Delay in Diagnosis of Bile Duct Cancer: $2 Million Settlement
2025 Medical Malpractice Settlement Report
By William J. Thompson, Attorney for the Plaintiff
Suffolk Superior Court, Massachusetts
Radiology misread results in delayed diagnosis of bile duct cancer
In August, 2019, the plaintiff’s decedent, age 56, was diagnosed with Stage III(b) cholangiocarcinoma. She died in November, 2021.
On 6/1/18, she underwent a CT scan of the chest without contrast to evaluate her longstanding history of dyspnea and cough. The CT scan was interpreted and reported on by the defendant radiologist as showing millimetric pulmonary nodules unchanged since a prior 2015 CT scan of the chest.
Other recent radiology related diagnosis delay cases in 2025:
$4 million settlement for 64-year-old man who died of Stage IV non-small cell lung cancer due to radiology error
$2 million settlement in a case where radiologist misread an imaging study that led to a delay in diagnosis of penetrating aortic ulcer that ruptured and caused the death of 72-year old woman
$2 million settlement in a case that involved a radiology misread that resulted in a delayed diagnosis of bile duct cancer
$1 million settlement in lawsuit that claimed radiology misread results in a one year delay in diagnosis of advanced cancer of the cecum area of large intestine.
See our Patient Safety Blog post:
Are Radiology Errors That Lead To Delayed Diagnoses on the Rise?
Learn more: How To Determine Medical Malpractice in Cancer Cases
On 7/14/19, she underwent a CT scan of the chest to evaluate for tracheomalacia. The 2019 CT scan identified a low-density lesion (Hounsfield) in the posteromedial aspect of the right hepatic lobe. A liver MRI was recommended which led to the diagnosis of locally advanced/unresectable hepatic Stage III(b) cholangiocarcinoma.
The plaintiff’s expert was prepared to testify that there was a lesion in the posteromedial aspect of the right hepatic lobe visible on the 6/1/18 CT scan of the chest which was a worrisome and abnormal finding that the radiologist failed to identify and report.
The parties settled the case for $2,000,000 shortly before trial.
Lubin & Meyer attorneys Andrew C. Meyer and William J. Thompson represented the plaintiff in this medical malpractice lawsuit.
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