Can case reports reveal the clinical value of radiology? An odd question I know but a team of researchers from Germany asked very much that in a recently published paper. They concluded with the following answer: “In case reports published in a prominent general medical journal radiological imaging is an important key player in the diagnostic process. In […]
Category: The place of case reports in medical literature
Germany adopts rare disease strategy
Following a three year consultation the German plan Measures to Improve the Health Situation of Persons with Rare Diseases in Germany has been published. “[it] contains 52 distinct proposals for action. Nationally recognised centres of excellence for diseases or groups of diseases that collaborate nationally and internationally are a cornerstone of the German plan in […]
Atypical rabies with MRI findings: clue to the diagnosis
Interesting Medicine Rabies is well known as a fatal infectious disease transmitted through the bites of rabid mammals. When it presents with paralysis, however, it may be clinically indistinguishable from Guillain- Barre syndrome. Here the authors describe this fascinating disease with some spectacular images. Seema Biswas Editor-in-Chief Atypical rabies with MRI findings: clue to the […]
Ulceronodular syphilis (lues maligna praecox) in a person newly diagnosed with HIV infection
An education in pathology The authors present a case of secondary syphilis complicated by HIV infection. The pictures and description of disease process form an engrossing lesson in pathology. Seema Biswas Editor-in-Chief Ulceronodular syphilis (lues maligna praecox) in a person newly diagnosed with HIV infection […]
Problems with the new born screen for galactosaemia
Adverse events A newborn screening test for galactosaemia is designed to identify affected infants and avert clinical effects with the prompt withdrawal of lactose and galactose from the diet. Failure of this test to detect the disease may have catastrophic effects. Here we learn from the factors that affect the effectiveness of the test in […]
Concomitant axillary mycobacteriosis and neuro-sarcoidosis: diagnostic pitfalls
Diagnostic pitfalls Here the authors discuss the difficulties in differentiating microbial (in particular tuberculous) causes of intrathoracic lymphadenopathy and sarcoidosis; indeed, sarcoidosis may occur in patients with previous microbial infection just as TB occurs in patients who are HLA B27 positive. Case reports are an excellent platform for diagnostic debate and the discussion of pitfalls. […]
Unilateral onycholysis in a patient taking erlotinib (Tarceva)
Rare side effect of treatment Here the authors present a case of unilateral onycholysis in a patient receiving an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor. In addition to describing a possible mechanism for this side effect, the authors also highlight the benefits of targeted therapy. Seema Biswas Editor-in-Chief Unilateral onycholysis in a patient taking erlotinib (Tarceva) […]
The use of intraoperative PET probe to resect metastatic melanoma
Introducing novel methods of investigation and treatment Here the authors report two cases of metastatic melanoma resected with the assistance of an intraoperative handheld positron emission tomography (PET) probe. The probe was used to identify hypermetabolic lymph nodes and after resection the probe reading returned to background levels. At follow up the patients remained disease […]
The place of case reports in medical literature: Periorbital cellulits – a mistaken diagnosis!
Case reports offer level IV evidence ranked well below randomised control trials and meta-analyses. http://healthpolicyandreform.nejm.org/?p=14876&query=TOC What role do case reports have then in the medical literature? Certainly, the report of adverse events, the opportunity to discuss diagnostic pitfalls, present novel methods of investigation and treatment and, of course, present cases of enormous interest and concern. […]