Nine more patients of jailed breast surgeon Ian Paterson will have their deaths investigated by opening inquests, the hearing was told.
In 417 cases of former patients, where breast cancer was listed as the cause of death in part one of the death certificate, the judge Richard Foster said teams had examined the records.
A total of 36 of those deaths are the focus of an inquest, and it is likely that another 21 cases will be examined.
For intentionally inflicting harm, Paterson is currently incarcerated for 20 years.
He had been found responsible for performing unnecessary or improper procedures on more than 1,000 breast cancer patients over a 14-year period.
675 of Paterson's 1,206 mastectomy patients had passed away, according to a Heart of England Trust report from 2017, the year Paterson was sentenced to prison.
Since the year 2020, coroners have opened 27 inquests into the deaths of his former patients, with nine more inquests scheduled to begin on July 14.
Between 1997 and 2011, Paterson worked at Spire Parkway Hospital and Spire Little Aston Hospital in the West Midlands, in addition to NHS hospitals governed by the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust.
Thirteen were Spire patients, and 29 were NHS patients out of the 36 patients currently the subject of an inquest.
Judge Foster stated at a pre-inquest hearing on Friday that 130 additional cases where breast cancer was listed as the cause of death in part two of the death certificate had also been reported and may be reviewed in the future.
It will be determined by the inquest, which is scheduled to formally open in the fall of 2024, whether Paterson's actions or larger systemic flaws contributed to the deaths of his patients.
Judge Foster stated that he would also look into Paterson's actions for "systemic failings.".
My responsibility is to see to it that the pertinent facts are thoroughly, fairly, and fearlessly investigated. In order to stop additional deaths, I'll probably also take a report into consideration, he added.
"Although much of today's proceedings will focus upon the wider systemic issues, I want to assure you that throughout you will always remain at the heart of my investigations, and I will leave no stone unturned in that endeavor," he continued, speaking to the families of former patients who had passed away. ".
Later this year, according to Judge Foster's suggestion, another pre-inquest review hearing will be held.
