was treated for osteochondrosis of the thoracic spine and intercostal neuralgia. On the day of discharge home for outpatient treatment, epicrisis data show that pain in the chest and back decreased. However, the man began to be disturbed by pain under the right shoulder blade. At home, the man moved with difficulty, holding on to the walls. In response to a complaint about severe pain in his legs, the neuropathologist prescribed pills and a cream for him.

In July Mekkiyev visited doctors every other day.

“The doctor at the Bone Clinic told him that after such procedures he should already run. And he advised me to contact the neurological department of the republican hospital.

We took him to the hospital by the arms. He himself could no longer walk, he was actually near death.

At a paid consultation, the doctor immediately told her husband that he did not have neurology,” said a relative of Mekkieva.

On the advice of a doctor, the man went to the examination. X-ray revealed multiple bone fractures in him. The doctors diagnosed her with multiple myeloma, or blood cancer that originates in the bone marrow. A week later, Mekkiyev's kidneys failed - he began to go to regular blood purification procedures. Later, he began to undergo chemotherapy courses: the bones ceased to collapse.

Doctors said that on average, patients with this diagnosis can live for six years. They even let the man go home between chemotherapy courses. Mekkiyev lay in a hospital bed for a little over a year. In August 2015, he contracted an infection that, with multiple myeloma, the body is practically unable to cope with. The patient developed sepsis of the internal organs, Mekkiev fell into a coma and died 10 days later.

After decades of misdiagnosis of cancer followed by treatments and millions of disabled healthy people, the National Cancer Institute and the influential medical science journal JAMA (Journal of American Medical Association) finally admitted that they were wrong all this time.

Back in 2012, the National Cancer Institute brought together a panel of experts to reclassify some of the most commonly diagnosed cancers and then “rediagnose” and over-aggressively treat these conditions. They determined that probably millions of people were misdiagnosed with breast cancer, prostate cancer, thyroid cancer, and lung cancer, when in fact their conditions were harmless and should have been defined as “benign epithelial etiologies”. No apologies were made. The media completely ignored this. However, the most important thing has not been done either: no radical changes have occurred in the traditional practice of diagnosing, preventing and treating cancer.

Thus, millions of people in the United States and around the world who were convinced that they had a fatal disease of cancer and who underwent forced and crippling treatment for this, it was as if they heard, “Oh ... We were wrong. You didn't actually have cancer."

If you look at the problem only from the point of view of "rediagnosis" and "retreatment" of breast cancer in the United States over the past 30 years, then the approximate number of women affected will be equal to 1.3 million. Most of these women are not even aware that they have been victims and many of them refer to their “aggressors” as Stockholm Syndrome because they think their lives have been “saved” by unnecessary treatment. In fact, the side effects, both physical and psychological, almost certainly significantly reduced their quality and life expectancy.

When the report from the National Cancer Institute was made, those who had long defended the position that the frequently diagnosed "early breast cancer" known as encapsulated mammary duct carcinoma (DCIS) were never inherently malignant, and therefore should not have been treated with lumpectomy, mastectomy, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.

Dr. Sayer Gee, founder of the greenmedinfo.com medical science archive project, has been actively educating people about the issue of "overdiagnosis" and "retreatment" for several years. Two years ago, he wrote the article "Thyroid cancer epidemic caused by misinformation, not cancer", which he substantiated by collecting many studies from different countries, which showed that the rapid increase in the number of cancer diagnoses thyroid is associated with misclassification and diagnosis. Other studies have reflected the same pattern in diagnosing breast and prostate cancer, and even some forms of ovarian cancer. It must be remembered that the standard treatment for such diagnoses was the removal of the organ, as well as radiation and chemotherapy. The last two are strong carcinogens leading to the malignancy of these harmless conditions and secondary cancers.

And, as is usually the case with studies that go against established standards of care, these studies have not made it to the media either!

Finally, thanks to the efforts of many honest oncologists, one of the most commonly diagnosed forms of cancer has been reclassified as a benign condition. This is papillary thyroid cancer. Now there will be no excuse for those oncologists who offer patients to treat these harmless, inherently compensatory changes with the help of a total resection of the thyroid gland, followed by the use of radioactive iodine, putting the patient on synthetic hormones for life and constant treatment of concomitant symptoms. For the millions “treated” for “thyroid cancer”, this information came late, but for many, it will save unnecessary suffering and a deterioration in the quality of life due to crippling treatment.

Unfortunately, this event did not become a sensation in the media, which means that thousands more people will suffer “by inertia” until official medicine reacts to this.

Movie: THE TRUTH ABOUT CANCER Cancer is just a symptom, not the cause of the disease

Oops…! “It turns out it wasn't cancer at all!” admits the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

On April 14, 2016, in an article titled “It's Not Cancer: Doctors Reclassified Thyroid Cancer,” The New York Times magazine pointed to a new study published in JAMA Oncology that should forever change how we classify, diagnose, and treat the advanced form. thyroid cancer.

“An international group of doctors decided that a type of cancer that had always been classified as cancer was not cancer at all.

The result of this was an official reclassification of the condition towards benign. Thus, thousands of people will be able to avoid removal of the thyroid gland, treatment with radioactive iodine, lifelong use of synthesized hormones and regular examinations. All this was in order to “protect” from a tumor that was never dangerous.

The findings of these experts and the data that led to them were published on April 14th in the journal JAMA Oncology. The changes are expected to affect more than 10,000 diagnosed thyroid cancer patients per year in the US alone. This event will be appreciated and celebrated by those who have pushed for the reclassification of other forms of cancer as well, including certain breast, prostate, and lung tumors.

A reclassified tumor is a small lump in the thyroid that is completely surrounded by a fibrous tissue capsule. Its core looks like cancer, but the cells of the formation do not go beyond their capsule, and therefore the operation to remove the entire gland and subsequent treatment with radioactive iodine is not necessary and not crippling - such a conclusion was made by oncologists. They have now renamed this mass from “encapsulated follicular thyroid neopolasm with papillary-like nuclear features” to “noneinvasive follicular thyroid neopolasm with papillary-like nuclear features, or NIFTP.” The word "carcinoma" no longer appears.

Many oncologists believe that this should have been done a long time ago. For many years they fought to reclassify small breast, lung, and prostate small masses, as well as some other types of cancer, and remove the name "cancer" from diagnoses. The only reclassifications so far were early stage genitourinary cancer in 1998 and early changes in the cervix and ovaries about 20 years ago. However, apart from the thyroid specialists, no one else has dared to do so since then.

“In fact, the opposite has happened,” says Otis Broley, chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society, “changes have happened in the opposite direction of scientific evidence. So precancerous small lumps of the breast began to be called stage zero cancer. Small and early formations of the prostate turned into cancerous tumors. At the same time, modern examination methods such as ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance therapy are finding more and more of these small “cancerous” formations, especially small nodes in the thyroid gland.

“If it's not cancer, then let's not call it cancer,” says American Thyroid Association President and Mayo Clinic Professor of Medicine Dr. John C. Morris.

Dr. Barnet Es Krammer, director of cancer prevention at the National Cancer Institute, said: "We are increasingly concerned that the terms we use do not match our understanding of the biology of cancer." He goes on to say, "Calling masses cancers when they are not, leads to unnecessary and traumatic treatments."

The article goes on to say that although some specialized medical centers are already beginning to treat encapsulated thyroid masses less aggressively, this is still not the norm in other medical institutions. Unfortunately, there is a pattern that usually takes about 10 years for scientific evidence to be reflected in practical medicine. Therefore, medicine is far less “scientifically sound” than it claims to be.

Clearly, the truth about the real causes of cancer, as well as the truth about the myths propagated by the cancer industry, is starting to seep even into medical institutions like JAMA and even into the media, which usually plays a huge role in spreading misinformation on this topic.

Despite this success, we must continue to work in this direction. Research and educational work must continue. In addition to papillary thyroid cancer, this primarily concerns encapsulated ductal cancer of the breast, some formations of the prostate (intrathelial neoplasia) and lungs. When reclassification of these conditions can be achieved, this will entail a significant change in the protocols for their treatment. Now they will not be treated with organ cutting, cancer-causing chemotherapy and radiation therapy, which means that millions of people will not receive the crippling treatment that dooms them to constant suffering and dependence on official medicine, and many of them will avoid the appearance of secondary cancers caused by these types of treatment. . Many also will not malignize the process as a result of toxic treatments that destroy the body's defenses and turn a benign process into an aggressive malignant one.

Just imagine how many people around the world have already suffered and may still suffer, if only in the United States and only for breast cancer is 1.3 million women? Now it should be obvious to everyone where such optimistic statistics come from official oncology, where it cures cancer in more than 50% of patients. Most of them did not have a correct diagnosis of cancer, and if these "sick" patients survived the treatment, they became officially cured of cancer. Moreover, if many people had secondary cancers after 5-15 years, then of course they were never associated with previous carcinogenic treatment.

Many oncologists, and especially those who use the naturopathic concept of understanding and treating cancer, believe that asymptomatic cancers do not need to be treated at all, but only to make certain changes in their lifestyle, nutrition and thinking. One can, however, go further and cite the words of UC Bakerley professor Dr. Hardin Jones, who claimed that, according to his statistics of working with cancer patients over 25 years, those who were diagnosed with advanced cancer and who did not use the official three treatment, lived an average of 4 times longer than those who received such treatment.

All this makes us take a fresh look at the situation with the diagnosis and treatment of this disease, as well as the fact that, unfortunately, today we cannot trust official medicine in this.

The article was written using material from greenmedinfo.com

The term “tomography” is of Greek origin: “tomos” means “layer”, “grapho” means to write. Tomography in medicine is any diagnostic method that allows you to get layer-by-layer images of the structure of the human body.

Types of tomographic studies for lung cancer

In modern oncology, tomography is the main diagnostic method of research. Tomographic studies are carried out using special devices - tomographs. Depending on the principle laid down in the work of the tomograph, there are:

1. Computed tomography (CT): spiral CT, contrast CT (CT angiography), multislice CT (MSCT), positron emission tomography (PET-CT).
2. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Computed tomography in the diagnosis of lung cancer

All types of computed tomography are performed on special devices - computed tomography. The action of computed tomography is based on the use of low-dose x-rays.

Computed tomography makes it possible to perform a series of layered chest images with a given slice thickness. By processing the obtained images taken in different planes, the computer can create a three-dimensional image of the lungs and mediastinal organs.

To improve the visualization of neoplasms in the lungs, a contrast method (CT angiography) is used. A contrast is injected into the patient's vein, which quickly reaches the pulmonary circulation with the blood flow and "illuminates" the vessels of the lungs.

The essence of contrasting in tumors is that neoplasms have a more extensive circulatory system than the surrounding tissues, so it is in the cancerous vessels that the contrast will accumulate the most.

• pulmonary, when the main clearly defined structural elements of the chest are bronchi, interlobar fissures, intersegmental septa, pulmonary vessels;
• mediastinal, when the mediastinal organs (heart, superior vena cava, aorta, trachea, lymph nodes) are visualized in detail.

To detect neoplasms in the lungs, the pulmonary mode is more often used, and in the presence of metastasis of this tumor, both.

Multispiral CT differs from spiral CT in that the movement of the radiation source occurs in several spirals around the tomography table. This high-speed scan for lung cancer is more informative than conventional CT, but also more expensive.

With it, you can identify the smallest neoplasms in the lungs, including tumor metastases in the lymph nodes or organs of the mediastinum, and detect pathological paracancroid (near-tumor) processes.

Positron emission computed tomography (PET-CT) is a highly sensitive method for diagnosing cancerous tumors, as it helps to study the molecular structure of cancer cells.

This CT method is based on the imaging of tumor cells and the study of their metabolism using a radioactive pharmaceutical preparation - 18-fluorodeoxyglucose. Sections obtained after the introduction of this drug allow you to create a three-dimensional model of the tumor formation and establish its exact localization.

Magnetic resonance imaging

The essence of the work of a magnetic resonance tomograph is to capture radio wave signals that come from all cells of the human body. With the help of the container of the tomograph, the signals coming from the cells of the body are delimited from the signals coming from the environmental objects.

A powerful magnet, which is part of the structure of the magnetic resonance apparatus, creates a strong magnetic field that excites water molecules in the cells of the human body, forcing them to produce radio wave impulses. Ultra-sensitive sensors perceive and process the received signals in a special way, converting them into a cut print.

The computer superimposes the slices on top of each other, modeling a three-dimensional image of the area under study. MRI allows you to scan with slices from 1 mm in several planes at the same time, which provides high-definition images.

Advantages and disadvantages. Indications and contraindications for tomography

Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging have many advantages over other research methods. These advantages have made it possible to introduce them into the standard protocols for diagnosing patients with suspected lung cancer and with established oncopathology.

The advantages of CT and MRI in the diagnosis of lung cancer are:

• high information content of the methods (they can be used to detect tumor neoplasms with their minimum size, which is very important in the early stages of the disease);
• clarity of images (layered images are of high definition, which allows you to see the smallest details in the picture, and minimize the likelihood of artifacts);
• low dose of radiation with computer and its absence with magnetic resonance imaging (allows for several procedures in a short period of time);
• painlessness of the studies (the patient does not feel pain or other discomfort during the procedures, therefore, does not require the appointment of painkillers or sedatives);
• the absence of side effects after the study (patients after the procedure do not experience discomfort - nausea, dizziness, pain, therefore, do not require medical supervision);
• lack of special preparation for the procedure (this makes it possible to conduct the study on an outpatient basis, at any convenient time, without enema, shaving and other preparatory manipulations);
• convenience of storing results (on film, on paper, in electronic form).

Indications for tomographic examination in oncological practice are:

• differential diagnosis between non-oncological and oncological pathologies;
• identification of the primary cancerous tumor and its characteristics;
• detection of metastases;
• determination of the degree of involvement of surrounding tissues in the process;
• evaluation of the effectiveness of the treatment;
• prevention of recurrence of pathology.

Tomographic diagnostic procedures have practically no contraindications, so they can be prescribed to almost all patients. But there is a small list of contraindications to these procedures.

For all imaging studies:

• pregnancy (especially in the first trimester);
• mental illness (due to the risk of manifestations of claustrophobia or inappropriate behavior);
• a significant degree of obesity (the patient may not physically fit into the apparatus).

For a CT scan with contrast:

• allergy to radiopaque preparations;
• aggravated allergic history of the patient;
• severe condition of the patient;
• decompensated chronic diseases of the cardiovascular system, kidneys, liver;
• myeloma;
• severe form of diabetes.

For the MRI procedure (replaced by CT):

• medical devices installed in the patient's body, for example, pacemakers;
• the presence in the body of metal-containing non-removable products (staples, clips, prostheses, bullets, fragments).

Most of these contraindications are relative (except for the presence of metal-containing devices and allergies), so procedures can be performed with them, but only when their effectiveness significantly exceeds the risk of side effects or consequences.

Carrying out tomographic studies in lung carcinoma

According to the standard protocol, if a patient is suspected of having lung cancer, helical computed tomography is performed, which is performed on inspiration.

Depending on the goals of CT: it is performed with different slice steps (collimation):

• 5 mm - if there is a suspicion of a tumor in the lungs;
• 3-5 mm - if there is a suspicion of involvement of regional lymph nodes and mediastinal organs;
• 0.5 mm - after the diagnosis is established to select the tactics of surgical treatment.

When performing spiral CT, different doses of radiation are also used to determine the morphological structure of the tumor. At the same time, 0.5 and 0.4 mSv, respectively, are considered to be a low dose of radiation for men and women. With such a radiation exposure and thin sections in the lung tissue, nodules can be determined.

The tactics of further diagnosis of lung cancer after its detection depends on the size of the identified nodes and the risk level in the patient:

1. With a nodule size up to 4 mm inclusive, a repeated CT scan is performed no earlier than after 12 months.
2. With a size of nodules from 4 to 6 mm: in low-risk patients - repeat CT after 12 months, in high-risk patients - repeat CT is performed twice (after 6-12 months).
3. With a size of nodes from 6 to 8 mm: in patients with a low degree of risk - repeated CT is performed twice (after 6-12 months), in patients with a high degree of risk - repeated CT is performed twice (after 3-6 and 6-12 months) .
4. With a size of nodes over 8 mm, patients are prescribed contrast CT, PET-CT (positron emission computed tomography) and biopsy.

Contrast CT is used to determine the boundary between the tumor and intact tissue to determine the tactics of therapy and clarify the scope of surgical intervention. After the introduction of contrast (Omnipak, Ultravist), its excessive accumulation occurs in the tumor tissue. At the same time, the vessels feeding the tumor are well defined in the photographs of the sections.

The tomographic examination procedure is performed on an outpatient basis and does not require special preparation of the patient.

The subject is placed on the tomographic table of the apparatus, which during the procedure moves along radiation sources (X-ray or magnetic). The duration of the study depends on the size of the area of ​​the body being examined and can be up to 1.5 hours. In this case, the patient does not experience any pain.

Signs of lung cancer on CT and MRI

The interpretation of images obtained using computed tomography is carried out according to the developed standard algorithms.

Knowing what lung cancer looks like on a CT scan, experienced radiologists can make a diagnosis of lung cancer from the available images.

The picture of lung cancer depends on the type of tumor, since each type of tumor has its own morphological signs, which are determined radiographically:

• Adenocarcinoma (occurs in 35% of cases of lung cancer) in the pictures is determined in the form of nodes of a rounded or irregular shape with a heterogeneous structure. Most often localized in the upper lobes of the lungs and has a lobed structure;

Squamous cell carcinoma (about 30% of cases) appears as a hard, jagged nodule that blocks the airways of the lungs, resulting in obstructive pneumonitis, or collapsed lung.

Often located near the roots of the lung. In many cases of squamous cell carcinoma, a symptom of cavitation is determined - the formation of a cavity inside the node, which is a sign of tumor decay;

Signs of a tumor process on MRI images are not much different from signs on CT.

Computed and magnetic resonance imaging are effective diagnostic methods. They help to establish the diagnosis of oncological pathology at the earliest stages of the disease.

Five to ten years ago, undergoing a CT or MRI procedure was quite difficult and very expensive. Today, these types of diagnostics have become much more accessible. It is thanks to this that the frequency of detecting lung cancer in the early stages has increased, and due to timely treatment, the five-year survival rate of patients has increased. The earlier a cancer pathology is detected, the greater the effectiveness of the treatment will be.

Method for early detection of lung cancer

Lung cancer is an oncological malignant neoplasm that develops from the glands and mucous membrane of the lung tissue and bronchi.

There are two types of this disease:

• central;
• peripheral cancer.

The main causes of lung cancer are:

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• nicotine addiction;
• genetic predisposition;
• environmental factors;
• chronic diseases of the bronchopulmonary tract.

The symptoms of the disease are dominated by such signs as a persistent dry cough, shortness of breath and chest pain.

Video: Unusual signs of lung cancer

When the tumor grows into large vessels, there is a risk of developing pulmonary hemorrhage.

Diagnosis of lung cancer in the early stages does not always give a reliable result. This is due to the fact that the results of the study do not always reflect the stage of development of the disease. In addition, signs of lung cancer of the first stage are often mistaken for symptoms of pneumonia.

Therefore, to detect the development of the pathological process at the earliest stages, a full range of modern research methods is used. Consider the main methods for diagnosing lung cancer.

X-ray examination

The radiological signs of lung cancer include fuzziness, blurring of the contours of the alleged tumor, its irregular shape and heterogeneous structure.

The image may show decay cavities, “undermining” of internal contours, this is especially characteristic of a malignant tumor, which is quite tightly connected with the lung tissue. Also, such a neoplasm is characterized by its multinodularity and the exact time of doubling the tumor in size. For lung cancer, this period is 126 days.

Additional radiological signs of the disease include an increase in lymph nodes with the formation of a path to the root of the lung (regional lymphangitis) and narrowing of the lumen of large bronchi.

You can find information about nutrition during chemotherapy for lung cancer on this website.

Bronchoscopy

Bronchoscopy - examination of the patient using a flexible tube with a lens that is inserted directly into the bronchus. Signs of lung cancer on bronchoscopic examination vary depending on the stage of the disease and the size of the tumor.

There is a narrowing and ulceration of the lumen of the bronchus, its walls are deformed and shifted to the side. The place where the trachea divides into two main bronchi is deformed in the direction of smoothing the angle. This happens due to an increase in the lower tracheobronchial lymph nodes.

Magnetic resonance imaging is of great diagnostic value. With its help, you can get accurate information about the pleural fluid, vascular structures of the lung tissue, the properties of an oncological neoplasm, and the degree of involvement of adjacent organs in the pathological process.

The main advantage of MRI diagnostics is the exclusion of radiation exposure.

CT (computed tomography)

This is one of the most modern methods for diagnosing lung cancer. It determines the exact characteristics of the primary tumor - its size, localization, severity of complications of the disease.

Also, during computed tomography, metastasis zones are clearly visible - intrapulmonary lymph nodes, mediastinal and root.

With the help of CT diagnostics, you can see the areas of distant metastasis - the brain, bones, liver and adrenal glands.

Video: Early detection of lung cancer using CT

Cytological examination of sputum

Cytology (immunocytochemistry) of sputum is carried out at the pre-hospital stage, if a cancerous process is suspected in the body. The phlegm is collected with a deep cough. If the mucus is not coughed up, then the material for the study is taken during a bronchoscopic examination of the patient.

In most cases, repeated sputum examination reveals atypical squamous metaplasia, which indicates the development of a malignant process.

In addition, according to the results of the analysis, it is possible to predict the development of the disease several years before the morphological diagnosis is made. This is indicated by the expression of K-ras and p53 mutations in sputum cells.

Mediastinoscopy

Mediastinoscopy is an endoscopic examination of the mediastinum using a mediastinoscope, which is inserted into a small incision in the neck above the sternum.

This is a rather traumatic type of examination, therefore it is carried out only by experienced specialists and is often replaced by other diagnostic methods (bronchoscopy, computed tomography).

Mediastinoscopy is performed mainly to clarify the stage of development of the disease. If the contralateral lymph nodes are affected and metastases to the ipsilateral lymph nodes (stage III cancer), surgery is not indicated for patients.

Pleural puncture

Pleurocentesis (thoracocentesis) is the removal of fluid that accumulates between the pleural cavity and the lungs. This is done to reduce shortness of breath and pain caused by the formation of pleural effusion and to diagnose the cause of its formation.

The following signs indicate the development of lung cancer:

• the presence in the effusion of a high content of protein and pathological cells;
• high enzymatic level of LDH;
• increased number of leukocytes.

Needle biopsy

It is performed when the affected area of ​​lung tissue is close to the chest. It is done under the control of ultrasound or computed tomography using a puncture needle.

The collected material (a small piece of lung tissue) is examined under a microscope. In lung cancer, the presence of atypical cells is detected. This allows you to determine not only the stage of development of the oncological process, but also the type of cancer.

Positron emission tomography

PET is a diagnostic method that uses a special type of camera and a radioactive tracer, which during the examination evenly enters the peripheral vein, passes through the body and accumulates in the organ under study.

This is one of the most accurate and sensitive methods of examination for suspected oncological neoplasms. Due to the high metabolism (metabolism) of cancer cells, they are several times more active than healthy cells in capturing radioactive glucose.

Thanks to this process, tumor tissues are clearly visible on positron emission tomographs.

Blood test

When examining a blood test for the development of an oncological process, the following indicators may indicate:

1. Elevated levels of the enzyme alkaline phosphatase and calcium levels in the blood (indicates cancer has metastasized to the bone).
2. An increase in the concentration of ALT and AST enzymes in the blood (it happens with liver damage).
3. High levels of protein in the blood.
4. The presence of special oncomarkers in the blood (CEA - indicates oncopathology of the respiratory tract, NCE - small cell carcinoma, SCC, CYFRA squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma).

Diet for lung cancer patients here.

You can learn more about the treatment of cough in lung cancer in this article.

Differential Diagnosis

As mentioned above, lung cancer is divided into two subtypes - central and peripheral. To clarify the diagnosis, and hence for more successful treatment, it is necessary to differentiate these types of cancer from each other.

The most accurate results in this matter are given by radiation diagnostics, which includes X-ray examination.

With central lung cancer, the image shows hypoventilation of the affected area of ​​the lung and narrowing of the bronchi. With further progression of the disease, an inhomogeneous dense segment is clearly visible on the x-ray. With complete blockage of the bronchus, the lungs collapse (atelectasis), which is visually noted as a darkening in size equal to the diameter of the affected bronchus.

With peripheral cancer, an oval-shaped shadow with jagged edges is noted on the radiograph. In the presence of inflammation of the lymph nodes, there is a "track" that extends from the affected area to the root of the lung.

Lung cancer is a severe pathology with many clinical forms and ways of metastasis. But it is possible to fight it, and the main role in this fight is played by early diagnosis of the disease.

The sooner the diagnosis is made, the more successful the treatment will be, which means that the patient's chances for a full life will increase.

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The information on the site is provided for informational purposes only, does not claim to be reference and medical accuracy, and is not a guide to action.

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Could there be a CT error?

My brother has a retroperitoneal tumor that seems to be coming out of the small intestine. After the anastomosis, a tube and a container for collecting bile hang on the side. 6 chemistries were prescribed.

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What does a CT scan of the lungs show?

Examination of the lungs is one of the most difficult areas of radiology. The organ is saturated with air and contains little water, therefore it is not available for MRI. Computed tomography is an x-ray method, using which you can track not only the condition of the lung tissue, but also examine the organs located between the left and right lung fields (trachea, large bronchi, lymph nodes). There are no serious contraindications to CT examination of the lungs, with the exception of the maximum reduction of harm to humans from ionizing radiation.

The high radiation dose of the patient when using the method is a determining factor that allows readers to unambiguously answer the question of how often it is possible to do computed tomography of the bronchi and lungs. CT is prescribed strictly according to indications. The less frequently performed, the less harm to health. There are cases when obtaining diagnostic information is essential to save a person's life. In such situations, the use of the method is not limited, but is strongly recommended.

Multispiral computed tomography of the lungs - how is it performed

To reduce radiation exposure during scanning, multislice computed tomography has been developed. Reducing the level of exposure when using the method is achieved by installing several source-receiver systems, which reduces the examination time.

With single-spiral classical tomography, the devices have one source of X-ray irradiation and one receiver, which move in a spiral along the area under study through a set length (mm). MSCT rotates simultaneously a whole complex of sources and receivers. The method is preferred for the study of wide areas (emphysema, tuberculous changes).

With limited scanning, simple devices give less exposure. To detect fluid in the lungs with pleurisy, a few tomograms in the projection of the costophrenic sinuses are sufficient.

When is a CT scan of the lungs prescribed?

Computed tomography is prescribed according to strict indications, when alternative non-radiation diagnostic methods do not provide the necessary information.

Scanning with x-rays can reveal seals (foci) larger than 1 mm, growth of atypical fibers (with pulmonary fibrosis), fat accumulations, pathological formations (tumors, cysts).

Radiologists on tomograms determine small single foci, large multiple seals, and other changes characteristic of certain diseases.

Fungal lesions of the lungs are well visualized on plain radiographs, so there is no need for additional studies. Scanning is more rational when searching for cancer, studying small suspicious formations.

Difficulties in describing the study are caused by single small seals in the absence of clinical symptoms of the disease in the patient. Correctly forming a conclusion helps to collect an anamnesis, study the results of other tests.

Specialists on tomograms evaluate not only the size of the foci. For correct decoding, it is necessary to study the structure, density, and nature of distribution.

In some diseases, specific changes can be traced on tomograms:

1. Small seals up to 2 mm in size around the bronchi - with histiocytosis X;
2. Focal changes in respiratory alveolitis occur due to the overgrowth of bronchial defects formed during smoking, connective tissue fibers. Seals on tomograms have a specific appearance of "frosted glass";
3. Foci resembling a flowering tree can be seen on a CT scan of the lungs with rare infections - tuberculosis, cystic fibrosis, mycoplasmosis, fungal diseases (aspergillosis).

Nonspecific seals can be traced in rheumatoid arthritis, allergic bronchiolitis, viral pneumonia.

In sarcoidosis, lung x-ray or CT is better

X-ray tomography is not a CT scan. Many patients confuse these types of examinations. When answering whether computed tomography will show lung sarcoidosis, you need to talk about the features of the diagnostic information obtained by using both methods.

If sarcoidosis is suspected, an overview x-ray of the lungs is ordered. In the initial stages of the disease, there are no clinical symptoms. Pathology is detected most often by chance during the annual screening of the population. If the pathology is not started, an increase in intrathoracic nodes is noticeable on the x-ray - expansion and tuberosity of the roots. The image is obtained due to the summation of the median structures - the pulmonary artery, lymph nodes. Similar signs in the pictures can be traced in tuberculosis of the intrathoracic lymph nodes.

For a detailed study of the changes, a lateral chest x-ray or x-ray tomography is prescribed (the study of the summation picture of various anatomical formations at the depth of the pathological shadow).

The disadvantage of linear lung tomography is the inability to detect small shadows and structures located in the projection of dense tissues. The described shortcomings are deprived of computer scanning. The study reveals dense shadows larger than 1 mm, so scanning is used even in traumatology with a lung injury to determine the degree and danger of the condition. Obtaining planar sections through the required number of millimeters eliminates the effects of summation overlay, forms a clear detail of structures.

Image features are influenced by individual anatomy. The shape and size of the lung segments, microcirculation, and the location of the lymph nodes differ in each patient.

If intrathoracic lymphadenopathy (enlarged lymph nodes) is detected on radiographs, it is rational to immediately do computed tomography, and not try to examine the mediastinum with x-ray tomography.

It is more difficult to tell a patient with sarcoidosis how many times a CT scan of the lungs can be done, since the examination is used to dynamically assess the course of the disease during treatment.

In Europe, CT is indicated for chest injuries in adults. Performing a CT scan of the lungs of a child increases the likelihood of cellular mutations. Exposure to X-rays to actively dividing cells increases the risk of lung cancer. Leukemia occurs after frequent ionizing irradiation of the blood.

The facts give an answer to the question - is a CT scan of the lungs harmful to children - scanning is carried out only when absolutely necessary due to dangerous side effects.

Where to do a CT scan of the lungs in St. Petersburg and Moscow to search for metastases

Metastases appear in the lung tissue in cancer of the bones, skin (melanoma), thyroid gland, adrenal glands, kidneys, testes. Metastatic foci spread through the blood, lymphatic vessels, and pulmonary artery.

Usually, metastatic tumor cells linger in small arterioles, where they die under the influence of local defense. With a decrease in immunity, metastases take root and begin to grow.

If you make a CT scan of the lungs with a contrast agent, you can detect lesions at an early stage. Carrying out chemotherapy at an early stage significantly prolongs the life of the patient.

With primary neoplasms of the adrenal glands, kidneys, testicles, a person needs CT angiography of the lungs to identify or exclude metastatic nodes.

X-rays sometimes show additional signs of metastases - subpleural foci in the lungs, calcifications (deposition of calcium salts) in a malignant node.

Foci with lymphatic spread look similar on tomograms. A typical feature is localization near the interlobular pleura, mediastinum.

Radical cancer penetrates into the interstitial tissue through the vascular wall.

In all described cases, malignant foci of compaction in the lungs are detected on computed tomography at the initial stage (with timely treatment). However, oncologists do not consider the study to be 100% certain. Non-contrast computed tomography of the lungs detects pathological foci larger than 1 mm in the parenchyma, but does not visualize metastatic lesions of small arterioles without penetrating growth into the interstitium. For a thorough examination of the tumor, an MRI is prescribed at the next stage.

After receiving the results of a CT scan of the lungs with the detection of a tumor or metastasis, the oncologist needs many additional studies and analyzes. Evaluation of the results allows you to properly plan treatment tactics.

Focusing only on the conclusion after computed tomography of the lungs in St. Petersburg and Moscow is not the right approach to making a diagnosis. In the city, more than 50 clinics offer MRI services and more than 70 institutions offer chest CT. When a tumor is detected by one method, it is necessary to perform a second radiological examination, not so much to confirm the diagnosis, but to obtain additional information about the state of the lymph nodes, blood vessels, and perifocal tissues.

Lung metastases look specific on CT with a dense structure. Magnetic resonance imaging does not visualize the lung parenchyma, but with intravenous contrasting it allows you to track the state of the arterial network, small arterioles.

Is CT of the lungs wrong?

It is quite difficult to determine whether CT gives light errors. The answer depends on the purpose of the survey. A large lymphoma or hamartoma is visualized clearly due to its large size. To track the structure of neoplasms, CT angiography is performed - scanning after vascular contrasting.

Atelectasis (collapse of the lung segment or lobe), pulmonary edema can be clearly seen on the tomograms.

After a series of practical studies, European radiologists have established that a scan reliably detects metastases from the liver to the bronchi with a diameter of 5 mm. Similar information content in peripheral lung cancer, peribronchial infiltration.

It is easier to determine a dense post-inflammatory lung focus than a tumor at the initial stage. Once cancer is detected, oncologists need information to plan treatment. The 3D reconstruction mode, which allows studying the spatial structure of the area under study, is of great help to specialists.

Correct preparation improves the quality of diagnostics. When asked whether it is possible to eat before a CT scan, doctors give an affirmative answer. Food intake is limited a few hours before contrast injection to reduce the risk of allergy to iodine-containing drugs. When contacting private clinics, first study the indications for a CT scan of the lungs so as not to get an uninformative result and a high level of radiation!

In conclusion, we point out that if the patient has a norm after scanning for an oncological search, one should not lose vigilance. Small foci on tomograms may not be visible. It is advisable to repeat the study after some time while maintaining a suspicious clinical picture or laboratory tests.

Make an MRI and CT scan in Moscow

The best offers of MRI and CT diagnostics in Moscow, more than 170 clinics, information on prices and promotions, choose the nearest center - addresses, districts, metro. MRI and CT with contrast, an overview of private and public clinics where you can get an examination at night, whether they accept small children.

All about MRI, CT and PET

Everything about MRI and CT scans, when they are prescribed, the main indications and contraindications, preparation tips. What is the difference between MRI and CT, the principle of operation, how the study is carried out. You will find answers to the most frequently asked questions in the articles in this section.

Make an MRI and CT scan in St. Petersburg

Favorable offers of MRI and CT diagnostics in St. Petersburg, more than 100 medical centers, information on prices and discounts, choose the nearest clinic - addresses, districts, metro. MRI and CT with contrast, an overview of private and public centers where you can be examined around the clock, at what age a child is diagnosed.

From the point of view of medical deontology, every doctor who conducts examinations of the population and dispensary observation must be aware of modern methods for detecting tumors, since there are still many cases when late diagnosis is associated with underexamination of patients who have recently undergone medical examination: either in a woman with an initial form of cancer of the cervix, a cytological examination was not carried out, which would make it possible to detect a tumor in the earliest period, or an X-ray examination of the lungs was not performed in a timely manner, and then advanced lung cancer was diagnosed, etc. There are also errors by radiologists and other specialists who do not notice the early symptoms of the disease.

Oncological negligence should force a doctor of any specialty, when examining a patient for any reason, to use this examination in order to establish whether the patient has signs of a tumor.

The presumptive diagnosis of cancer in the absence of a tumor, i.e., overdiagnosis, causes anxiety and anxiety, but this is better than underestimating the existing symptoms, leading to late diagnosis.

A common mistake of surgeons in non-oncological institutions is that during operations, establishing an inoperable tumor, they do not perform a biopsy, which makes it difficult to decide on possible chemotherapy when the patient enters an oncological institution. Having decided that the patient cannot be helped by an operation, the surgeon often advises him to go to an oncological institution and talks about the need for treatment with special non-invasive methods, but at the same time he does not have information about the nature of the tumor, since he did not take a biopsy.

From the standpoint of deontology, no mistake should pass without discussion. Errors made in other institutions that referred the patient to an oncology hospital must be reported to these institutions.

In the oncological institution itself, every diagnostic error, every error or complication in the treatment process should be discussed. It is very important that the team is aware that criticism and self-criticism does not only apply to young people, but extends to all employees, including managers.

The tradition of self-criticism in Russian medicine was promoted by N. I. Pirogov, who saw the harm that concealment of medical errors in scientific medical institutions brings. “I was sufficiently convinced that measures were often taken in famous clinical institutions not to discover, but to obscure scientific truth. When I first entered the department, I made it a rule not to hide anything from my students ... and to reveal to them the mistake I made, whether it would be in the diagnosis or in the treatment of the disease. Such tactics are necessary from the standpoint of deontology, as well as in order to educate young people.

Late detection of tumors often depends on the fact that the patient himself goes to the doctor too late, which is associated with low symptoms, in particular, the absence of pain in the early stages of the disease, as well as lack of public awareness due to poorly staged popular scientific anti-cancer propaganda.

Correct information of the population is the duty of specialists, but it is not an easy job. How should the promotion of knowledge about cancer be carried out from the standpoint of medical deontology? In any speech for the public, whether it is a popular science lecture, a brochure or a speech on television, as well as in a popular science film about cancer, one must first of all truthfully present information about the disease, its dangers, high mortality, emphasize that the etiology and pathogenesis of tumors not completely studied, etc. One should not underestimate the importance of the problem or exaggerate the success in solving it. It will only cause mistrust.

On the other hand, it is necessary to communicate information about the curability of tumors, especially in the early stages, and to promote the need to consult a doctor with minimal symptoms that may be a manifestation of the tumor process. It is necessary to popularize periodic preventive examinations, fix attention on the early signs of the disease, and also fight against factors that contribute to the occurrence of certain tumors (smoking, abortion, etc.).

There is no need to frighten listeners, given that even without this, the fear of malignant tumors among the population is very high. Among the patients who turned to the oncologist too late, there are people who say that they have known about their illness for a long time, but have never gone to the doctor, being afraid to hear that they have cancer. This indicates an overly widespread fear of malignant tumors and insufficient knowledge about the possibility of a cure.

A speech for the general population is a meeting with a large number of people, many of whom have a special interest in the issue under discussion, perhaps suspecting a serious illness in themselves or their loved ones. Such speeches require the doctor to follow the principles of medical deontology.

fatal diagnosis. Is it always necessary to trust one specialist? Errors in cancer diagnosis are among the most costly. Doctors are unanimous - in order to avoid disastrous consequences, in each case it is necessary to enlist a second opinion of a doctor.

Today, the public is seriously concerned about errors in the diagnosis of diseases. Almost half of the 6,400 physicians surveyed said they experience diagnostic errors every month, according to a report from QuantiaMD, the largest mobile Internet community. Two three said that 10% of misdiagnosis was harmful to the patient. Another American research company, Harris, which conducted a similar study, found that out of 2,713 respondents, 904 patients were initially misdiagnosed by their doctor.

The British publications "Daily Mail" and "The Daily Telegraph" have already called excessive diagnostics a "plague" that can ruin the world and published studies by scientists R. Moinigan, D. Doust and J. Henry, which say that patients are diagnosed with ailments that will never will not harm their health. In their report, the scientists said that almost a third of patients who were diagnosed with asthma did not have it, but one in three cases of detected breast cancer, in their opinion, did not carry a threat.

According to the American Cancer Society, there are more than 230 new cases of invasive (which is the leading cause of death after being diagnosed in women) each year. In 2006, the Susan Komen Breast Cancer Foundation published a study stating that as many as 4% of breast cancer diagnoses were incorrect. this means that about 90,000 breast cancer patients may not actually have such a diagnosis, undermining the body with unnecessary treatment.

A recent study published by the New England Journal warns that women who receive even small doses of radiation for breast cancer are at high risk of developing heart disease later on. The Oxford University scientists who conducted the study believe that radiation can damage arteries, making them prone to hardening and blockage and causing heart disease.

Doctors urge to enlist the opinion of not a single doctor without fail - this will help to avoid errors in the diagnosis, if any, or to confirm its correctness. In this matter, the numbers speak for themselves. Research by radiologists at Johns Hopkins University who studied second opinions on CT and MRI results of the brain showed discrepancies of 7.7%. When the final diagnosis was made, the second opinion was correct in 84% of cases. But their colleagues from the University of California, comparing the second opinion for tumors of the head and neck, found disagreements in as much as 16%.

Jonathan Levin, co-author of the above study and chief radiologist at Johns Hopkins University, said second opinions are especially important when the diagnosis is made by a doctor with less experience in the field. “Radiology is a complex discipline, so there will be a big difference between someone who sees 50 brain tumors a week and someone who sees maybe a dozen a year,” he explained. American doctor Eliza Port, one of the leading breast surgeons in the country, also believes that everyone should get a second opinion without fail if they have been diagnosed with cancer.

Real stories

American Judy Valencia from the State of Michigan learned well about what cancer is from her relatives, and recently felt it on herself. “My sister had breast cancer, my mother had breast cancer, and even my three aunts were diagnosed with it,” Judy shares her experiences on ABC’s Nightline, who was recently also diagnosed with cancer. ".

After undergoing a routine mammogram, doctors found abnormalities in the woman and took a biopsy of her gland tissue. Based on the analysis, she was told that she had cancer. “I haven’t met anyone who thought twice and decided to check the biopsy twice,” Judy continues, thus pointing out her fatal mistake. After the diagnosis, she had two options: removal of the breast tumor or a complete mastectomy.

Given the family history and panicked, Judy decided to have both breasts removed. “I just agreed to do it. I didn't want to worry and worry again. I would get rid of cancer, and I would not be threatened with radiation and chemotherapy, ”the American explained her decision. The woman was also supported by her husband Richard, with whom they had been married for 39 years: “I would rather have my wife by my side than lose her,” he said.

However, in the following months, life took a different turn: Judy Valencia could not get the necessary documents from the hospital, and she had to hire a lawyer. Her lawyer, Greg Berejnoff, suspecting something was wrong, sent the original biopsies of his client to Dr. Ira Blaviss at Mount Sinai Medical Center.

Dr. Blaviss, one of the leading experts in breast pathology, said that Judy Valencia never had breast cancer. Blaivess said it's "very common" when she's presented with a slide where fabrics can look ambiguous. “It takes a lot of experience to interpret things like this,” says Dr. Eliza Port.

Harmful diagnosis

• breast cancer. An analysis of the documents showed that a third of all diagnoses were erroneously made, and the detected cancer cells did not carry any harm to the patients and could not develop into breast cancer. After all, each of us has cancer cells, but they do not always go out of control.
• thyroid cancer. This diagnosis is as often detected as it is often misdiagnosed. In most cases, these cancers are non-aggressive and do not require heavy therapy.
• Prostate cancer. This diagnosis, according to statistics, is erroneously made in 60% of cases. Studies also show that patients who are recommended "active waiting" in 40% of cases require surgery or radiation therapy.
• Gestational diabetes(or gestational diabetes). This type of diabetes is most often found in women in position, and most often the diagnosis is groundless.
• Chronic renal failure. This disease, according to US statistics, occurs in one in ten inhabitants of the continent. But in less than one in a thousand people, the diagnosis becomes chronic.
• Asthma. And while people most often don't get the disease diagnosed and treated properly, some evidence suggests that about one-third of patients are misdiagnosed as asthma, and two-thirds are prescribed unnecessary drug treatment.
• Osteoporosis. Women with even the most innocuous signs of the disease are often prescribed medication that causes even more harm to health than the disease itself.
• high cholesterol. Almost 80% of people who treat it have cholesterol levels that are practically normal.