Table 4
Types of Near Misses Associated with Imaging Lost to Follow-Up*
| Type of Near Miss | n |
| Suspicious for new malignancy | |
| Chest radiograph with nodular density not followed up with computerized tomography or repeat imaging | 13 |
| Other chest imaging suspicious for neoplasm (hilar nodes, mediastinal widening) with no follow-up | 4 |
| Abnormal imaging suspicious for a gastrointestinal neoplasm necessitating an endoscopic procedure that was not ordered | 5 |
| Abnormal imaging suspicious for intra-abdominal neoplasm (kidney, liver, ovarian); further imaging to evaluate not ordered | 5 |
| Abnormal mammogram requiring further evaluation that was not ordered | 2 |
| Abnormal imaging suspicious for other neoplasms; recommended further imaging/test not ordered | 4 |
| Other major new abnormalities | |
| Chest imaging showing nonneoplastic abnormalities (e.g., consolidation) | 3 |
| Spinal canal imaging abnormalities (e.g., severe canal stenosis) | 6 |
| Other abnormal nonneoplastic imaging (e.g., aneurysm on abdominal radiograph) | 3 |
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↵* All 45 cases had absence of both radiologic and clinical follow-up at the time of our 4-week telephone intervention.
