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Researchers identify common reasons for misdiagnosis of ALS

Publish date:: October 19, 2019

Key clinical point: Absence of upper motor neuron signs and tongue fasciculations are associated with misdiagnosis of ALS.

Major finding: Veterans were misdiagnosed because of the availability heuristic, and nonveterans because of the anchoring heuristic.

Study details: An examination of medical records for 88 patients receiving treatment for ALS.

Disclosures: This study was supported by a University of Missouri School of Medicine Summer Research Fellowship Program.

Citation:

Rodriguez C et al. AANEM 2019. Abstract 10. Diagnostic errors and the implications for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients.

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