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PrintSpecial Report: Who Is Reading Your Results?
Dr. Michael Goldaber, Joel's doctor
"This is what gave me the clue."
A clue to a dangerous diagnosis... a small dark spot underneath a fingernail.
Joel Lebow, Patient
"I said, ‘I got to get this taken care of.’
It would begin Joel Lebow's roller coaster ride of life and death. His doctor Michael Goldaber took a small sample of tissue... or biopsy and sent it to a local lab.
Joel Lebow, Patient
"There's a chance it could be a dangerous, cancerous growth."
Three weeks later, the results come back. All is fine…nothing to be concerned about... but Dr. Goldaber wanted a second opinion.
Joel Lebow, Patient
"It must be something because Dr. Goldaber is a really a keen observer."
So the sample was sent for a second opinion.
Joel Lebow, Patient
"It was the second and we caught the error in time."
Dr. Lisa Lerner is a dermatopathologist - a specialist in the diagnosis of skin disease. She found the dark spot to be cancerous - a malignant melanoma. It was so serious it could have killed Joel if untreated any longer.
So what was the problem? How could the first accredited, well-known lab have missed something so serious?
Dr. Michael Goldaber, Joel's doctor
"Any lab can receive any specimen, the question is, who is the most qualifed to evaluate the specimen"
When you have a biopsy taken, the most qualified person to make the diagnosis might not be behind the microscope.
Dr. Lerner and Dr. Lisa Cohen run Cohen Dermatopathology in Newton - the lab that caught the mistake in Joel's case.
Dr. Lisa Lerner, Cohen Dermatopathology, Newton
"That colored dark brown area on the slide, that's the actual piece of somebody's skin."
On a tour of their lab, you begin to realize how sensitive the process of preparing a skin specimen is. It's the key to a correct diagnosis.
Dr. Lisa Cohen, Cohen Dermatopathology, Newton
"We can usually tell, some cases are more complicated than others, other times they're very routine."
Here's the difference - a general pathologist - who looked at Joel's biopsy is certainly qualified to make the diagnosis. But within general pathology, there are many sub specialties for specific areas - a board certified dermatopathologist has training and expertise specific to skin.
Having a specialist involved in Joel's diagnosis saved his life. The tip of his finger had to be cut off but:
Joel Lebow, Patient
"It's better to have another to have another 10 years of living, or 20 or 30, than have the top of your finger, right?"
So if you ever find yourself in need of a skin biopsy, Dr. Cohen says talk to your doctor, find out where the specimen is going. Call your insurance company, find out what labs are contracted with them. Then find one with a board certified dermatopathologist.
For more information:
Dr. Michael Goldaber
Group Practice
65 Walnut Street,Suite 520
Wellesley, MA 02481-2110
Phone: (781) 237-3500
Lisa M. Cohen, MD
Cohen Dermatopathology PC
320 Needham St Ste 200
Newton, MA 2464
Phone: (617) 969-4100
FAX: (617) 969-3393
E-mail: lcohen@cohenderm.com
Lisa Lerner and Cohen Dermatopathology
http://www.cohenderm.com/