Bone Cancer Misdiagnosis - Medical Negligence Solicitors
The symptoms of bone cancer vary according to the particular bone that is affected and its position within the body. Initial symptoms can include tenderness in the location of the bone cancer which may feel worse when the muscles are relaxed accompanied by swelling and joint pain. Bones and joints can become weakened by cancer with more likelihood to fracture as a result of minor stresses that would not normally cause injury. Cancer of the spinal column and vertebrae can lead to weakness, numbness and tingling in the limbs and extremities. The most obvious symptom of bone cancer is pain at the location of the problem which is often progressive, accompanied by fevers, night chills, night sweats and weight loss.
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Diagnosis
The first thing a doctor will do is to take a full and detailed medical history including family history which may give clues about diagnosis, followed by a complete physical medical examination. Definitive diagnosis of bone cancer is carried out using MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans, bone scans, core needle biopsy and open biopsy all of which may result in misdiagnosis of bone cancer as some other ailment. Bone X-rays are the simplest method of diagnosing bone cancer and unfortunately the most likely to lead to misdiagnosis which amounts to medical negligence, due to failure to properly interpret the results by radiologists.