Poor follow-up hinders stage 3 cancer Dx

Journal of Family Practice, August, 2009 by Jeffrey L. Susman

A LUMP IN HER LEFT BREAST prompted a 42-year-old woman to contact her primary care physician. Office staff returned her phone call, advised her to apply warm compresses to the site, and told her that she'd be scheduled for a mammogram and ultrasound examination. The mammogram revealed bilateral asymmetry. An ultrasound wasn't done. The woman's primary care physician didn't perform a physical examination or refer her for surgical consultation.

Eight months after her initial call to her doctor, the woman began to see another physician, who didn't follow-up on her complaints of a lump and tenderness in her breast or refer her to a surgeon. Six months later, she was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. Her prognosis was poor.

PLAINTIFF'S CLAIM No information about the plaintiff's claim is available.

THE DEFENSE No information about the defense is available.

VERDICT $1 million Massachusetts settlement.

COMMENT Yet another example of inadequate follow-up of a breast mass that turned out to be cancer. It's critical that physicians establish a tickler file to assure appropriate follow-up of all women with breast masses.

COMMENTARY PROVIDED BY

Jeffrey L. Susman, MD, Editor-in-Chief