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A pathology report comes back with positive birefringent crystals. What is the most likely diagnosis?

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Final answer:

Positive birefringent crystals in a pathology report are most likely indicative of gout arthritis.

Step-by-step explanation:

The presence of positive birefringent crystals in a pathology report can indicate a few possible diagnoses. However, one of the most likely is gout. Gout is a form of arthritis that occurs when there is a buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints, leading to inflammation and pain. These crystals can be seen under a microscope and exhibit positive birefringence, meaning they split light into two rays with different values of refractive index.

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