This page includes general tips for studying the cases.
The student’s overall objective is “to understand and be able to explain the underlying mechanisms of what happens to the patients and the rationale for what is done or discussed by the authors” in the case reports. The student will not be expected to “solve” the cases (i.e., make a diagnosis or determine appropriate management). Since the student will have the entire published report on each case, it is merely a matter of reading the report of how experts do these things and filling in the background information that allows one to follow along. To this end, the student should pursue the following specific objectives:
- Define all terms used in the case presentation and discussion.
- Make notes on the facts of the case in standard format for case write-up.
- Make a problem list. Attempt to group findings into pathophysiologic syndromes.
- Generate a differential diagnosis for each of the patient’s major problems at each stage of the clinical presentation and relate the clinical data and further workup to sorting among the diagnostic possibilities.
- Determine the basis for interpretation of any special studies used in the work-up of the case or in furthering the study of the disease in question.
- Determine the mechanism of action and rationale for each drug or other therapeutic intervention used in the case.
- Summarize the prototypical features of each disease in the differential diagnosis suggested by the discussant in the case report.
- Outline the author’s reasoning in discussing the diagnostic hypotheses or the results of the study.
- Construct a “pathophysiologic hypothesis” to account for the clinical findings based on the patient’s underlying diseases.
