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Case Selector

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Move mouse here to view instructions.

Use the tool below to select cases based on course goals.

Left to right: Select from low to high complexity cases.

Top to bottom: Select from a low to high “independence” cases.

“Low independence”: These cases have a lot of lot site explanation. The site helps students understand the case.

“High independence”: These cases have very little audio and explanation. Students have to figure out the case on their own.

Students early in training may start with Low Complexity/Low Independence cases. Advanced students make take on High Complexity/High Independence cases.

(Click here for even more details
on how to use this page.)

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Low
Independence

Extensive audio explanations and guiding questions. The site mostly explains the case.

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High
Independence

Little or no audio explanation or discussion questions. You’re on your own to figure out the case from the history, video and your skills. It’s your patient now.

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Low
Complexity

One main, straightforward diagnosis.

Case 4

Mesothelioma.

Case 17 Severe coronary artery disease.

Case 19 Brain anatomy with a meningioma.

Case 25 Hypertensive aortic rupture while driving a motorcycle.

Case 29 Deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

Case 35 High speed motor vehicle accident with severed spine, aorta and inferior vena cava.

Case 36 Fall with intraabdominal bleeding.

Case 41 Uremic pericarditis with weight gain and anasarca.

Case 11 Pulmonary embolism and acute gastritis.
Limited Discussion Questions

Case 12 Pulmonary embolism.
No Discussion Questions

Case 14 Hypertensive heart disease.
Limited Discussion Questions

Case 33 Hypertensive aortic rupture with tamponade.
Minimal to No Audio Discussion

Case 43 Head injury with scalp contusion and intracranial bleed.
No Audio Discussion
No Discussion Questions

Case 46 Perforated pacemaker lead with severe pericarditis, pleuritis and empyema.
No Audio Discussion
No Discussion Questions

Medium
Complexity

Case 1

No pathology except for pulmonary edema on microscopy.

Case 2 Aspiration in diabetic patient with glottic stenosis.

Case 3 Sudden death in a heavy smoker with diffuse disease in the LAD; healed clot on top of plaque in the RCA; and a left dominant circulation.

Case 40 Massive bleeding after needle biopsy in patient with multiple cancers and multiple surgical procedures.

Case 42 Acute and subacute pulmonary embolism

Case 44 Postrenal (obstructive) acute renal failure from BPH (benign prostatic hypertrophy) leading to hypertension, aortic dissection and hemoperitoneum.
Voice over Audio Discussion
No Discussion Questions

Case 10 Peritonitis and colonic hemorrhage following colonoscopy with polypectomy.
No Discussion Questions

Case 13 Multiple conditions and pathology plus pulmonary edema. Likely cardiac etiology to cause of death.
Partial Audio Discussion

Case 23 Pulmonary embolism after Roux-en-Y procedure.
Partial Audio Discussion

Case 34 Cardiac catheterization with massive bleeding from the catheter insertion site.
Partial Audio Discussion

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High
Complexity

Complex histories, multiple procedures, medical uncertainty, medical errors, and so on. These cases require integration of complex data and advanced clinical judgment.

Case 8

Hepatic infarct following intraoperative hypotension during TIPS procedure.

Case 27 Post-dialysis hypotension and delayed care in a patient with chronic pulmonary embolism.

Case 28 Heart attack following pain-induced tachycardia in a patient with a missed diagnosis of compartment syndrome and multiple vascular surgeries.

Case 38 Patient with Crohn’s disease with missed diagnosis of lung mass and unnecessary lung surgical procedure followed by bowel rupture and peritonitis.

Case 39 Witnessed collapse with reported bradycardia, followed by CPR and hemoperitoneum originating near the spleen.

Case 37 History of metallic taste likely misdiagnosed as “corroded pacemaker” in patient with subsequent renal failure.
Partial Audio Discussion

How to use the Case Selector

Scroll through options above.

Cases are divided by Complexity and Independence.

Complexity describes how diagnostically or conceptually difficult the case is itself.

Independence describes how much the student has to “figure out” the case on his or her own (vs. having the site explain it.)

Cases towards the bottom of each list are “High Independence.” Statements like “No Explanatory Audio” or “No Discussion Questions” let you know the case requires more independent assessment.

Complexity

Low Complexity:

Cases with simpler anatomy and a straightforward cause of death.

High Complexity:

Cases tending towards diagnostic uncertainty and requiring integration of complex clinical histories.

Independence

Low Independence

Cases with a high amount of explanatory audio; and guiding discussion questions to assist with thinking and assessment.

High Independence

Cases may have little or no explanatory audio; and few or no discussion questions. Viewer functions more independently, as though meeting their own “real-world” patient.

…More Details

Students early in training may start with Low Complexity cases with Low Independence. Advanced students make take on High Complexity cases with High Independence. This is just like a residency or other clinical training program where independence develops with learning and experience. Or an instructor may assign a High Independence case at the end of the course to see what the student has learned and can bring to an “unknown” case (where the “answers” are not provided by the site).

Case summaries on this page are highly simplified. The complete histories and more educator content is found in the History.

Note from the Director: This page is as close as the site will get to providing concise “cause of death” statements. The goal of the site is not to function as an “expert with answers,” but to let the body teach, guide with questions and engage in the clinical-investigative process.