PRACTICE PARTNER
PATIENT SAFETY
We use this forum to regularly report on findings from patient safety organizations, expert review committees of the Office of the Chief Coroner, and inquests.
Sharing information key to finding treatment for rare cancers
PHOTO: iSTOCKPHOTO. COM
Physicians are reminded to refer patients with rare forms of cancer to a regional cancer centre for assessment by a multi-disciplinary team. Such referrals will contribute to the collection of information and development and sharing of knowledge, education and research. The reminder comes from the Patient Safety Death Review Committee, a committee of the Chief Coroner’ s office, after a recent review into the death of a 57-year-old woman who died from systemic metastases. The woman’ s family raised concerns about her care, follow-up, course of treatment and medication she received. The woman had initially been seen by a surgeon in 2008 for removal of two cysts from her scalp. One of these lesions was demonstrated to be an eccrine adenocarcinoma( a rare type of carcinoma that arises from sweat glands). She was followed up at least twice by the surgeon and then discharged. Another cyst was seen in 2011 and drained( pathology was not determined). In April 2013, the patient developed a left neck mass and a new scalp mass. These masses were biopsied and pathology was consistent with a recurrence of the original cancer. The patient underwent resection of the scalp lesion, left parotidectomy and neck dissection. The deep margin of the scalp lesion was positive. Of 80 lymph nodes removed, 45 were involved. The patient received an adjuvant course of combined radiation and cis-platinum chemotherapy,
ISSUE 4, 2017 DIALOGUE 59