Congratulations to the winners of the

Winners of the Case of the Week, 2003

Believe it or not... this is already the fifth year of celebrating the Winners of the case of the week ! And this year is 213 participants  who have won at least one case (149 last year, 214 in 2001). There are about 800 participants who send answers plus many more who tell me at meeting that "they are waiting for a case they recognize" before sending an answer :). Actually some people now introduce themselves to me at meeting by saying: "I had 3 correct cases this year". Actually i could use this to apologize for my very short answers. Many people write very polite emails and add a little salutation at the end of their text. I feel guilty to just respond "Good idea but not correct" (which is unfortunately becoming my nickname). I do not mean to be rude, but there are so many emails to answer I just can"t be very loquacious. Of course i am always happy to listen and respond to all the little stories you send ! 

Of the 23 case this year, only one (case 99, Pallister Killian syndrome. by Fabrice Cuilier) was not solved by anyone. This is truly remarkable (the success rate first, and the fact that all these smart brains could be stumped!).

In the physician category we have an extremely competitive year:

Physicians first place: 18 cases out of a possible 23
Hector Quiroga	Hector is just about to finish his Ob-Gyn residency in Barquisimeto, Venezuela. He had already several good answers in the past and made it a project to succeed this year in the Case of the Week. He has also contribute some cases of his own. A dynamic young man who reads all ultrasound material he can put his hands on, Hector will surely be a great asset to his patient. He is scheduled to come do a fellowship in Nashville early next year and i look forward to his bright ideas and dynamism.
Tibor Kovacs	Tibor is a Ob-Gyn in Romania (Quick, do not open Google, give me the name of 5 neighboring countries). He is modest to the point that I found him funny ! He says: "I am not so good and these cases are not so easy for me". Well if 18 are of 23 cases correct do not qualify him for being "good" what will he expect of someone excellent ?? To me he IS excellent. He works in a hospital with 1400 deliveries with not much of a library apparently (just the person for which TheFetus.net was created ! He is the proud father of a newborn son this year, and credits his wife for allowing him to spend time solving the cases of the week. Another wonderful guy that I am so happy to have the opportunity to be in contact with
Ildiko Veiszenbacher	Ildiko is also an Ob-Gyn. Although originally from Hungary she live in Romania too, but close to the border. She too is too demanding on herself and thinks that she does not merit appreciation since she missed a few cases. Wow ! Romanian patients have very good doctors ! She too lives in difficult conditions and has little reference material available. Her letters really show a warm conscientious caring (and bright although denying it) physician. I am very happy to have the opportunity to contact her.
Physicians second place: 15 cases out of a possible 23
Pedroli Gianluca	Pedroli studied in Rome at La Sapienza and credits his teachers for his good education. He too is an Ob-Gyn doing the full range of activities but with a special love for ultrasound. He contributed to update some case this year and is always eager to help and give kind words to those who made particularly good discussion of their Case of the Week (Dr. Raul Martinez for instance). Another great guy !
Physicians third place: 12 cases out of a possible 23
Marzio Casoli	Marzio had timidly started to send answers in the past but this year he was in full gear and got a wonderful number of correct answers !
Chritel Faschingbauer	Chritel not only sends lots of good answers, but she has made a generous donation to the site.
Annette Reuss	Annette has also gotten a very successful year this year !
Physicians fourth place: 11 cases out of a possible 23
Fabrice Cuillier	Fabrice works in the Reunion Island. He has contributed many cases to the site, including the unsolved case 99. He has always had well-investigated cases, but since he got a new machine his image are really beautiful.
Raúl Palmeyro	Raúl is a quite person (at least viewed from the receiving end of his email) and just send good diagnoses one after the other !
Hasan Fehmý Yazicioglu	Hasan Has also been sending responses for a long time but this year was particularly successful. It took me a little while to get the spelling of his name correct but we got it :)
Physicians five place: 10 cases out of a possible 23
Dharmashi V. Bhate	Dr. Bhates is one of those quite but consistent responder. He send neat answers, kind words and has contributed a case earlier this year. As a Radiologist doing many other areas then ultrasound he was thrilled to be among the winner this year
Myrna Cornejo	Myrna is also a radiologist with a busy live, a love for ultrasound and cats. She works in the same hospital has our famous Raul Martinez.
Gilles Lonka	Gilles is one of those who always send such polite and courteous emails that i feel guilty of my 2 words response. A long time visitor to the site he has been in high gear this year !
Yolimar Martinez	Yolimar just completed a fellowship in ultrasound with non other then Dr. Alberto Sosa in their new ultrasound teaching lab. She has peppered me with hard Doppler questions. She is also a wizard at Flash, a program that I have long wanted to understand !
Leslie Ossip	Leslie has timidly joined the group a long time ago but this year he has been very succesful. He too is a radiologist !

Since i do not want to frighten new readers by making them compete with pas winner, past winner are in a category by themselves. Interestingly enough, some have had even more correct case this year then the year they won an award. This year to celebrate the 5 first years, I have included an Endurance Award combining all the case they have won. This table is slightly biased by the fact that no all joined TheFetus.net the same year:

The following are those that found the exact answer to the primary diagnosis in the case of the week. The names in boldface have contributed some of their cases: thank you ! This list is update every 2 weeks at the same time the new case is posted.

The Winner"s list is update at the end of each case... except when I forgot to include someone, and feel guilty and post the correction. At that time some of the winner of the next case may already be in the table. I hope this does not create too much confusion but the logistics of answering all these cases is quite a challenge for my old brain ! Of course if I forgot to include your winning entry, do remind me (send the email). You will not offend me !