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Radiology is central to modern medicine. X-rays, CT scans, MRIs, ultrasounds, and mammograms provide physicians with crucial insight into what is happening inside a patient’s body. These imaging studies help detect broken bones, strokes, tumors, internal bleeding, infections, and countless other conditions.
When radiologists or physicians misread imaging results, the consequences can be catastrophic. A missed tumor may allow cancer to progress to advanced stages. A misread CT scan may allow a stroke to go untreated. A misinterpreted X-ray may leave a fracture or internal injury undiscovered. Radiology misread malpractice robs patients of timely diagnoses and life-saving interventions, leading to unnecessary suffering, permanent disability, or death.
Radiology errors are among the most common forms of diagnostic malpractice. According to the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), studies estimate that radiology errors occur in up to 4% of all diagnostic interpretations. Given the millions of imaging studies performed each year in the U.S., this translates into hundreds of thousands of errors annually.
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine has reported that diagnostic errors—including radiology mistakes—are the most common and costly type of medical error, contributing to more than 40,000 deaths annually in U.S. hospitals.
While not every radiology error causes harm, those that delay diagnosis of cancer, heart disease, stroke, or internal injuries can be devastating and often fatal.
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Radiology misreads can occur for a variety of reasons. Sometimes the issue is human error: a radiologist may overlook a small tumor or subtle fracture on a scan. Other times, the problem is systemic: overworked radiologists may review hundreds of images a day, increasing the likelihood of errors.
Poor communication between radiologists and treating physicians can also cause errors. A radiologist may note an abnormal finding in their report, but if it is buried in medical jargon or not properly emphasized, the treating physician may miss its significance. In other cases, reports may never make it into the patient’s chart due to administrative or electronic health record errors.
Radiology misreads can occur across all imaging types, but certain conditions appear frequently in malpractice claims:
Each of these scenarios represents a preventable tragedy caused by a breakdown in the diagnostic process.
The root causes of radiology misreads often include:
While radiology is not an exact science and some findings are subtle, many misreads represent clear negligence when compared to the standard of care.
Radiologists are required to interpret imaging studies with reasonable accuracy and diligence consistent with their training. This includes:
When radiologists fail to meet these standards, and patients are harmed as a result, malpractice has occurred.
The consequences of radiology misreads are often catastrophic. A patient whose breast tumor is overlooked may face mastectomy, chemotherapy, and diminished survival instead of curative early surgery. A patient whose stroke is missed may suffer permanent paralysis or speech loss. A patient whose fracture is undiagnosed may live with lifelong pain and disability.
For families, the impact is equally devastating. Loved ones may be forced to provide long-term care, shoulder financial burdens, and grieve preventable losses. Many malpractice clients express not only anger at the harm done, but also profound mistrust in a healthcare system that failed them.
To prove malpractice, attorneys must show that the radiologist or physician failed to meet the accepted standard of care and that this failure caused harm. Evidence often includes the original imaging studies, radiology reports, medical records, and testimony from radiology experts.
For example, if a tumor was visible on a CT scan but ignored, and cancer progressed as a result, liability may be clear. Similarly, if an aneurysm was missed on imaging and later ruptured, attorneys may argue that prompt recognition would have saved the patient’s life.
At Snyder & Wenner, P.C., we have decades of experience representing patients harmed by radiology misreads. These cases often involve catastrophic injuries or preventable deaths that could have been avoided with accurate interpretation.
Our attorneys work with independent radiologists, oncologists, neurologists, and other specialists to review scans and confirm where negligence occurred. We build strong cases to hold radiologists, hospitals, and healthcare systems accountable. Our mission is to secure justice for victims and ensure that diagnostic standards improve to protect future patients.
Liability in these cases may extend beyond the radiologist. Treating physicians who fail to follow up on abnormal findings may also share responsibility. Hospitals and imaging centers may be liable for systemic issues such as understaffing, outdated equipment, or poor communication protocols. In some cases, multiple providers share liability for failing to act on critical results.
Victims of radiology malpractice may be entitled to compensation for:
These damages not only provide financial stability but also help recognize the profound human cost of diagnostic failures.
Radiology is one of the most important diagnostic tools in medicine. When imaging is misread, patients lose precious time, endure unnecessary suffering, and sometimes lose their lives. These errors are not just mistakes—they are preventable breaches of trust and failures to uphold the duty of care.
At Snyder & Wenner, P.C., we fight for victims of radiology malpractice. Our goal is to secure compensation for patients and families while driving systemic improvements in how imaging studies are read, reported, and communicated. Every patient deserves accurate, timely diagnoses—and when that standard is violated, we are here to help.
