Information About Biopsies
Performing a biopsy is one of the most reliable ways for medical professionals to diagnose conditions that require deeper tissue examination like cancer. Medical professionals should perform a biopsy if they believe a patient might have a condition that affects deeper tissue. Failure to perform a biopsy in these situations is often indicative of medical malpractice. If there is any reason to believe that you required a biopsy and one was not conducted, contact an experienced attorney.
Different Types of Biopsies
Many people believe that biopsies are only performed when a person has cancer or is suspected to have cancer, but in reality biopsies are performed to diagnose a variety of conditions. Biopsies can also be used to determine the progression of a disease in a person’s body. As a result, there are several different kinds of biopsies, including the following:
- Bone Biopsies: These biopsies frequently rely on an orthopedic surgeon to obtain bone cells, which are then tested for various forms of bone cancer.
- Bone Marrow Biopsy: This test is used to determine if a person has leukemia or lymphoma and is performed by inserting a long needle into a person to obtain bone marrow.
- CT Guided Biopsies: During these biopsies, a physician will use imagery from a CT scan to find the exact location of the tissue that needs sampling.
- Kidney Biopsy: These biopsies involve a needle that is inserted through a person’s back to obtain kidney samples to determine if kidney failure is occurring.
- Liver Biopsy: These biopsies are helpful to determine whether a person has liver cancer or cirrhosis and involves inserting a needle into a person’s liver through the abdomen.
- Skin Biopsy: This test is performed to determine whether there are any cancer cells on a section of abnormal skin. A small circular blade is used during these biopsies to take a sample of the skin.
- Ultrasound Guided Biopsies. These biopsies rely on ultrasound imaging to determine which location to insert a needle to obtain tissue samples.
Early Detection Improves Survival Rate
Biopsies can prove invaluable in detecting a variety of conditions. This is important because many conditions like kidney failure, liver failure and cancer have much lower survival odds if they are caught in later stages. As a result, early detection of these conditions with a biopsy help diminish the amount of physical pain a person experiences and increase survival odds.
Obtain the Services of a Medical Malpractice Attorney
If you have damages of any kind due to a medical professional’s failure to order a biopsy, you are likely entitled to receive compensation from the responsible party. At The Law Offices of Gerald J. Noonan, we have over 35 years of experience helping people who have been impacted by medical malpractice. Contact our law office today to schedule a free consultation during which time our legal counsel will review your case and discuss the various available options to obtain the compensation that you deserve.
We offer a free, no-obligation legal consultation to help you understand your rights and the value of your case.
Our medical malpractice trial lawyers assist clients throughout all of Massachusetts including, but not limited to, those in the following counties, cities and towns: Plymouth County, Brockton, Plymouth, Bridgewater, Marshfield, Hingham, Duxbury, Wareham, Abington, Rockland, Whitman, Hanson, Holbrook, Middleborough; Norfolk County including Quincy, Stoughton, Dedham, Weymouth, Braintree, Avon, Holbrook, Randolph, Canton, Sharon, Brookline, Franklin; Bristol County including New Bedford, Fall River, Taunton, Attleboro, Westport, Dartmouth, Mansfield, Easton, Raynham, Lakeville, Norton; Cape Cod, Hyannis, Falmouth, Barnstable and the Greater Boston area including Cambridge, Somerville, Medford, Everett, Lawrence, Lynn, Revere, Dorchester, Roxbury.
