Also known as: Brain cancer
12-year-old Kimmie has a recurrent low-grade glioma that has regrown near her speech center. The episode focuses on developing a novel MRI-guided ultrasound ablation technique to remove the tumor without invasive surgery or damaging her ability to speak.
Also known as: Liver scarring
Harry, a friend of Richard's from AA, is dying from liver failure due to cirrhosis related to his history of alcoholism. He is not eligible for transplant or TIPSS procedure and is in end-stage liver failure. His condition inspires Meredith's research idea about generating multiple mini livers.
Also known as: Mini spleens
Judy returns with abdominal pain and is found to have multiple small functioning spleens that have grown throughout her abdomen after her splenectomy. This rare condition directly inspires Meredith's contest entry about creating multiple mini livers in lymph nodes to treat liver failure.
Also known as: Head trauma
A patient with a head laceration presents to the ER and begins seizing in the ambulance. He bites off a paramedic's finger during the seizure and requires CT to rule out traumatic brain injury.