Clinical Challenges

The patient is a 44-years-old previously healthy male who presents with continuous, typical cardiac chest pain of a few hours’ duration, with no associated symptoms. He reports that this is a first-time occurrence. He also relays that he is a nonsmoker, nonalcoholic with no family history of heart disease. On physical examination, you find his vital signs are stable. Cardiac auscultation reveals normal first and second heart sounds with no murmurs. Labs reveal slightly elevated …

The patient is a 42-year-old male who presents after referral from a diagnostic testing site with an abnormal ECG, obtained during a preoperative evaluation. He reports a history of hypertension and symptomatic inguinal hernia, and acknowledges chronic right groin pain. He is otherwise asymptomatic, including robust exercise tolerance. View the ECG and consider what the diagnosis and next steps would be. Resolution of the case is described on the next page. (Case presented by Tom …

The patient is a 58-year-old male who presents with a painful mass at the lower aspect of his right knee. He denies any impact to his leg, but reports that the pain started “some time ago,” getting progressively worse. Review the image taken and consider what the diagnosis and next steps would be. Resolution of the case is described on the next page.

  The patient is a 24-year-old male who presents for a pre-employment physical. While undergoing his exam, he mentions being “curious” about tiny papules he noticed recently in his mouth on the inside of his cheek. They seemed to be a group of slightly yellow lesions, present on both sides of his mouth. He reports that they have been there “for a few months,” but they have not caused discomfort so he hasn’t sought care. …

The patient is a 67-year-old male with no medical history who presents with severe chest pain radiating to his left arm that started 1 hour prior to arrival. The patient also endorses progressive dyspnea on exertion of six months duration. View the ECG and consider what your diagnosis and next steps would be. Resolution of the case is described on the next page. (Case contributed by Gregory J Ducach, MD.) Figure 1. ECG upon urgent …

The patient is a 67-year-old man who presents with pain in his right shoulder and posterior right neck pain that he says radiates to his right arm. He reports that he first noted the pain “a few months ago” and is seeking care now because it has become more severe and “constant.” View the image taken and consider what the diagnosis and next steps would be. Resolution of the case is described on the next …

The patient is a 20-year-old female who presents to urgent care with 2 days of nausea, vomiting, crampy abdominal pain, and inability to tolerate anything PO. Her personal medical history is remarkable for type I diabetes mellitus. View the ECG and consider what the diagnosis and next steps would be. Resolution of the case is described on the next page.

A 28-year-old male presents with complaint of a dry cough “forever.” He admits to intermittent chest pain. Exam reveals decreased breath sounds on the right. View the image taken and consider what the diagnosis and next steps would be. Resolution of the case is described on the next page.