Patient Dies From Untreated Throat Cancer

This case involves a fifty-six-year-old female patient who underwent treatment for difficulty swallowing both solids and liquids. The patient underwent several rounds of therapeutic dilations and barium swallows but was never fully worked to exclude malignancy as a cause of her issues. The patient was treated with conservative medical management for a number of years until her condition became worse as she lost a significant amount of weight over a short time period. The patient was eventually diagnosed with an adenocarcinoma of the esophagus that metastasized to her liver, lungs, and vertebral column. The patient died shortly after her diagnosis, as no surgical intervention was indicated due to advanced disease.

Question(s) For Expert Witness

1. What other tests should have been done to detect this condition?

Expert Witness Response E-000771

inline image Cancer of the esophagus remains a devastating disease because it is usually not detected until it has progressed to an advanced, incurable stage. Modern imaging techniques, including barium esophagography, contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS), and positron-emission tomography (PET), are powerful tools in the detection, diagnosis, and staging of this malignancy. Barium esophagography has optimal sensitivity for the detection of lesions when a double-contrast technique is used.

Dr. Wendy Ketner is a distinguished medical professional with a comprehensive background in surgery and medical research. Currently serving as the Senior Vice President of Medical Affairs at the Expert Institute, she plays a pivotal role in overseeing the organization's most important client relationships. Dr. Ketner's extensive surgical training was completed at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, where she gained hands-on experience in various general surgery procedures, including hernia repairs, cholecystectomies, appendectomies, mastectomies for breast cancer, breast reconstruction, surgical oncology, vascular surgery, and colorectal surgery. She also provided care in the surgical intensive care unit.

Her research interests have focused on post-mastectomy reconstruction and the surgical treatment of gastric cancer, including co-authoring a textbook chapter on the subject. Additionally, she has contributed to research on the percutaneous delivery of stem cells following myocardial infarction.

Dr. Ketner's educational background includes a Bachelor's degree from Yale University in Latin American Studies and a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from SUNY Downstate College of Medicine. Moreover, she is a member of the Board of Advisors for Opollo Technologies, a fintech healthcare AI company, contributing her medical expertise to enhance healthcare technology solutions. Her role at Expert Institute involves leveraging her medical knowledge to provide insights into legal cases, underscoring her unique blend of medical and legal acumen.

Patient Dies From Untreated Throat Cancer

Question(s) For Expert Witness

Expert Witness Response E-000771

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