Doctors write case reports to help call rare conditions to the attention of their peers, or to highlight patients whose diagnoses ended up being a bit of a puzzle. Case reports can shed light on emerging trends, hinting at when a condition might be becoming more common. They can also point out treatments that seem to work for diseases that have very few therapeutic options. At Live Science, our writers and editors highlight a report each week to raise awareness of these cases, and in the process, shed light on how the human body works and what happens when things go awry.
Latest about Diagnostic dilemma
Diagnostic dilemma: Weakness in a man's leg revealed his abnormally small brain
A man went to hospital complaining about weakness in his left leg, and subsequent brain scans revealed a surprising finding.
Diagnostic dilemma: One Direction concert left teen with 'crackling' bubbles in her chest
In what doctors called an "extraordinary" case, a teenage girl developed several rare conditions after attending a pop concert.
Diagnostic dilemma: A man ended up in the ER after drinking 6 gallons of milk in 2 days
A man experiencing excessive thirst drank lots of milk, with dangerous consequences.
Diagnostic dilemma: A woman injected herself with venom from a black widow spider
Most exposures to black widow spider venom are accidental, but in a rare medical case, the exposure was intentional.
Diagnostic dilemma: A man huffed computer cleaner for years. Then his hands started growing.
A man was diagnosed with skeletal fluorosis, which likely emerged due to him inhaling substances that damaged his bones.
Diagnostic dilemma: A woman started sweating blood from her face and hands
A 21-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital after she was bleeding from her face and palms, with no obvious cause.
Diagnostic dilemma: A woman's nut allergy was triggered after sex
A woman with a known nut allergy had a severe allergic reaction after sex, even though her partner bathed and brushed his teeth first. Here's why.
Diagnostic dilemma: A surgeon accidentally transplanted a tumor into his own hand
In an unusual case, a surgeon developed a cancerous lump on his hand that stemmed from an injury he sustained while performing surgery.
