Answer: VizD Challenge Week of 3/3/08

Joshua is the winner of this week's VizD!

Thank you to everyone who participated!

Joshua is the winner of $5

Recap:
A thin 25-year-old woman presents to your ED for generalized weakness. You do not find anything remarkable on your physical exam except the finding seen below.

(click on image to enlarge)

Questions:
1. What diagnosis do you suspect?
2. Which electrolyte is frequently abnormal in this condition and likely the cause of this patient's weakness?


Answer:
1. Bulemia nervosa - an eating disorder with significant associated physical complications. The image shows acid tooth erosion caused by the erosion of dentin secondary to chronic vomiting.
2. Hypokalemia is a common presentation due to frequent vomiting

VizD is a weekly contest of an interesting or pathognomonic image from emergency medicine. Its goal is to integrate learning into a fun and relaxed environment. All images are original and are posted with the consent of the patient. For more information please refer to the following link.