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‘Unsuspicious’ breast calcifications followed by mastectomy, chemotherapy

Philadelphia County (Pa) Court of Common Pleas

In reviewing the mammogram of a 36-year-old woman, a radiologist noted a cluster of calcifications in her right breast, but did not consider them suspicious. Two years later, the patient underwent a mammogram with another radiologist, who noted the calcifications as benign.

The following year another mammogram showed a 2-cm dense lymph node. The patient later claimed she felt a mass under her right armpit and in her right breast. Physicians discovered both the lymph node and breast mass were malignant. As a result, the woman underwent a mastectomy and chemotherapy.

The patient later sued the first 2 radiologists, claiming that her chance of survival would have been 95% had the defendants ordered biopsies.

  • The jury awarded the plaintiff $4 million.
The cases presented here were compiled by Lewis L. Laska, editor of Medical Malpractice Verdicts, Settlements & Experts. While there are instances when the available information is incomplete, these cases represent the types of clinical situations that typically result in litigation.
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Philadelphia County (Pa) Court of Common Pleas

In reviewing the mammogram of a 36-year-old woman, a radiologist noted a cluster of calcifications in her right breast, but did not consider them suspicious. Two years later, the patient underwent a mammogram with another radiologist, who noted the calcifications as benign.

The following year another mammogram showed a 2-cm dense lymph node. The patient later claimed she felt a mass under her right armpit and in her right breast. Physicians discovered both the lymph node and breast mass were malignant. As a result, the woman underwent a mastectomy and chemotherapy.

The patient later sued the first 2 radiologists, claiming that her chance of survival would have been 95% had the defendants ordered biopsies.

  • The jury awarded the plaintiff $4 million.
The cases presented here were compiled by Lewis L. Laska, editor of Medical Malpractice Verdicts, Settlements & Experts. While there are instances when the available information is incomplete, these cases represent the types of clinical situations that typically result in litigation.

Philadelphia County (Pa) Court of Common Pleas

In reviewing the mammogram of a 36-year-old woman, a radiologist noted a cluster of calcifications in her right breast, but did not consider them suspicious. Two years later, the patient underwent a mammogram with another radiologist, who noted the calcifications as benign.

The following year another mammogram showed a 2-cm dense lymph node. The patient later claimed she felt a mass under her right armpit and in her right breast. Physicians discovered both the lymph node and breast mass were malignant. As a result, the woman underwent a mastectomy and chemotherapy.

The patient later sued the first 2 radiologists, claiming that her chance of survival would have been 95% had the defendants ordered biopsies.

  • The jury awarded the plaintiff $4 million.
The cases presented here were compiled by Lewis L. Laska, editor of Medical Malpractice Verdicts, Settlements & Experts. While there are instances when the available information is incomplete, these cases represent the types of clinical situations that typically result in litigation.
Issue
OBG Management - 15(09)
Issue
OBG Management - 15(09)
Page Number
64-66
Page Number
64-66
Publications
Publications
Topics
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‘Unsuspicious’ breast calcifications followed by mastectomy, chemotherapy
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‘Unsuspicious’ breast calcifications followed by mastectomy, chemotherapy
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