Surgeon Uncovers Missed Diagnosis of Sigmoid Colon Cancer

Case Overview

This case involves a seventy-three-year-old female patient with a history of smoking, diabetes, and hypertension. The patient was seen by her primary care physician several times for rectal exams and testing for blood in the stool. On all occasions, there was no blood found in the stool. At some point, the patient underwent a preoperative exam by a surgeon who was unrelated to the case and noted blood in the patient’s stool. This surgeon suggested that the patient follow up with her primary care physician postoperatively. A few months went by before the patient followed up with her PCP. It was noted that the patient had a previously guaiac-positive stool. A subsequent CT and colonoscopy diagnosed sigmoid colon cancer in this patient. Additional testing revealed metastasis to the lungs and liver. Appropriate systemic chemotherapy was initiated, but the patient expired a few months after the diagnosis of colon cancer was made.