Diagnostic dilemma — Unusual case reports from the medical literature

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

Weird lump in woman's hip was sponge left behind during C-section
By Kamal Nahas published
A woman had a swollen and painful hip for years following an emergency cesarean section. When doctors finally took a look, they found something surprising.

Orgasm involving a kitchen whisk likely triggered person's fatal aneurysm
By Mindy Weisberger published
Doctors report an analysis of a woman's fatal aneurysm, pinpointing its likely causes after her death.

Shingles popped a hole in a man's bladder
By Nicoletta Lanese published
A man suffered a rare complication of shingles and ended up with a ruptured bladder.

A man was stabbed through the throat and the base of the skull — by a fish
By Mindy Weisberger published
While on a fishing trip, a man sustained an unusual injury from a marlin.

A woman started eating foam from her chair while receiving dialysis
By Nicoletta Lanese published
A woman on dialysis experienced a lot of fluid buildup between appointments and developed an unusual eating habit in an attempt to counter it.

Black widow spider's venom poisoned a woman through her eyeball
By Mindy Weisberger published
A woman went to the emergency room after getting bits of a venomous spider in her eye.

A rare genetic disease stained a woman's heart black
By Nicoletta Lanese published
An older woman had a relatively common heart problem, but it had a very rare cause.

Cold-water rinses left 'cobblestone' growths in woman's sinuses
By Mindy Weisberger published
A woman developed prominent bumps inside her sinuses, similar to a condition seen in "surfer's ear."
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