How can we reduce diagnostic errors related to oral lesions in healthcare centers?

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To Editor, Diagnostic errors pose a significant challenge to healthcare facilities.They are characterized by the failure to accurately and promptly determine a patient's health issues or effectively communicate this information to the patient.This failure encompasses shortcomings in establishing potential differential diagnoses, facilitating specialist referrals, and ensuring timely treatment.1 A study conducted by Kondori et al. examined the diagnostic accuracy of dentists in identifying oral lesions.Their findings revealed that approximately 43% of diagnoses provided by dentists were incorrect.Among the dental professionals assessed, general dentists exhibited the highest misdiagnosis rate of 45.9%, followed by oral and maxillofacial surgeons at 42.8%, endodontists at 42.2%, and periodontists at 41.2%.The most commonly misdiagnosed conditions included hyperkeratotic lesions, focal inflammatory hyperplasia, periapical cysts/granulomas, and cancerous lesions. 2 These findings underscore the importance of enhancing diagnostic accuracy and communication within the dental healthcare setting to improve patient outcomes and prevent potential harm.The issue of diagnostic accuracy extends beyond the dental field.A study by Sardella et al examined the referral practices of general medical and dental practitioners to specialist care for oral mucosal lesions.Their findings revealed that more than half of the professionals the patients were referred to could not provide a clinical diagnosis for the observed conditions.The most commonly misdiagnosed conditions by family physicians and general dental practitioners included atrophic candidiasis (97.2% incorrect), mucous membrane pemphigoid (90% incorrect), atrophic and erosive forms of lichen planus (89.2% incorrect), and squamous cell carcinoma (80% incorrect).Additionally, the study found How can we reduce diagnostic errors related to oral lesions in healthcare centers?

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