Coroner's Finding: CARDASSIS Andrew Paul

42y · Male·disseminated metastatic renal cell carcinoma

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.