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Can Ultrasound Misdiagnose Breast Cancer?

Jun 26, 2023
A breast cancer diagnosis should be the first thing you think of when you start having breast cancer symptoms, such as pains in the breast regions, nipple discharge, breast lumps, and so on. This is because medical research has proven that early detection or early diagnosis of breast cancer can reduce the chances of having to face devastating consequences such as thorough chemotherapy, cancer death, and so on.

On the other hand, a delayed diagnosis from a medical oncologist can lead to serious injury to the body’s systems.

However, in having a breast cancer diagnosis, you must be beware of medical misdiagnosis- it’s real and dangerous.

Just imagine being misdiagnosed with breast lumps instead of breast cancer; this can lead to delayed detection. Medical misdiagnosis can be due to factors such as medical incompetence, a delayed diagnosis from the medical professional, negligence of the medical professional, medical malpractice, and so on.

If this happens, you should contact a breast cancer malpractice attorney immediately. And the breast cancer attorney will ensure to curb that act from getting to a loved one.

What is a Breast Ultrasound?
A breast ultrasound is an imaging method used to examine the breast tissue from the inside. It can aid your doctor in the detection of breast issues. It also helps the doctor examine how effectively your breasts are receiving blood. A mammography change or a breast change that may be felt but not detected on a mammogram are common indications for performing this test.

A transducer, which looks like a wand, is moved over the patient’s skin to capture pictures of the breasts. When the transducer emits sound waves, they reflect off of your breast tissue. The frequency range of these sound waves is much above your audibility range. The transducer then records the returned acoustic energy. The images created from this will show the inner surface of your breasts.

What are The Causes of Ultrasound Misdiagnose?
The potential sources of error in breast cancer diagnosis (such as CT or MRI) may be characterized by inadequate attention to the clinical history and examination, medical malpractice, and failure to communicate with the patient (who may be uncooperative). Other causes are unfamiliarity with the technical equipment, inappropriate probes, inadequate optimization of the images, failure of perception, a lack of knowledge of the possible differential diagnosis, etc.

1. Lack of accuracy in ultrasonic imaging
To acquire diagnostically useful pictures in clinical practice, it is essential to make informed decisions on the transducer, the technical equipment settings, and the amount of sonographic gel.

The success of an ultrasound diagnostic relies heavily on the transducer being in good working order. The health of the transducer’s piezoelectric components and its internal wiring are crucial to its performance. It’s crucial that the backing material and the corresponding layers in front of the components both serve their purposes. Contemporary US equipment comes with “pre-sets,” or predetermined settings relating to the various organs and types of patients. Presets are helpful for a quick glance or as a jumping-off point, but they nearly always need to be tweaked based on the patient’s condition and the specifics of the clinical setting.

2. Knowledgeable skill in operating machinery
A correct ultrasonographic examination is closely tied to operator skill, training, and experience. Thus, the technical competence of the operator is a major contributor to mistakes in emergency ultrasonography. The sonographer is responsible for making the most of ultrasonography’s diagnostic potential, knowing what to look for, and being able to interpret ultrasonographic findings based on an understanding of the physiology and pathological changes of the examined organs.

Contemporary ultrasound technology can generate high-quality pictures for diagnosing defects such as open lumbosacral spina bifida and atrial septal defects. In any case, such diagnoses can only be made with a high level of operator skill in combination with relevant background information.

What are the Effects of Breast Cancer Misdiagnosis or Malpractice?
If you have been accurately diagnosed with breast cancer, the sooner you begin treatment, the better.

Patients with invasive non-metastatic and metastatic breast cancer who waited longer than 90 days to begin therapy fared worse in survival, according to at least one research. Patients with invasive, non-metastatic breast cancer whose surgeries occurred within the first 90 days after diagnosis fared worse when adjuvant therapy was delayed (beginning more than 90 days after surgery).

One of the consequences of a misdiagnosis or medical malpractice is a prolonged time before the correct diagnosis is made. The longer you wait for a diagnosis of breast cancer, the longer it will take to begin treatment.

Your cancer is more likely to progress to a more serious stage if you delay treatment. This may make your condition even worse. Having cancer at a later stage can increase the cost of treatment, increase the number of treatments required, and reduce the likelihood of a successful

What Should You Do After Detecting A Medical Malpractice- (Breast Cancer Cases)?
After noticing malpractice or misdiagnosis during your treatment, you should do the following immediately;

a. Consult a Breast Cancer Specialist: Your health should come first in any situation, even before trying to make any legal claims. Consult an oncologist to get further treatments and do a general checkup or x-ray.

b. Book an Appointment with an Experienced Medical Malpractice Attorney: While trying to curb the action of medical misdiagnosis or medical malpractice, a breast cancer attorney will help you with the legal aspects. In addition, the breast cancer attorney will help you get your medical compensation for a false treatment, e.g., getting back your medical bills.

Hire A Breast Cancer Malpractice Attorney Now!
Diagnose breast cancer misdiagnosis lawyers
Medical malpractice is the third leading cause of death in the world. Frischman & Rizza PC has the knowledge, resources, and data to investigate your breast cancer case comprehensively. We will persevere until you receive your deserved satisfaction.

Our attorneys are committed to pursuing agreements and judgments that provide full compensation for our clients’ losses. Contact us immediately if you’re in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, area and are interested in our services for a free consultation.

You can also call us at 412-291-9377.
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