Also known as: AIDS
Eight-year-old boy on antiretrovirals presents with head injury and altered mental status. CT reveals brain lesion with contrast enhancement and edema. His CD4 counts have dropped over the past year with viral resistance to medications. He develops seizures requiring pentobarbital-induced coma and needs brain biopsy to determine if lesion is toxoplasmosis or CNS lymphoma, representing progression to AIDS.
Also known as: Brain tumor or infection
Contrast-enhancing lesion by frontal horn of left ventricle with surrounding edema discovered on head CT. Differential diagnosis includes CNS lymphoma, toxoplasmosis, or histoplasmosis in context of HIV/AIDS. Requires stereotactic brain biopsy for definitive diagnosis.
Also known as: Seizure
Patient develops acute seizures secondary to brain lesion with elevated intracranial pressure. Seizures fail first-line treatment with lorazepam, requiring pentobarbital-induced coma and intubation for control.
Also known as: Broken leg bones
22-year-old female soldier sustained displaced tib-fib fracture from escalator fall. Lost dorsalis pedis pulse requiring emergency closed reduction by surgical team to restore blood flow.
Also known as: Unplanned pregnancy
Patient discovered to be approximately 8 weeks pregnant during trauma workup. Pregnancy resulted from rape by her sergeant while deployed in Iraq. Initially considers keeping baby to avoid deployment, later decides to report the assault.
Also known as: Rape
Female soldier raped by her sergeant Kyle Petterson while deployed in Iraq. Initially did not report due to fear and need for squad protection. Reveals assault when pregnancy discovered, eventually decides to report with boyfriend's support.
Also known as: Head laceration
Eight-year-old presents with head laceration and altered mental status after fall during gym class. Possible loss of consciousness prompts CT scan which reveals brain lesion.