Biopsy Errors???

Buckeye Mike
Buckeye Mike Member Posts: 3
in Liver Cancer #1
I told my doctor I had a lump near my rib cage. After a US and CT showed a large mass on my
liver (17x12x10 cm) and mentioned Hepatoma or Hepatic Neoplasm as primary concern with cirrhosis, I went to see a Gastro Endcronolgist. He recommended blood work and a biopsy looking for hepatoma. Blood work was normal and now biopsy has come back showing cirrhosis and makes no mention of the large mass???? GE says he can't believe they missed the mass in the biopsy, but lab took over 10 days to complete biopsy. GE says he doesn't believe the report and recommends going to Cleveland Clinic. Has anyone had a problem like this????

Comments

  • blueheaven56
    blueheaven56 Member Posts: 18
    #2
    Sometimes they do miss the
    Sometimes they do miss the mass. AFP can be normal in hepatocellular cancer. AFP can be elevated if you have cirrhosis and no cancer...AFP is NOT 100% indicator of liver cancer. My husband AFPs only elevated to 50 and this was with 9 tumors. My husband's initial 2 masses were very small and they missed them, We should have insisted that they either attempt biopsy again or do an open biopsy. Last November he ended up with 9 tumors. RUN DO NOT WALK TO CLEVELAND CLINIC AS FAST AS YOU CAN!!! This cancer does NOT mess around. Get a definitive diagnosis as soon as you can.
  • Buckeye Mike
    Buckeye Mike Member Posts: 3
    #3
    blueheaven56 said:

    Sometimes they do miss the
    Sometimes they do miss the mass. AFP can be normal in hepatocellular cancer. AFP can be elevated if you have cirrhosis and no cancer...AFP is NOT 100% indicator of liver cancer. My husband AFPs only elevated to 50 and this was with 9 tumors. My husband's initial 2 masses were very small and they missed them, We should have insisted that they either attempt biopsy again or do an open biopsy. Last November he ended up with 9 tumors. RUN DO NOT WALK TO CLEVELAND CLINIC AS FAST AS YOU CAN!!! This cancer does NOT mess around. Get a definitive diagnosis as soon as you can.

    Somrtimes they do miss
    Thanks so much for your reply. The Heptologist at Cleve Clinic said it did not look benign to him. He ordered an Endoscope to check for variances, Cat scan of the chest/lungs, complete MRI and a Whole body bone scan. I am waiting for the phone to ring with the results. I have Congestive Heart Failure and diabetes. He questions if the surgeon believes I can handle surgery????? They found that I have Stage 4 cirrhosis. All of my blood work is normal and I don't have any physical signs of liver problems. I do however have this large mass that you can feel under the rib cage. God, this waiting is killing me, I amiterally staring at the phone to make it ring. More later...

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