Cameron confronts House about his attraction to the girl. The tox screen shows she has been taking heroin and the team thinks she's addicted. House keeps going on about the patient's looks. They decide on a rapid detox procedure because they feel the drugs are masking another disease and they don't have time to wait four weeks to find out. They explain the risks to her father, who agrees to the procedure. They put the patient into an induced coma. She later goes into cardiac arrest, but they revive her. They explain to the father that if they bring her out of the coma before the detox is over, she will be in extreme pain.

House shows Cameron the patient's medical history, which reveals that she has never menstruated, had little pubic hair, and has undersized ovaries. They do an MRI and find the cancer in her groin. House goes to the patient and explains that "he has cancer on his left testicle". The patient has complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS). The disorder prevented the genetically "male" Alex from being able to process testosterone. Since the patient could only process estrogen, the patient developed female characteristics, such as clear skin and large breasts. This revelation disturbs Alex, who is unable to believe that she is actually intersex. This prompts a psychiatric referral from House, who remarks upon the irony that the ultimate woman is a "man". The surgery is a success.




[S2E13] Skin Deep