Diseases Just Learned
I have been keeping this list for a few years (and tweeting the entries under the hashtag #diseasesjustlearned). These are diseases I have learned (or relearned) while caring for patients. The list reminds me what I love about medicine: that I will never master the field and that in order to do the best for our patients we can never stop learning. The list also reminds me that the best way to learn medicine is to read extensively on our patients. As I edit this list, I can remember the patient and his or her presentation perfectly. Each disease is linked to a good, basic reference.
4. RS3PE: Remitting Seronegative Symmetrical Synovitis With Pitting Edema
8. Paraneoplastic Retinopathy/Optic Neuropathy
10. Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
13. Ivory Vertebrae
15. Primary Stabbing Headaches
16. Precordial Catch
18. Metronidazole-Associated Encephalopathy
22. Masticator Space Infections
23. Kawasaki Disease
24. Moyamoya Disease
27. Cocaine Related Vasculitis
29. Dissecting Cellulitis of the Scalp
30. Hepatitis B Vaccine Nonresponders
34. Vanishing Bile Duct Syndrome
37. Immune-Mediated Necrotizing Myopathy
38. Nutcracker Phenomenon and Nutcracker Syndrome
39. Amoxicillin-Induced Aseptic Meningoencephalitis
40. Statin Induced Immune-Mediated Necrotizing Myopathy
42. Lithium Induced Cerebellar Toxicity
43. Barth Syndrome
46. Rickettsia Parkeri Rickettsiosis
47. Hypnic Headaches
48. Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection
49. Anti-Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein Neuropathy
52. Airport Malaria
53. Vertebrobasilar Dolichoectasia
55. Marchiafava Bignami Disease
56. Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis