Pituitary tumor

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CASE: radiology misread of pituitary tumor

FACTS: The plaintiff was a 70-year-old male who visited his PCP complaining of various neurologic symptoms, including daytime narcolepsy, falling asleep while driving, and difficulty concentrating. A brain MRI was ordered. The defendant radiologist interpreted the MRI images and reported no abnormal findings.

 A week later, plaintiff returned to his PCP with complaints of continued symptoms as well as new complaints of visual disturbances causing dizziness and difficulties with depth perceptions. His PCP relied on the report of the radiologist interpreting the brain MRI as normal, and did not order additional testing.

 As the weeks passed, plaintiff’s symptoms continued to worsen, at one point experiencing the “worst headache of his life.” Days after that, he presented to the ER with complaints of three days of headache, vomiting, and blurry vision. A CT scan of his brain - also interpreted by the defendant - revealed a tumor in the pituitary fossa. Plaintiff was transferred to a Boston hospital where he underwent surgery to remove the tumor. The next day, the defendant reviewed the images from the initial brain MRI done 6 weeks earlier and revised his original report with an “addendum” stating that the images did in fact reveal a mass in the pituitary fossa.

DEFENSE: The defendant deflected blame to the Boston hospital & claimed his negligence did not cause the injuries.

INJURIES: The tumor was a pituitary macroadenoma with apoplexy, resulting in permanent total vision loss in his left eye & 50% vision loss in his right eye.

SPECIAL DAMAGES: None claimed.

SETTLEMENT: The parties agreed to settle for a confidential amount.

PLAINTIFF’S COUNSEL: Randolph J. Reis, Esq. & Kimberly Kirkland, Esq.

NAMES/COUNTY: Anonymous v. Anonymous