In medicine, a diagnosis is not always straightforward. Many diseases or conditions can present in various ways, depending on the circumstances. So how do you train for the uncommon presentations
Case in Point allows radiologists to evaluate common findings as well as diseases and conditions that can present in interesting ways. The 2018 Case in Point Case of the Year , cardiac tamponade following acute myocardial infarction and left ventricular rupture, is an example of the latter.
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Check out the case and then read on to learn more about the Case of the Year and its authors in this Q&A.
Why did you select this case for submission?
We selected this case because it is an atypical one. It’s a case that we don't see every day and shows great pathology, requiring immediate recognition to guide treatment.
What should readers learn from this case?
Readers should remember to correlate the patient's history, clinical symptoms and image findings. Sometimes it requires direct communication with the ordering physician. Also, it’s important to understand the pathophysiology of cardiac tamponade and correlate it with CT findings.
What did you learn from working on the case?
I learned how communication with the primary team is key to act in a timely manner and offer the best treatment to patients.
How did guidance from senior staff at your institution impact your learning and case development?
The senior staff who guided me with the development of this case helped me understand how the mechanism of the heart gets affected by an ischemic insult to the myocardium. Understanding the process of this insult helped me comprehend and interpret the CT findings, in correlation with the patient's clinical symptoms.
Why did you choose Case in Point for submission of your case?
I chose Case in Point to submit this case because I know that a lot of radiology residents and faculty access this site regularly to review cases and learn new topics.
Are you a regular reader of Case in Point? What are your favorite types of cases?\
I am a regular reader. I am a fan of the case of the day.
What else should we know about the case that you’d like to share?
Working as an interdisciplinary team helped this patient receive the appropriate treatment in a timely manner. Because of this, the patient is alive and receiving constant follow-up and management for medical conditions.
