Doctors provide an invaluable service, but they sometimes make mistakes. These mistakes can lead to increased pain, unnecessary treatment, and even death. A common mistake is failing to diagnose a medical condition, such as ovarian cysts.
A handful of medical conditions can cause someone to have ovarian cysts. Some of these cysts don’t require treatment. However, doctors sometimes misdiagnose the condition, leaving a harmful ovarian cyst untreated. In these cases, the doctor might be liable for medical malpractice.
The lawyers at Brockstedt Mandalas Federico have ample experience in medical malpractice claims, including those involving misdiagnosis of ovarian cysts. As such, we often get questions like:
- Did my doctor commit malpractice?
- Can I sue for ovarian remnant syndrome, ovarian cancer, or other conditions my doctor fails to diagnose?
- How much compensation can I receive for a failure to diagnose?
Keep reading if you have similar questions, or call our office to get more precise answers for your individual circumstances.
Key Facts About Failure to Diagnose Ovarian Cysts
Ovarian cyst misdiagnosis can delay treatment for a condition that’s sometimes more serious than it first appears. Here’s what to know if you suspect failure to diagnose ovarian cancer played a role in your care.
Key Takeaways
- Ovarian cysts affect about 10% of women and are usually harmless, but a doctor still has a duty to monitor and test cysts that don’t resolve on their own.
- Diagnosing a cyst as benign without follow-up monitoring or a biopsy, only to have it turn out cancerous months later, can be grounds for a misdiagnosis claim.
- Ovarian cancer symptoms like bloating, pelvic pain, and frequent urination often mimic benign cysts, which is why persistent symptoms call for additional imaging or blood testing.
- Ovarian remnant syndrome after surgery can also be missed if a doctor doesn’t order the right hormone testing, another example of failure to diagnose ovarian cysts properly.
What Are Ovarian Cysts?
Ovarian cysts are small, fluid-filled sacs that can form in a woman’s ovaries. About 10% of women experience these cysts. Ovarian cysts often happen as a natural part of a woman’s monthly cycle. Most of the time, they’re not harmful and don’t cause any problems.
However, they can grow bigger and cause discomfort or pain. Some cysts can affect hormonal function and cause other severe problems. The doctor may prescribe medicine or perform surgery to treat the cyst in these cases.
Can Ovarian Cysts Be Left Untreated?
In some cases, a doctor might not recommend treatment for a cyst. These cases usually involve benign cysts that form and disappear after a few weeks or months.
If Something Still Feels Wrong, Trust That
Being told “it’s just a cyst” can feel reassuring right up until it doesn’t. If your symptoms haven’t improved or something about your diagnosis still troubles you, it’s worth having someone take a closer look. We’ll listen to what you’ve experienced, review your medical records, and give you an honest answer about whether your care fell short.
Schedule A Free ConsultationWhat Is Medical Malpractice?
Medical malpractice occurs when healthcare providers fail to meet the expected standard of care in their profession. This failure leads to patient harm. Doctors owe a duty of care to their patients and must treat them with the same level of care a similar doctor would provide.
Can I Sue for Misdiagnosis of Ovarian Cancer?
Diagnosing ovarian cysts incorrectly can be an example of medical malpractice. Imagine your doctor tells you that an ovarian cyst is benign but doesn’t perform follow-up monitoring or a biopsy. Months later, you find out you have a cancerous ovarian cyst. You might be able to recover compensation from your doctor because of the incorrect diagnosis.
Can I sue for ovarian remnant syndrome?
Yes, you can sue for ovarian remnant syndrome. This condition can occur if ovarian tissue remains after surgery, leading to pain or complications. This remnant tissue can produce hormones, which can cause cysts and pain. Ovarian remnant syndrome often requires surgery to remove the residual ovarian tissue. If a doctor misdiagnoses or fails to treat this syndrome, you may have legal grounds for a lawsuit.
Doctors should follow standard procedures to identify the cause of a cyst. For example, a doctor should ask if you’ve had ovarian surgery. If so, they should conduct anti-Muellerian and progesterone hormone testing. You may have a strong malpractice case if the doctor doesn’t conduct this test and you are later diagnosed with ovarian remnant syndrome.
You Deserve Answers, Not Just a Diagnosis
Finding out a cyst was something more serious can leave you with a lot of questions about what happened earlier in your care. We can help you understand whether your diagnosis was delayed because of a mistake, and what that might mean for your options. There’s no cost to have that conversation.
Schedule A Free ConsultationCan Ovarian Cancer Be Misdiagnosed as a Cyst?
Ovarian cancer symptoms, such as bloating, pelvic pain, and frequent urination, often resemble those caused by benign ovarian cysts. This similarity can lead to ovarian cancer misdiagnosed as cyst. Persistent or worsening symptoms warrant additional testing, including imaging and blood tests, to differentiate between benign and malignant conditions.
Failure to Diagnose Ovarian Cysts: Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about ovarian cyst misdiagnosis, delayed cancer diagnosis, and when a missed diagnosis may point to medical malpractice.
It can be, if a doctor diagnosed your cyst as benign without proper follow-up testing and it turned out to be cancerous. You’ll generally need to show the provider deviated from the standard of care and that the delay caused you harm. A medical malpractice lawyer can review your records to evaluate the claim.
It generally means a doctor failed to properly evaluate, monitor, or test a cyst that a similarly trained provider would have investigated further. This can include skipping a biopsy, ignoring worsening symptoms, or not ordering imaging when red flags were present. Not every missed diagnosis is malpractice, but a clear deviation from accepted practice can be.
Ovarian cancer symptoms, such as bloating, pelvic pain, and frequent urination, often look similar to symptoms caused by benign ovarian cysts. Without additional imaging or blood testing, a cancerous mass can be mistaken for a harmless cyst. Persistent or worsening symptoms are usually a signal that further testing is warranted.
You may have legal options if a doctor failed to identify or treat ovarian remnant syndrome properly. This condition can occur when ovarian tissue remains after surgery and continues producing hormones that cause pain or cysts. A doctor who doesn’t ask about prior ovarian surgery or order the appropriate hormone testing may have fallen short of the standard of care.
No, many ovarian cysts are benign and resolve on their own within a few weeks or months without treatment. Cysts that grow larger, cause ongoing pain, or affect hormonal function may need medicine or surgery. The concern in a malpractice case isn’t that treatment was skipped, but that a doctor failed to properly monitor or test a cyst that warranted a closer look.
Speak with a Medical Malpractice Lawyer If You’ve Faced Failure to Diagnose Ovarian Cysts
Working with a medical malpractice lawyer is crucial to securing justice and compensation. Medical malpractice cases can be complex, especially when it comes to the nuances of an untreated ovarian cyst. An attorney understands the key issues in these disputes and the best ways to show when doctors are negligent.
Several of the attorneys at Brockstedt Mandalas Federico have spent their entire careers litigating medical malpractice cases. They have helped our clients hold doctors accountable and recover millions in compensation. Call today to schedule a consultation with one of our medical malpractice attorneys.
Phil Federico is a partner at Brockstedt Mandalas Federico where he helps lead the Mass Tort / Class Action and Environmental Law practices, transitioning into these areas after beginning his career as a medical malpractice litigator.
Phil has led and been involved in historic and groundbreaking litigation with verdicts and settlements exceeding one billion dollars.
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