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Filtering by Category: Figure 1
The color of the fluid above is consistent with xanthochromia which refers to the yellow color of the CSF fluid. It is a result of lysis of RBCs and release of pigmented breakdown products such as oxyhemoglobin, bilirubin and methemoglobin...
Read MoreCan you figure out the diagnosis? Read our Figure 1 image of the week and find out more about the culprit, including common presentation, epidemiology and treatment.
Read MoreA 6 year old male presents with swelling over the midline of the neck for the past 2 days. The swelling is non tender and moves with swallowing. What is the diagnosis?
Read MoreA 39 year-old woman presented with this nodular rash and an insidious onset of shortness of breath.
Read MoreWhat is the name of this clinical finding and what does it suggest?
Caput Medusae is the term used to describe these tortuous veins when they become prominent on the surface of the abdomen. It is classically associated with portal hypertension and cirrhosis.
The differential for this particular case also includes Inferior Vena Cava Obstruction (IVCO). To distinguish between Caput Medusae or IVCO, occlusion of the vein is required. If it flows towards the legs, it is Caput Medusae. If it flows towards the head, it is IVCO.
How to determine blood flow in a vein
This is a stark finding and the diagnosis of cirrhosis or portal hypertension is usually not this obvious. To exclude cirrhosis, combinations of normal laboratory findings are most useful. Check out the JAMA article below that looks at clinical indicators that are useful in identifying cirrhosis in adults with suspected liver disease.
Original Article
To see more cases like this, visit Figure 1. I encourage you to check it out and continue to work on your visual diagnosis skills!
Not all chest pain is cardiac. The patient above had been experiencing intermittent substernal chest pain with radiation to the back for the past year associated with eating too quickly...
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