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Coroner's Finding: CARDASSIS Andrew Paul

Deceased

Andrew Paul Cardassis

Demographics

42y, male

Date of death

2008-03-21

Finding date

2013-02-13

Cause of death

disseminated metastatic renal cell carcinoma

AI-generated summary

A 42-year-old prisoner died from disseminated metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Renal cancer was identified by ultrasound in September 2006 and confirmed by CT scan. Surgery was performed with curative intent in December 2006, with histology confirming high-grade malignancy with extension beyond the kidney. Metastatic disease to lungs was detected in March 2007, treated with Sunitinib until progression. Further metastases to brain and pericardium developed. The coroner found the initial diagnosis could not have been made earlier, surgery was appropriate, and subsequent palliative care was appropriate. A minor observation was made regarding apparent delay in urology review, though this was not believed to have prevented the death. No preventable factors were identified.

AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes. Report an inaccuracy.

Specialties

oncologyurologypalliative carecorrectional healthradiologycardiothoracic surgery

Drugs involved

sunitinibdexamethasoneanticonvulsant medicationantidepressant medicationmorphine

Clinical conditions

renal cell carcinomametastatic cancerpulmonary metastasescerebral metastasespericardial effusionpleural effusionbronchial obstructionpneumonia

Procedures

nephrectomypleural effusion drainagetalc pleurodesispericardial drainageCT scanultrasoundradiotherapy

Contributing factors

  • high-grade renal cell carcinoma with extension beyond kidney capsule
  • metastatic spread to lungs, brain, and pericardium
  • pericardial effusion causing respiratory compromise
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