differential diagnosis
Noun
Meaning
a systematic method of diagnosing a disorder (e.g., headache) that lacks unique symptoms or signs
Source: WordNetSynonyms
Antonyms
Hypernyms
Examples
Consideration of a differential diagnosis is required when a patient presents with unexplained febrile illness, extreme headache, encephalitis or meningitis.
Differential diagnosis Carpal tunnel syndrome is sometimes applied as a label to anyone with pain, numbness, swelling, and/or burning in the radial side of the hands and/or wrists.
Differential diagnosis by laboratory medicine: a quick reference for physicians; Vincent Marks,Dušan Meško, page 156 Subclinical seeAlso In overt primary hyperthyroidism, TSH levels are low and T 4 and T 3 levels are high.
Differential diagnosis Differentiating an epileptic seizure from other conditions such as syncope can be difficult.
It should be considered in the differential diagnosis of all patients with idiopathic sporadic ataxia.
Copper deficiency is a rare cause of anemia, leukopenia, and myeloneuropathy, but should be considered in the differential diagnosis in a patient with prior gastrointestinal surgery.