Original MICA image-reading exercise, unscored. No clinical narrative absent from the source is added.
- Describe visible findings before proposing an interpretation.
- Suggest an interpretation and at least one image limitation.
- Which clinical findings or investigations would complement this observation?
Reveal the explained reading
Digital clubbing
- Observation
- The photograph shows enlarged fingertips and curved nails.
- Limitation
- The photograph cannot establish pulmonary disease.
Morphological description
The photograph shows enlarged fingertips and curved nails.
Interpretation and diagnostic limits
The original case concerns laxative abuse after investigating alternatives.
Differential diagnoses
Consider pulmonary, cardiac, digestive and familial causes.
Pitfalls
The photograph cannot establish pulmonary disease.
Take-home message
Recognise the sign before determining its origin.
Sources
- Charlton et al. · Nail clubbing in laxative abuse: case report and review of the literature · 2019 ↗
Documentary review: 2026-10-14
Media source & rights
- Author
- Olivia A. Charlton; Philippa Dickison; Saxon D. Smith; Simon D. Roger
- Original source
- Olivia A. Charlton; Philippa Dickison; Saxon D. Smith; Simon D. Roger · Hippocratisme digital documenté · https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40337-019-0236-4 · CC BY 4.0
- Licence
- CC BY 4.0
- Changes
- Complete figure retained; proportional resize and WebP conversion, no clinical alteration.
- Dimensions
- 685 × 514 px
- Check
- 2026-10-14