A summary of Hillary Clinton's medical history released on September 14 includes several instances in which medical imaging was used to guide treatment of the presidential candidate.
The letter summarizes Clinton's care since July 2015 and was released by her personal physician, Dr. Lisa Bardack of CareMount Medical in Mount Kisco, NY. The letter comes amid speculation about Clinton's health after she left a 9/11 memorial prematurely, complaining of heat exhaustion. Her campaign later said Clinton had been diagnosed with pneumonia.
U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.The letter details several episodes of care since January 2016, when she had sinusitis and an ear infection. Treatment included placement of a myringotomy tube in her left ear, which improved her symptoms. As follow-up, a CT scan of her brain and sinuses was performed in March and showed no abnormalities, but mild chronic sinusitis.
With respect to the pneumonia, Bardack wrote that she evaluated Clinton on September 2 for "low grade fever, congestion, and fatigue." She had a temperature of 99.4° but her vital signs and physical exam were normal.
Clinton's condition worsened as she traveled over the next several days, however, and Bardack evaluated her again on September 9, at which point a noncontrast chest CT exam was performed to image her lungs. A CT calcium score was also acquired to follow up on a cardiac risk-stratification exam performed in 2010 due to Clinton's family history of heart disease.
The CT scan "revealed a small right middle-lobe pneumonia," according to the letter; Bardack characterized Clinton's condition as a mild noncontagious bacterial pneumonia. She was treated with antibiotics and told to rest. Her coronary calcium score was 0, the letter states.
Bardack wrote that at the 9/11 event, Clinton became "overheated and dehydrated and as a result felt dizzy." She examined Clinton after the event and said she was "rehydrating and recovering nicely." Bardack advised the candidate to stay home and rest for the next several days, and the letter states that she "continues to improve."
The letter goes on to specify Clinton's current medications and immunizations, and Bardack wrote that Clinton has had a normal mammogram and breast ultrasound.
"My overall impression is that Mrs. Clinton has remained healthy and has not developed new medical conditions this year other than a sinus and ear infection and her recently diagnosed pneumonia," Bardack concludes. "She is recovering well with antibiotics and rest. She continues to remain healthy and fit to serve as president of the United States."
