Chapter 1906: 1839 Rampant Caries

Lin Ge sat in the ward for over ten minutes; Zheng Renye had nothing else to ask, so he threw down his share of money and left.

"Boss, it doesn't seem like there's any life-threatening problem." Su Yun looked at Zheng Ren and said.

Zheng Ren's eyes, however, kept fixed on the film, as if there were flowers on it.

Soon, Lin Ge returned.

He looked at Zheng Ren expectantly, but seeing Zheng Ren's face as still as water, he also felt somewhat helpless.

I guess Zheng Lao Ban also has no new diagnostic opinions.

Having no new diagnosis is a good thing; Lin Ge consoled himself that way.

But seeing Zheng Ren still deep in thought, he didn't disturb him, quietly standing aside waiting for Zheng Ren to speak.

Time ticked by second by second, and the office grew so quiet it made one's heart palpitate.

With a big shot from the Medical Department present, the doctor on duty in the special-needs ward kept him company for a while, felt the atmosphere too oppressive, and found an excuse to leave the office.

After a few more minutes, Lin Ge glanced at Zheng Ren, then at Su Yun, wondering what they were thinking.

"Director Lin." Zheng Ren suddenly spoke, startling Lin Ge.

"Ah..."

"Do you notice any changes in Section Chief Mao?" Zheng Ren asked.

That question came out a bit vague, and Lin Ge didn't know how to answer right away. But as an old hand at handling medical disputes, he thought for a moment, guessed what Zheng Lao Ban was getting at, and then replied: "Mao Mao seems listless."

"Anything else?"

"There are small purpura on the limbs, some healed, some not. Only the hands and feet are visible; other parts weren't seen."

"Hmm."

"Also… his hair is a mess, his eyes lack luster, and his tone when speaking differs from usual." Lin Ge racked his brains to recall, sketching the scene for Zheng Lao Ban.

Zheng Ren crossed his arms, stared at the film, and didn't say a word.

"He's got internal heat, they say his teeth are all bad."

"His limbs are weak, he can't walk."

"He doesn't want to eat; eating food is like taking medicine, needing water to wash it down."

Lin Ge pieced together Section Chief Mao's various symptoms bit by bit, like squeezing toothpaste.

"Wait." Zheng Ren said: "All his teeth are bad?"

"..." Su Yun was speechless; Lin Ge was equally at a loss for words.

"What's going on?" Zheng Ren asked.

"Can't you focus on something important?" Su Yun said unhappily: "Boss, are you just tired and confused from flying back? On one hand it's hemolytic cell syndrome, on the other it's bad teeth—what a big deal, just cavities..."

As he spoke, Su Yun suddenly froze: "Rampant caries?"

"Yes!" Zheng Ren nodded sharply, the doubt gradually clearing: "Director Lin, tell me, can you see Section Chief Mao's caries?"

"..." Lin Ge was still dazed.

Rampant caries—he didn't even know such a diagnosis existed.

"Director Lin, can you see Section Chief Mao's caries?" Su Yun asked.

How did it get linked to caries?

Lin Ge stared for a moment; although he didn't understand, he immediately said: "I can see it."

Silence—several seconds of silence made the office atmosphere a bit awkward.

Lin Ge then realized, guessing that both of them were waiting for him to describe.

"How did I zone out?" Lin Ge immediately focused and recalled: "It's not very clear; when Mao Mao speaks, she seems to avoid opening her mouth, but I can see she has a cavity on the left side, nothing left but the root. It's rotted… really awful, there wasn't anything like that before."

"On the right side, a tooth surface has turned black."

Lin Ge searched every detail, but could only say this much.

He couldn't go on any further.

Remembering every detail from back then is hard; it took Lin Ge years of grinding in the Medical Department to barely manage it, and someone else might not notice these things.

"Rampant caries, plus needing water to wash down food—consider Sjögren's syndrome!" Zheng Ren clenched his right hand into a fist and slammed it into his left palm.

"Yeah, that would explain the pulmonary hypertension. I… anyone could get this disease; Section Chief Mao's luck really sucks." Doctor Su said with a chuckle.

"Uh… Zheng Lao Ban, Doctor Su, just a moment." Lin Ge asked in surprise: "Sjögren's syndrome? What is that?"

"Sjögren's syndrome is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease mainly affecting the exocrine glands, also known as autoimmune exocrine gland epithelial cell inflammation or autoimmune exocrine disease." Zheng Ren said.

"..."

"A minority of patients develop pulmonary changes—dry cough, shortness of breath, and in severe cases, hemoptysis. Moreover, patients with concurrent pulmonary hypertension have poor recovery after treatment." Zheng Ren said.

"Uh..."

"Rampant caries is one of the signs of Sjögren's syndrome; patients develop multiple uncontrollable cavities, showing as teeth gradually turning black, then small pieces breaking off, leaving only residual roots." Zheng Ren's eyes lit up as he quickly stated the diagnostic basis.

"But… what if it's just cavities?" Lin Ge stammered.

"Easy." Doctor Su smiled: "Director Lin, I'll go take a look."

"Huh?"

"It can make people laugh or cry them into tears. If it's Sjögren's syndrome, the lacrimal glands secrete nothing, meaning when one cries there are no tears." Doctor Su said, "I'll go look and know right away."

Having said that, he turned and walked away.

"Doctor Su, don't—" Lin Ge immediately chased after him.

Zheng Ren, however, didn't stop Su Yun.

Regarding a definitive diagnosis, although there isn't much effective treatment for Sjögren's syndrome clinically, a clear diagnosis still helps further treatment.

Actually, the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome has its own criteria, divided into oral symptoms, ocular symptoms, ocular signs, histological examination, salivary gland damage, autoantibody changes, and so on.

But Section Chief Mao won't let himself undergo a physical exam, so Doctor Su's approach is the simplest and most direct.

After Su Yun went out, Zheng Ren thought for a moment, then also followed and went out.

Lin Ge followed Su Yun down the hallway, trying to advise him, but Su Yun just gave a grin and laughed it off with him.

"Director Lin, let him go." Zheng Ren said: "Su Yun, go on the pretext of visiting Section Chief Mao."

"Do I need your teaching?" Su Yun glanced at Zheng Ren and said disdainfully.

Lin Ge felt a bit awkward.

This is trouble I brought upon myself; I'm already an adult, how could I still make Section Chief Mao cry?

"Director Lin, you'd better not go in; it's hard to say, let's just take a look from outside." Zheng Ren said.

Lin Ge, helpless, could only stay by Zheng Ren's side, wanting to say something but swallowing the words back.

Zheng Ren, No Rush, walked slowly behind. He also didn't joke with Lin Ge, just pondering the earlier diagnosis.

Multiple conditions and symptoms point to Sjögren's syndrome; we'll take a look outside shortly and compare with the System Panel.

Even without the System Panel, the presence of Rampant Caries alone would allow a likely diagnosis.

Soon, a stream of angry shouts came from the ward.