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ROCHESTER, Minn. (KMSP) - Eighty-eight percent of patients who go to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota for a second opinion leave with a new or refined diagnosis, according to a new study.
The study found approximately one in every five patients may initially receive an incorrect diagnosis, the Mayo Clinic said in a news release.
Researchers studied the records of 286 patients referred to the Mayo Clinic for a second opinion or diagnosis confirmation over a two-year period. The group of referrals was previously studied for a related topic.
The study found 12 percent of those patients had their original diagnosis confirmed, while 21 percent of patients received a new diagnosis and 66 percent received a refined or redefined diagnosis.
The Mayo Clinic says physicians often recommend a second opinion based on the unusual nature of the symptoms or the complexity of the condition, or a patient will ask for it.
“A second opinion could lead to quicker access to lifesaving treatment or stopping unnecessary treatments,” the Mayo Clinic said in a statement. “A second opinion may reduce stress in a patient’s extended family, when they learn the new diagnosis does not carry dire genetic implications.”