Patient Succumbs To Skin Cancer Following Delayed Diagnosis

This case involves a 52-year-old woman in Florida with a history of prolonged sun exposure who consistently visited a dermatologist for treatment of moles. The patient presented to the dermatologist with lesions on her neck, cheek, chest, and foot.

ByWendy Ketner, M.D.

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Updated onSeptember 28, 2021

Patient Succumbs To Skin Cancer Following Delayed Diagnosis

The dermatologist assessed the lesions as actinic, applied liquid nitrogen to the lesions, and took biopsies. The biopsy returns as an early form of easily treatable skin cancer. Although the dermatologist treated the patient with cryotherapy, the patient’s lesions returned after several months. Another biopsy was taken which came back as squamous cell carcinoma. The dermatologist then treated the lesions with topical anti-tumor medication and lesion freezing. The patient returned 6 months later to report non-healing on all the lesions. The dermatologist applied liquid nitrogen to the lesions but did not take biopsies. In the months that followed, the patient returned to the dermatologist for several freezing treatments with minimal changes. Finally, a biopsy was taken more than a year later. The biopsies returned a malignant stage 4 melanoma on the patient’s chest. In spite of immediate invasive treatment, the patient succumbed to her cancer within the year. It was alleged that the dermatologist’s failure to diagnose the patient’s melanoma led to the patient’s death.

Question(s) For Expert Witness

Please describe your experience in treating patients with similar conditions.

Expert Witness Response E-026642

inline imageI am a professor and vice chair of dermatology at a major university. I also ran the residency training program at my university medical center for over 7 years. I see patients with a wide variety of skin disorders, including many patients with melanoma and other skin cancers. I have extensive familiarity with the standard of care for treating patients who present with these conditions. I also serve in leadership capacities with several national dermatology and physician organizations.

About the author

Wendy Ketner, M.D.

Wendy Ketner, M.D.

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.

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