Hyperdiagnosis is an erroneous medical opinion that a person has a disease or complications, which in reality are absent. An incorrect diagnosis is detrimental if it leads to unnecessary treatment and financial costs. Is it possible to save money and health if the wrong diagnosis is made?
When is the most common erroneous medical report?
Hypodiagnosis is characteristic of all early diagnostic examinations. In cancer, it is especially common, and entails additional costs. However, it is impossible to reliably predict how small cancer will develop in the early stages.
Cancer development options:
- A tumor grows, but so slowly that a person dies from another cause.
- The neoplasm does not grow or even disappears on its own, therefore it goes unnoticed throughout life.
Scientists know about slowly growing cancer from autopsies of older women and men who died from other causes. In such studies, for example, in men, the prostate was examined very carefully.
Result: approximately 3 out of 10 men aged 60 to 70 years had a small prostate cancer that they did not know about during their lifetime.
What are the consequences of overdiagnosis?
The consequences of overdiagnosis depend on the disease. If a disease is found that does not threaten health and is easily treatable, the consequences are not serious. In cancer, the situation is different, since significant financial costs are required.
Often the diagnosis of cancer in itself is a heavy burden and a turning point in human life.
Osteochondrosis, arthrosis or other "senile" diseases are not treatable. However, in clinical practice, the appointment of drugs with unproven effectiveness is common.
Homeopathy, chondroprotectors, vitamins - one of the options for "excessive" treatment.
One course of therapy can cost about 15,000 Russian rubles.
Surgery for uncomplicated intervertebral hernia is a burdensome and potentially dangerous treatment.
Hyperdiagnosis: an example
The consequences are best illustrated by example. Imagine a woman named Tatyana. She is 65 years old and has a small, very slowly growing tumor in her chest. However, she does not know anything about her illness. Tatyana dies at the age of 77 not from breast cancer, but from a heart attack.
If Tatyana went to the doctor at the age of 65, she would have been diagnosed with breast cancer. She would face many fears and stressful treatments - chemoradiotherapy. Doctors could successfully "cure" Tatyana. In truth, life expectancy would not change. However, treatment and fears have significantly impaired well-being and quality of life.
What other examinations can lead to overdiagnosis?
Hyperdiagnosis is not only common in cancer screening. Another example is vasodilation, the so-called "aneurysms." Even with changes in the intervertebral discs, overdiagnosis exists. Some diseases are discovered by chance - for example, when finding out a completely different health problem.
In medical practice, there are “diagnoses of exclusion”: the doctor determines the diagnosis by the method of eliminating serious diseases. The most common diagnosis of exclusion in the post-Soviet space is vegetovascular dystonia (VVD). Any anxiety or depressive disorder in the subnormal range falls under the IRR.
How to avoid overdiagnosis?
Researchers are looking for ways to avoid the wrong diagnoses, but so far there are no reliable forecasts. There are some diseases in which you need to "wait" and not be treated. In the early stages of prostate cancer, some men are ready to give up treatment and monitor the progress of the disease. Expectant therapy saves not only financial resources, but also prevents side effects from burdensome treatment procedures.
Since some screening studies also have their advantages, it is recommended that you weigh the pros and cons in advance. Screening is never urgent; patients have enough time to get the necessary information.
