C. Mel Wilcox, MD

Cirrhosis and ascites developed in a 52-year-old man with a history of chronic hepatitis C and alcohol abuse. He was hospitalized because of bleeding esophageal varices, which were successfully treated with elastic band ligation.

An obese 52-year-old woman with a 5-year history of type II diabetes mellitus had odynophagia and dysphagia for several days. She described the sensation as food “sticking” in her chest. She also complained of vaginal itching, polyuria, and polydipsia. The only remarkable finding on physical examination was candidal vaginitis. The patient did not smoke cigarettes or drink alcoholic beverages, and there was no history of recent weight loss.