Chapter 68 – Actress of the Century (7)

Cryptococcosis!

It was a disease infected by the Cryptococcus neoformans fungus. Spores of microorganisms inhabiting air or soil contaminated mainly by avian excrement enter the lungs through breathing and cause infection.

Although it was not a big problem for healthy people, it could cause terrible complications for patients with weak immunity, while it was a terrible disease that could invade various organs and induce fatal illness.

Before Kim Ji-hyuk’s possession, in 2024, there was a cure along with identification of the cause, so it was a disease that could be fully treated if the diagnosis was accurate, but upon infection, it showed a ground-glass opacity finding which is said to be the seed of lung cancer, so it was often mistaken for lung adenocarcinoma and operated on, and it often showed findings similar to lung cancer on X-ray or CT exams.

Because of this, it was a disease where medical accidents resectioning healthy lungs were also frequent.

How much more so now, in 1954.

It was a strange disease with an unfamiliar name.

Based on this background, Kim Ji-hyuk diagnosed that the illness Marilyn Monroe was suffering from was not lung adenocarcinoma, but cryptococcosis.

“Crypto… what is that?”

Even the name of the disease was unfamiliar to Kim Yun-seok.

“I will explain from now on.”

“Phew, I don’t know how on earth this situation is turning.”

Kim Yun-seok shook his head as if frustrated.

“Dr. Kim Ji-hyuk, is that certain?”

On the other hand, Professor Chung Ki-ryeo confirmed with Kim Ji-hyuk once again.

“Yes. You might not believe it, but I estimate Miss Monroe is infected with the Cryptococcus fungus.”

Kim Ji-hyuk said with a face full of conviction.

“Good. Do you have a basis? This could be a very serious problem. You must know that a clear basis is needed to convince the American doctors.”

Professor Chung Ki-ryeo asked with a stiff face. Unlike Kim Yun-seok, Professor Chung Ki-ryeo seemed to know about cryptococcosis well.

“Yes. That’s why I needed some time. Then I will tell you. First of all, the ground-glass opacity seen on the X-ray exam is too small to be regarded as lung cancer.”

Kim Ji-hyuk continued his explanation.

“Hmm, we cannot make a conclusion that it is not lung adenocarcinoma based on just that. In the case of early lung adenocarcinoma, there are cases smaller than that. There are even cases without ground-glass opacity findings. We cannot assert that it is not lung adenocarcinoma based on this. In the end, there is no basis anywhere that Miss Monroe does not have lung adenocarcinoma.”

Professor Chung Ki-ryeo shook his head slowly.

He was still maintaining a cautious attitude.

“Yes. As the professor said, we cannot conclude it is cryptococcosis based only on the ground-glass opacity found on the X-ray.”

“Keep going.”

“Yes. Then from now on, I will tell you some other symptoms. Miss Monroe has complained of neck stiffness all along. We tried administering pain relievers and prescribing muscle relaxants, but it was of no use.”

“We cannot rule out the probability of fatigue accumulation from frequent performances.”

Professor Chung Ki-ryeo had a firm face.

“Yes. That might be so, but there was no big problem on the neck X-ray. Also, she said she often felt heavy in the head, and the symptom of her back neck feeling stiff came suddenly!”

“Didn’t I say? That is merely a level of typical pain coming from fatigue.”

Professor Chung Ki-ryeo was still not accepting Kim Ji-hyuk’s diagnosis.

“Then what are you going to do about the ulcer findings on her right arm? It was clearly an uncommon ulcer!”

“An ulcer on the right arm?”

“Yes. It was a nodule filled with fluid in necrotic tissue! I know it as one of the typical symptoms of cryptococcosis!”

“Professor, he is right! I also confirmed the ulcer on Miss Monroe’s arm! I administered medicine thinking she ate wrong food and suffered food poisoning, but in fact, it was a unique form of ulcer! In the case of lung adenocarcinoma, there is no way such an ulcer would form, is there?”

At that, Kim Yun-seok stepped in.

“Is it certain?”

“Yes. Judging by the fact that she has shown meningitis symptoms recently, the probability is high that the Cryptococcus fungus has also invaded the cerebral blood vessels. I have not seen any paper stating that lung adenocarcinoma and meningitis are correlated. Therefore, we cannot help but suspect cryptococcosis.”

“Hmm…”

Professor Chung Ki-ryeo kept his mouth shut with a serious expression.

“Professor, in the case of Miss Monroe, her immunity is extremely low due to frequent drinking and drug administration. I think we can sufficiently suspect it!”

“But the cause is unclear, isn’t it? Generally, the Cryptococcus fungus is mixed in the droppings of animals like wild animals or wild pigeons. In the end, it is infected through breathing due to frequent contact with birds, but would Miss Monroe have had contact with such wild animals?”

Professor Chung Ki-ryeo tilted his head.

“Yes, she has, Professor!”

“What?”

“Miss Monroe said she recently shot a public service commercial using a flock of white pigeons as props! The probability of being infected at that time is sufficient!”

“Professor, Ji-hyuk’s words make sense. She said Miss Monroe likes pigeons so much that she even placed several pigeon houses at home!”

Kim Yun-seok lent strength to Kim Ji-hyuk’s words.

“Is that so?”

Only now did Professor Chung Ki-ryeo shed a bit of doubt on Kim Ji-hyuk’s diagnosis.

“Yes, I think it is necessary to confirm by all means! A frozen section biop…”

“What? Frozen section?”

A frozen section biopsy is to decide the operation site or judge whether to perform the operation by taking a portion of lung tissue before surgery, freezing it in liquid nitrogen, slicing it thin, and diagnosing it under a microscope. It was a simple method where test results came out within 20 minutes.

‘Sigh, my slip of the tongue. Although we could diagnose it clearly if we performed a frozen section biopsy.’

“Ah, no. Anyway, the probability that Miss Marilyn Monroe does not have lung adenocarcinoma is much higher. Miss Monroe is a world-class actress. If she is mistaken for having lung adenocarcinoma and resects her lung, it could be fatal to her acting career too. We must bring Miss Monroe back by all means.”

Kim Ji-hyuk clenched his two fists.

“Hmm… Hasn’t it already become an impossible situation. The US side is completely blocking our hospital’s doctors from entering.”

“Hmph, it’s a petty trick to hide their own misdiagnosis! They will never hand over Miss Monroe to us. They wouldn’t want to bend their pride to a small, insignificant country in the East!”

Kim Yun-seok trembled in furious anger.

“Do not worry too much, Professor! If we cannot enter, someone else can!”

“What?”

“What does that mean? Did you find some way?”

The two, startled, blinked their eyes.

* * *

A few days later, Professor Watanabe’s research office.

“What is the matter?”

Professor Chung Ki-ryeo, who received Professor Watanabe’s contact, visited his research office.

“Welcome. Let’s have a cup of coffee after a long time.”

“For a stingy guy like you to offer that precious coffee, something must be up.”

“Is that so? Was I that stingy? Was I that much of a miser?”

“You even know the word miser? You have indeed become a complete Korean now.”

“Hahaha, look here! I am already a Korean, what do you mean I have become a complete Korean? Where does such absurdity exist?”

Professor Watanabe laughed loudly.

“Is that so?”

“Of course, of course. First, let’s talk more while drinking coffee.”

“Let’s do that! I was tired anyway and needed some arousal.”

“See! I know what’s what. Wait. I put the water on!”

Watanabe poured water from a steaming kettle and served the coffee.

A moment later.

“You wouldn’t have called me to drink coffee leisurely… At this point, why don’t you get straight to the point without beating around the bush?”

Gulp—

Chung Ki-ryeo said after taking a sip of coffee.

“What a personality! By any chance, do you know Professor Steve Martin?”

“Oh, look here! Do you take me for a fool? How could I not know that famous professor? But why him?”

Professor Steve Martin.

A doctor of infectious diseases at Johns Hopkins Hospital and a giant in the field of microbiology.

As a Nobel laureate in Physiology or Medicine, he was currently staying in Tokyo at the invitation of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Tokyo.

“He will probably visit our hospital this evening.”

“What? What is this sudden talk? As far as I know, he is delivering a lecture at your alma mater?”

“Since Marilyn Monroe made a surprise entry into Korea, is there anything Professor Martin cannot do?”

“Look here, is this a time for silly jokes? Why would that busy man come to our hospital?”

“Dr. Kim Ji-hyuk called him in.”

“What? Dr. Kim Ji-hyuk? What kind of absurd talk is this again?”

“At any rate, you are blessed. How did you get such a clever kid as a disciple?”

“Stop complaining… Tell me quickly. Did Dr. Kim Ji-hyuk contact Steve Martin or what?”

Professor Chung Ki-ryeo asked Professor Watanabe in a hurry out of curiosity.

“Well, I was the one who made the contact… but anyway, it is as good as Dr. Kim Ji-hyuk calling him.”

“Tell me quickly. What did Dr. Ji-hyuk do.”

“Alright. Didn’t I say I’m telling you now? You see…”

A moment later, Watanabe explained the details to Professor Chung Ki-ryeo.

“I see, such a thing happened.”

“Yes. Dr. Kim Ji-hyuk came to see me with Miss Marilyn Monroe’s chart. He asked if I could deliver this chart to Steve Martin, who is staying in Tokyo.”

“Hmm, keep talking.”

“Well, what could I do to help? Since Professor Inamura happened to go back to his home country, I sent the chart along with him. But, a telegram came from Professor Steve Martin. Saying he is coming to Korea immediately.”

“Hmm… Such a thing happened?”

“Yes. Professor Steve Martin seems to have an immense interest in the disease Miss Monroe is suffering from.”

“You mean cryptococcosis?”

“Of course. What kind of person is Steve Martin? He is a complete microbe addict, isn’t he? Isn’t he a person who openly talks about being married to microbes. As soon as he received the chart, he put aside all his schedules and is coming to Korea.”

Professor Watanabe nodded slowly.

“What an eccentric fellow. How could he do that without saying a single word to me? While telling you everything.”

Professor Chung Ki-ryeo pouted as if disappointed.

“Who are you? Aren’t you a person whose patriotism is second to none? Since you suffered such humiliation, if he had told you, wouldn’t you have stormed straight into the US medical battalion?”

“Ahem, am I some reckless person? To act so rashly?”

Professor Chung Ki-ryeo cleared his throat as if embarrassed.

“Dr. Kim Ji-hyuk is a thoughtful doctor. It seems he intended to report to you once everything became certain. He firmly told me it’s a top secret too.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Well, well! Now it seems we have a justification to storm into the US medical battalion! The great Steve Martin says he will see the patient, who on earth can stop him?”

Hahaha, Professor Watanabe laughed so loudly that his uvula was visible.

* * *

And that night.

Just as Professor Watanabe said, the world-class authority, Professor Steve Martin, visited Kim Ji-hyuk at the National Medical Center.