Clinical

What’s causing these pruritic lesions?

Figure 1 Quiz of the Week A 38-year-old man presents with itchy, scaly lesions on his elbows and small, erythematous papules in the web spaces of his fingers.   Image credit: @RamonaNP. Answer: Scabies Scabies is caused by the tick Sarcoptes scabiei, that burrows into human skin where it lays its eggs. The inflammation is caused...

A progressive malignancy

Figure 1 Quiz of the Week A 28-year-old male presents with a three-month history of a chronic cough and weight loss. Upon further discussion, he mentions a painless lump in his left testicle. A firm mass is felt in the left testis on examination. A chest X-ray reveals the pulmonary lesions seen here and a...

What’s causing this patient’s lung mass?

Figure 1 Quiz of the Week A 60-year-old man presents to the emergency department with worsening shortness of breath and a non-productive cough. He has congestive heart failure and was treated three weeks earlier at a neighboring hospital. On examination, he has normal vital signs and marked bilateral pitting lower limb edema. A chest X-ray...

Accidental poisoning or medication misuse?

Figure 1 Quiz of the Week A 20-year-old mechanic is brought to the emergency room after his co-workers found him exiting the garage inebriated and confused hours earlier. On examination, he is disoriented, ataxic, and complains of nausea. A urine toxicology screen is negative and urinalysis reveals the rhomboid calcium oxalate crystals seen here. Image...