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A Piece of My Mind

Chasing Zebras

JAMA 10.1001/jama.2026.7703

June 04, 2026 at 11:00 AM EDT

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In this narrative medicine essay, a facial plastic surgeon who specializes in treating rare and complex operations, so-called , describes how the excruciating pain in his right leg turned out to be a zebra.

Corresponding Author: Shaun C. Desai, MD, Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, New York Medical College at Westchester Medical Center, 40 Sunshine Cottage Rd, Valhalla, NY 10595 (shaun.desai@wmchealth.org).

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