The distinguishing of a disease or pathological condition from others presenting similar signs.
The process whereby multiple possible disorders are considered by a clinician to formulate a final diagnosis.
The identification of one disease from a number of other similar diseases by comparing the range of symptoms of each.
Systematic method for diagnosing a disorder that lacks unique signs or symptoms; for example, headache may have many causes and the patient’s other symptoms as well as the results of laboratory tests and other procedures must be considered in arriving at a correct diagnosis.
Diagnosis of a condition whose signs and/or symptoms are shared by various other conditions. For example, abdominal pain may be due to any of a large number of different disorders, which must be ruled out in arriving at a correct diagnosis.
A list of the possible diagnoses that might explain a patient’s symptoms and signs, and from which the correct diagnosis will be extracted after further investigations.
Identification of a disease by comparison of illnesses that share features of the presenting illness, but differ in some critical ways.
When evaluating a patient’s condition, a crucial approach involves the meticulous examination and differentiation of the indications, manifestations, and laboratory outcomes associated with multiple diseases. This process enables healthcare professionals to ascertain the precise underlying cause of the patient’s ailment.
When a patient presents with symptoms that could potentially be attributed to multiple disorders, it becomes essential to consider differential diagnosis. For instance, if a patient experiences abdominal pain, a physician will conduct additional tests, assess the response to specific treatments, or closely monitor the progression of the disease to ascertain the accurate diagnosis. This systematic approach aids in distinguishing among the various possible disorders and identifying the underlying cause of the patient’s symptoms.
Differentiating between closely related diseases by analyzing their symptoms and indicators.
A diagnosis determined through the process of comparing symptoms and ruling out various diseases.