A man's unexpected and rapid cognitive decline leaves doctors perplexed until pathologist Daniel Zang, MD, and resident Rachel Hayes, MD, discover the devastating explanation... hidden in a slice of his brain thinner than a strand of baby hair.

Cast:

• Narrator / Sage Whitlock: Elizabeth V. McLeod, MD, MS, FCAP

• Dr. Daniel Zang: Thomas J. Cooper Jr., MD, FCAP

• Dr. David Row: Earle S. Collum, MD, FCAP

• Dr. Rachel Hayes: Karen A. Moser, MD, FCAP

• Robert Allen: Adam Cloe, MD, PhD, BA, FCAP

• Amelia Allen: Dana Martin, MD, FCAP

• Voiceover Intro/Outro: Robert Frick, MD, FCAP

• Technical advisors: Jason V. Scapa, MD, FCAP, and Bobbi S. Pritt, MD, MSc, FCAP, with contributions from Elizabeth V. McLeod, MD, MS, FCAP; Thomas J. Cooper Jr., MD, FCAP; Xiaoyin “Sara” Jiang, MD, FCAP; and Feifan Fred Chen, MD, FCAP

This episode of Case Encounters is inspired by a real-life pathology case from the archives of The College of American Pathologists.

To learn more about the work a pathologist does on your lab test, visit yourpathologist.org.

Case Encounters is a production of The College of American Pathologists, with creative direction from StudioNorth.

Executive Producer: Robert Johnson

Creative direction by StudioNorth

Produced and directed by Natalie Gregory

Editing, sound design, and original music by Jake Sorgen

Written by Paige Freeborn for StudioNorth

Special thanks to Justin Charlton-Perrin and Clemmie Lozano

Additional production support from Nefsi Williams, Isabelle Ritz, and Anabella Torres

Copyright 2025 The College of American Pathologists

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.