Also known as: Breast cancer in tissue outside the breast
The episode's central case involves a single mother who develops progressive hand paralysis, blindness, and life-threatening complications from ectopic breast tissue (residual embryonic breast tissue that remained elsewhere on the body) that became cancerous. House discovers the diagnosis when he has the patient take risperidone, which causes the ectopic breast tissue to swell and lactate, revealing the hidden tumor.
The patient's hand paralysis and other neurological symptoms were initially thought to be paraneoplastic (cancer-related complications affecting distant organs), which was eventually confirmed to be caused by ectopic breast cancer.
Also known as: Strep throat
A sex worker patient presents with sore throat, stomach pain, and swollen glands. House diagnoses strep throat and prescribes antibiotics.
Also known as: Orf
House diagnoses the sex worker with contagious ecthyma, a viral skin infection that causes rashes, flu symptoms, and sore throat, likely contracted through contact with animals in her work.