Abstract. Accurate disease diagnosis is critical for effective treatment and improved medical outcomes.
Purpose. This study aims to assess the concordance between clinical and pathoanatomic diagnoses, identify the causes of discrepancies, and explore ways to enhance diagnostic accuracy and healthcare quality.
Methods. This retrospective, cross-sectional study analyzed autopsy records from 2023. A total of 555 autopsies were reviewed, including 355 adults and 200 children. Clinical diagnoses made prior to death were compared with findings from postmortem examinations. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and comparative tests (t-test, ANOVA, χ² test).
Results. Discrepancies between clinical and pathoanatomic diagnoses were observed in 46 cases (8.3%), comprising 25 adult and 21 pediatric cases. Among adults, discrepancies were categorized as follows: errors in diagnosing the underlying disease (52%), diagnostic formulation errors (36%), misclassification of complications (4%), background diseases (4%), and competing diagnoses (4%). Among pediatric cases, the most frequent discrepancies were related to the underlying disease (47%), diagnostic formulation (14%), complications (23%), and competing diagnoses (14%).
Conclusion. The findings indicate that the most common cause of diagnostic discrepancies is errors in identifying the underlying disease. This underscores the need for improved diagnostic protocols and enhanced medical personnel training to reduce misdiagnoses and improve patient outcomes.
Keywords: clinical diagnosis, pathology bureau, cause of death, medical history, autopsy, diagnostic discrepancy