Overnight radiology resident discrepancies at a large pediatric hospital: categorization by year of training, program, imaging modality, and report type

Background: Overnight radiology resident discrepancies have been described in multiple studies; however, study of resident discrepancies specific to pediatric radiology is limited. Purpose: To examine radiology resident discrepancies as they pertain to a large pediatric hospital system. Material and Methods: A total of 21,560 preliminary reports issued by 39 residents over a one-year period were scored as agreement, minor discrepancy, or major discrepancy by faculty members using a modification of the 2009 RADPEER scoring system. Residents were trainees of three different diagnostic radiology programs: large university-based, medium-sized community-based, or small community-based. Discrepancy rates were evaluated based on resident postgraduate year, program, and imaging modality. The effect of a general pediatric radiology report versus pediatric neuroradiology report of a CT scan was also tested. CT was the only modality in which there were comparable numbers of studies scored by both general pediatric radiologists and neuroradiologists. Results: The rate of major resident to faculty assessment discrepancies was 1.01%, and the rate of minor resident to faculty assessment discrepancies was 4.47%. Major discrepancy rates by postgraduate years 3-5 were 1.08%, 0.75%, and 1.59%, respectively. Major discrepancy rates were highest for MR (11.22%), followed by CT (1.82%), radiographs (0.91%), and ultrasound (0.56%). There was no significant difference in discrepancy rate between residency programs and general pediatric radiology report of a CT versus pediatric neuroradiology report of a CT. Conclusion: Radiology discrepancy rates for residents issuing preliminary reports at a large children’s hospital system are similar to those reported for adult procedures.