AN investigation into the work of a consultant radiologist in the Northern health trust that led to the review of 9,000 patients has discovered major discrepancies in 66 images.
The locum doctor worked at trust hospitals July 2019 and February 2020.
A review began in June after the General Medical Council raised concerns. To date, 13,030 scans and x-rays have been re-assessed.
The highest level health service probe - known as a Serious Adverse Incident (SAI) report - is now to be carried out in relation to 17 cases.
The trust's medical director, Dr Seamus O'Reilly, said that of the 17 patients, 10 have died since their images were taken.
"I think it's important to say that patients die for a variety of reasons and it would be entirely wrong at this time to link those deaths to the inaccurate image reporting," he told the BBC.
"It is a possibility and the SAI will look very closely at that."
The review identified six images at level one - a major discrepancy where errors or omissions in reporting could have had an immediate and significant clinical impact for the patients concerned.
A further 60 images were level two - a major discrepancy with a probable clinical impact.
"Most of the images categorised as having Level 1 and Level 2 discrepancies are CT scans but some are MRI scans, chest x-rays and other x-rays," Dr O'Reilly added.
Patients and families will be contacted by the trust to inform them of the planned SAI reviews and to seek their participation in the process.
