Washington DC Metro Medical Malpractice Lawyer Blog

Acute Myelogenous (or Myeloid) Leukemia (AML), is a rare disease of the hematopoietic system (blood forming system) in the bone marrow. It appears in 1.2% of all cancers, and strikes all ages.

The disease is caused by proliferation of white blood cells. There are many types of AML which are categorized by genetic and hematology laboratory parameters. Different types require different treatment regimens and carry different prognoses. If too many white cells are found in the bloodstream, a diagnosis of AML should be considered. Normally humans have 4,000 to 8,000 leukocytes. These numbers can increase to 20,000 or more if the patient has an infection. When the number of leukocytes is more than 15,000 without signs and symptoms of an infection, leukemia should be considered.

In Acute Myeloid Leukemia there is usually a sudden rise of white blood cells to over 25,000. When looked at under the microscope lens, they are seen to be atypical, with large cells and prominent nuclei, i.e., immature embryonic cells also known as blasts. The symptoms of AML are associated with the replacement of normal white and red blood cells with these immature blast cells in the bone marrow and in peripheral blood. As a result of this replacement, patients develop a tendency to bleed easily, such as when brushing their teeth. They also tend to develop infections which the body cannot withstand.

Treatment requires rapid diagnosis, and blood and blood product transfusions, as well as chemotherapy. In children, effective treatment is more achievable than in adults. Failure to diagnose this condition in a child can lead to loss of an opportunity to induce a remission leading to death.

A 47-year-old male with a clean medical history presented to a psychiatrist with new onset depression. There was no family history of depression. The patient was married with three children, owned his own garage business, and worked as a car mechanic. He reported a stable and happy family life. Until recently, he had been doing well.

The psychiatrist prescribed antidepressant medication, but his patient was not responding to several different drug treatment regimens. As a result of the depression, the patient was unable to work, and had to move out of his home due to anger management issues and deteriorating behavior.

Two years later, at age 49, the patient was seen by his family physician. A routine laboratory work-up including biochemistry data revealed high calcium of 16 mmol/L and low phosphate of 6 mmol/L. Measurement of endocrine data disclosed high parathyroid hormone levels. He was referred to an endocrinologist and then to an endocrine surgeon. A parathyroidectomy was performed. Within six months the patient recovered from his depression and was back to work.

Often patients with hyperparathyroidism wander through the corridors of medical offices between various specialists with depression and/or behavior problems. If the diagnosis of hyperparathyroidism is not made in a timely manner, the patient can lose his or her job and family. A medical malpractice claim can be brought on behalf of patients who have been misdiagnosed with depression without specific cause when a reasonably thorough evaluation would have pointed to hyperparathyroidism.

The parathyroid glands are most commonly four pea-sized glands. Anatomically they are attached to the back of the thyroid gland and its capsule. They produce the parathyroid hormone, PTH or parathormone. This hormone maintains physiological levels of calcium and phosphates in the serum and blood. Aberrations in the production of this hormone can cause serious illnesses, including kidney stones, gallbladder disease, mental disease, and cardiovascular disease. The remedy starts with a proper diagnosis and is typically followed by parathyroidectomy.

It is well-known and generally accepted that skin cancers and melanomas originate in people who have longstanding exposure to sun rays, especially in sea-goers who don't use appropriate body cover and/or protective sunscreens.

When a patient has had significant exposure during their childhood and beyond, and especially in patients with a family history of skin cancer, total body examination by a dermatologist, even on a yearly basis, may be important. In patients who have had any type of skin cancer, it is mandatory to keep them under surveillance, at least in the first 5 years post detection and surgical resection of skin cancer. The reason for this standard is that following skin cancer detection in patients, the likelihood of detecting a second cancer greatly increases as compared to the rate in the general population.

The most common skin cancer is basal cell carcinoma, which is relatively benign even though in sensitive skin areas like the skull and face it can cause serious penetration into the bone and even into the brain if not detected and excised in a timely way.

Squamous cell carcinomas are more aggressive than basal cell carcinoma and can lead to spread of cancer cells systemically and lead to life-threatening metastatic cancer with a poor prognosis and limited therapeutic treatment modalities.

The most feared cancer of the skin is melanoma, which if it has metastasized is a deadly disease that cannot be cured. The only chance the patient has is early detection and early removal of a melanoma lesion.

We represented a 50-year-old man who had several basal cell carcinomas which were removed by excision. However, his physician neglected to properly follow the patient. As a result, a melanoma was not timely detected, and this melanoma spread systemically in all the patient's organs. Unfortunately this young husband and father died, leaving a widow and young children behind who depended so much on him. Our team successfully represented the family, and the case resolved prior to trial.

We have a team of medical professionals on staff that work with the highly successful medical malpractice attorneys at Stein, Mitchell, and Muse, LLPto prepare your case for trial. If you or a loved one have been the victim of medical malpractice, give our team a call at 202-737-7777 for a free consultation.

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is probably the most frequent type of leukemia in children age ten and under. As with all forms of cancer, it is imperative that treatment begins immediately, especially as this disease progresses to a life-threatening point extremely quickly, sometimes in as little as a few weeks. Symptoms mimic many other possible diseases including flu and cold, thus ALL is usually not considered until a complete medical history has been obtained from the parents, and the child has undergone blood work with medical examination by a pediatrician.

White blood cells are needed to fight infection, but in someone with ALL the body produces abnormal versions of these cells, which tend to duplicate quickly and crowd out the red blood cells that are necessary to carry oxygen and carbon dioxide to and from tissues in the body, causing organs to shut down.

ALL's rapid progression is one distinction from "chronic" lymphoblastic leukemia and can be present for many years. Testing such as complete blood count, liver enzyme tests and several others can confirm or rule out ALL. Symptoms include weakness, fatigue, frequent fevers, weight loss, loss of appetite, bruising, joint pain, breathlessness, swelling in lower limbs, and tiny red spots or lines in the skin due to low platelet counts. The exact cause of ALL is unknown, but it is likely from damage inflicted to DNA, possibly by chemicals, drugs or radiation in our environment.