More articles from Symptoms to Diagnosis
- Multiple metabolic renal manifestations of a systemic disease
A 39-year-old woman who presented with 5 days of generalized weakness and right-upper-quadrant abdominal pain was found to have an acid-base disorder, prompting evaluation for the underlying cause.
- Hypertension and severe hyperreninemia in a young man
A 29-year-old man with blood pressure measurements of 152/118 mm Hg and 156/116 mm Hg at 2 separate clinic visits is started on combination antihypertensive therapy and undergoes evaluation for secondary causes of hypertension.
- The drop of a pin: Accidental ingestion of a sharp foreign body
If endoscopic retrieval fails, conservative management may be appropriate with daily abdominal radiography.
- Elevated aminotransferases in a 62-year-old woman
Her medical history included gastroesophageal reflux disease and Sjögren syndrome. She had recently returned from travel to Malaysia.
- Unilateral green pleural effusion in a 22-year-old woman
Chills, night sweats, palpitations, and a 5-lb weight loss, preceded by 6 months of progressive dyspnea, fatigue, and reduced exercise tolerance. What is the diagnosis?
- A 50-year-old man presents with shortness of breath
Red flags included low voltage, normal sinus rhythm, and Q waves on electrocardiography, a history of carpal tunnel syndrome, and evidence of renal dysfunction.
- Central vision loss in a 44-year-old woman
The patient had a wide range of symptoms and comorbidities, resulting in a complicated differential diagnosis. Careful evaluation eventually led to a focus on sexually transmitted infection.
- A 60-year-old man with prostate cancer and embolic strokes
Step-by-step evaluation of a patient with stage IV prostate cancer and embolic stroke, but no history of heart valve disease, arrhythmia, or coagulopathy.
- Hypophosphatemia in a patient with an eating disorder
A 32-year-old woman referred from an eating disorder treatment center reported memory difficulty, trouble concentrating, and feeling “hazy.” She was taking oral potassium phosphate 3 times daily.
- Confusion in a 22-year-old woman, and diagnostic uncertainty
The patient had been complaining of gradual-onset and progressive headache and neck and back pain for 3 weeks.