Daily clinical reasoning series
31 case-based clinical reasoning analyses assigned to the daily casebook sequence for January 2026.
Case-series dates · January 1, 2026 to January 31, 2026
Series
Recognizes thyroid storm as decompensated organ physiology while distinguishing sepsis, stimulant toxicity, and other hyperadrenergic states.
Series
Assesses osteomyelitis probability, perfusion, cultures, off-loading, source control, and multidisciplinary limb preservation in a deep ulcer.
Series
Recognizes Guillain-Barre syndrome, excludes spinal and metabolic mimics, and monitors respiratory and autonomic failure before crisis.
Series
Evaluates pregnancy, hypothalamic suppression, PCOS, thyroid and prolactin disorders while protecting bone and reproductive health.
Series
Recognizes early inflammatory arthritis, separates mimics, and coordinates prompt referral, baseline safety, and treat-to-target monitoring.
Series
Reopens panic-like episodes through cardiac, endocrine, toxic, pulmonary, and metabolic danger assessment before behavioral diagnosis.
Series
Distinguishes sensorineural emergency from conductive loss using bedside testing, timely treatment, audiometry, and targeted imaging.
Series
Applies decision-specific capacity, supported communication, surrogate standards, and barrier analysis after stroke-related treatment refusal.
Series
Recognizes ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm and coordinates permissive resuscitation, bedside imaging, blood products, and operative activation.
Series
Reasoning through brisk gastrointestinal bleeding, stabilization, source localization, transfusion, and antithrombotic tradeoffs.
Series
Distinguishing physiologic tachycardia, re-entrant SVT, atrial arrhythmia, and stimulant toxicity while capturing the rhythm safely.
Series
A structured differential for persistent diarrhea with weight loss across inflammatory, malabsorptive, infectious, endocrine, and medication causes.
Series
Distinguishing common unconjugated jaundice from hemolysis, neurotoxicity risk, infection, and neonatal cholestasis.
Series
Linking recurrent nephrolithiasis and hypercalcemia to hyperparathyroidism, FHH, medicines, bone risk, and surgical criteria.
Series
Using itinerary, incubation, repeat testing, and syndrome severity to prioritize malaria, dengue, enteric fever, and other travel infections.
Series
Distinguishing Parkinson disease from medication-induced, vascular, hydrocephalic, and atypical parkinsonian syndromes.
Series
Prioritizing ovarian torsion and ectopic pregnancy when imaging is imperfect and time to fertility-preserving surgery matters.
Series
Treating a fragility vertebral fracture while evaluating secondary bone loss, malignancy signals, pain, function, and future fracture risk.
Series
Separating ego-dystonic OCD intrusions from intent, psychosis, and other safety risks through a shame-sensitive assessment.
Series
Reasoning through suspected acute interstitial nephritis while excluding sepsis, obstruction, glomerular disease, and drug-related uncertainty.
Series
Recognizing Shiga toxin-associated HUS, distinguishing mimics, supporting organ function, and avoiding potentially harmful early treatments.
Series
Moving from melanoma recognition to complete biopsy, pathology, staging boundaries, and risk-calibrated skin surveillance.
Series
Reassessing chronic insomnia, sedative stacking, falls and cognition, withdrawal risk, and a patient-centered deprescribing sequence.
Series
Interpreting microcytosis when ferritin appears normal across thalassemia, inflammation, early iron deficiency, and testing limitations.
Series
Using thoracentesis and clinical context to distinguish infection, malignancy, heart failure, embolism, and other unilateral effusions.
Series
Managing a high-risk algorithm alert through bedside reassessment, calibration awareness, override documentation, and closed-loop monitoring.
Series
Recognizing airway and deep-space dental infection, choosing imaging, antibiotics, drainage, and reliable dental source control.
Series
Distinguishing acute pericarditis from myocarditis, acute coronary syndrome, pulmonary embolism, and other urgent chest pain causes.
Series
Recognizing medication-overuse headache while reassessing migraine, secondary warning signs, withdrawal, and preventive care.
Series
Grading croup severity, minimizing agitation, and recognizing foreign body, epiglottitis, bacterial tracheitis, and impending obstruction.
Series
Confirming Whipple's triad and using a critical sample to distinguish exposure, insulinoma, adrenal, liver, and other causes.