Differential Diagnoses Flashcards

Learn and quickly recall DDX

1
Q

Headache (12)

A
  • Migraine (complicated)
  • Tension headache
  • Cluster headache
  • Pseudotumor cerebri
  • Trigeminal neuralgia
  • CNS vasculitis - Temporal Arteritis
  • Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)
  • Partial seizure
  • Intracranial neoplasm
  • Sinusitis
  • Depression
  • Glaucoma
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2
Q

Depressed Mood (3)

A
  • Major Depressive/Dysthymic Disorder
  • Bereavement Disorder
  • Bipolar I and II/Cyclothymic Disorders
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3
Q

Psychosis (7)

A
  • Schizophrenia
  • Substance induced
  • Schizoaffective
  • Brief Psychotic Disorder
  • Psychosis sec. medical
  • Narcolepsy
  • Seizure
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4
Q

Weight loss (7)

A
  • Hyperthyroid
  • Cancer
  • HIV
  • Diet
  • Drugs
  • Anorexia
  • Malabsorption
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5
Q

Dysphagia (12)

A
  • Achalasia
  • Esophagitis
  • Plummer-Vinson
  • Zenker’s diverticulum
  • Laryngeal carcinoma
  • Esophageal cancer
  • GERD
  • Stroke
  • MS
  • Myasthenia gravis
  • Muscular dystrophy
  • Scleroderma
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6
Q

Blood in Stool (young) (10)

A
  • Colon Cancer
  • IBD
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Ischemic colitis
  • Infectious colitis
  • Dysentery
  • Gonococcal proctitis
  • Anal fistula
  • Anal fissure
  • Vascular stasis
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7
Q

Hematuria (8)

A
  • Conjugated hyperbilirubinemia
  • Coagulation disorder
  • PKD
  • Glomerulonephritis
  • UTI/Pyelonephritis
  • Urolithiasis
  • Renal, ureteral or bladder cancer
  • Drugs
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8
Q

Urinary Symptoms (pain, difficulty urinating, etc.) (11)

A
  • Acute Pyelonephritis
  • Urolithiasis
  • Bladder stone
  • Bladder cancer
  • Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
  • Prostate Cancer
  • Urethritis
  • Urethral stricture
  • Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
  • Spinal cord trauma
  • DM
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9
Q

Vaginal Discharge (3)

A
  • Bacterial Vaginosis
  • Vaginitis (tricomoniasis vs candida)
  • Cervicitis
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10
Q

Abuse (5)

A
  • Domestic Violence
  • Osteogenesis Imperfecta
  • Substance abuse
  • Rape
  • Consensual violent sex
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11
Q

Child with Fever (11)

A
  • Sepsis
  • Viral exanthema
  • Meningitis
  • Encephalitis
  • Otitis media
  • URI
  • Pneumonia
  • Gastroenteritis
  • Intussusception
  • Volvulus
  • UTI
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12
Q

Hemoptysis (8)

A
  • Pneumonia
  • PE
  • Bronchiectasis
  • TB
  • Malignancy
  • Bronchitis
  • Connective tissue disease
  • Pseudohemoptysis
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13
Q

Blood in Stool (old) (4)

A
  • Diverticulosis/Diverticulitis
  • Cancer
  • Angiodysplasia
  • Ischemic colitis
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14
Q

Acute Diarrhea (<4 wks) (7)

A
  • Viral gastroenteritis
  • Bacterial gastroenteritis
  • IBD
  • IBS
  • Malabsorption
  • Pseudomembranous colitis
  • HIV
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15
Q

Chronic Diarrhea (6)

A
  • Laxatives
  • Malabsorption
  • IBD
  • IBS
  • Bacterial (Giardiasis)
  • Hyperthyroidism
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16
Q

Constipation (12)

A
  • Functional
  • Low-Fiber Diet
  • Cancer
  • IBS
  • Intestinal obstruction
  • Hypercalcemia
  • Hypothyroidism
  • DM
  • Stroke
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Spinal cord lesions
  • Drugs: opiates, iron, anticholinergics
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17
Q

Child with Vomiting (4)

A
  • Gastroenteritis
  • Intestinal obstruction
  • GERD
  • Pyloric obstruction
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18
Q

Knee Pain/Swelling (9)

A
  • Trauma
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Septic arthritis
  • Reactive arthritis
  • Psoriatic arthritis
  • Lyme disease
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Gout
  • Pseudogout
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19
Q

Extremity Pain in General (13)

A
  • Osteoarthritis (OA)
  • Septic Arthritis
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
  • Psoriatic Arthritis
  • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
  • Domestic Violence
  • Fracture
  • Dislocation
  • Carpal Tunnel
  • Myocardial Infarction (MI)
  • Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD)
  • Deep Vein Thrombosis‎ (DVT)
  • Rhabdomyolysis
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20
Q

Knee Pain/Swelling (9)

A
  • Trauma
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Septic arthritis
  • Reactive arthritis
  • Psoriatic arthritis
  • Lyme disease
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Gout
  • Pseudogout
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21
Q

Behavioral Problems (6)

A
  • ADHD
  • Adjustment Disorder
  • Oppositional Defiant Disorder
  • Childhood Borderline Personality Disorder
  • Substance abuse
  • Age appropriate behavior
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22
Q

Erectile Dysfunction (8)

A
  • Drugs
  • Hypertension
  • Atherosclerosis
  • Diabetes Mellitus neuropathy
  • Psychogenic (anxiety, depression)
  • Peyronie’s disease
  • Spinal cord lesion
  • Pituitary lesion
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23
Q

Palpitations (14)

A
  • Hypoglycemia
  • Cardiac Arrhythmias
  • Valvular disease
  • Angina
  • Hyperventilation Episodes
  • PE
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Hypothyroidism (overmedicated)
  • Pheochromocytoma
  • Carcinoid Syndrome
  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder
  • Agoraphobia/Social Phobia
  • Panic Attacks
  • Substance Abuse/Dependence
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24
Q

Night Sweats (7)

A
  • Tuberculosis (TB)
  • Acute HIV infection
  • Lymphoma
  • Leukemia
  • Hyperthyroid
  • Pheochromocytoma
  • Drugs
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25
Q

Confusion/Memory loss (14)

A
  • Alzheimer’s
  • Meningitis
  • Encephalitis
  • TIA
  • Stroke
  • Vascular Dementia
  • Subdural Hematoma (SDH)
  • Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH)
  • Creutzfeld-Jakob
  • Hypoglycemia
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Vit B12 deficiency
  • Depression with Pseudo Dementia
  • Drugs
26
Q

Seizures (8)

A
  • Trauma
  • Infection
  • Drug induced or withdrawal
  • Stroke
  • Tumor
  • Hypoglycemia
  • Syncope
  • Intoxication
27
Q

Multiple Falls (6)

A
  • TIA
  • Parkinsonism
  • Cerebellar lesions
  • Seizures
  • Vertigo
  • Orthostatic hypotension
28
Q

Multiple Bruising (4)

A
  • Accidental trauma
  • Domestic violence
  • Bleeding disorder
  • Autoimmune collagen vascular disease (lupus, scleroderma,rheumatoid arthritis)
29
Q

Heel/Foot Pain (5)

A
  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Calcaneal periostitis
  • Calcaneal spur
  • Painful heel pad syndrome
  • Stress fracture
30
Q

Low Back Pain (11)

A
  • Disk herniation
  • Lumbar muscle strain
  • Lumbar spinal stenosis
  • Osteoporosis
  • Degenerative arthritis
  • Ankylosing Spondylitis
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Cancer/spinal metastasis
  • AAA
  • TB of the spine “Pott’s disease”
  • Malingering
31
Q

Epistaxis (6)

A
  • Trauma
  • Bleeding disorder
  • Thrombocytopenia
  • Nasopharyngeal angiofibroma
  • Wegener’s granulomatosis
  • Drug induced
32
Q

Hearing Loss (9)

A
  • Conductive (Cerumen impaction, Post otitis media effusion)
  • Sensorineural presbycusis
  • Tympanic membrane perforation
  • Otosclerosis
  • Cholesteatoma
  • Noise induced
  • Drug ototoxicity
  • Meniere’s disease
  • Acoustic neuroma
33
Q

Vision Blurring (10)

A
  • Diabetic neuropathy
  • HTN neuropathy
  • Cataracts
  • Glaucoma
  • Temporal arteritis
  • Uveitis
  • Optic neuritis
  • Orbital cellulitis
  • Optic glioma
  • Occipital lobe lesions
34
Q

Dyspareunia (9)

A
  • Depression
  • Abuse
  • PID
  • Endometriosis
  • Cervicitis
  • Atrophic vaginitis
  • Vaginismus
  • Vulvovaginitis
  • Vulvodynia
35
Q

Unilateral Leg Pain (6)

A
  • Cellulitis
  • DVT
  • Ruptured Baker’s cyst
  • Osteomyelitis
  • Trauma
  • Varicose veins
36
Q

Shoulder Pain (5)

A
  • Dislocation
  • Fracture
  • Rotator cuff tear
  • Subacromial bursitis
  • Ligament strain
37
Q

Upper Extremity Pain (6)

A
  • Cervical disc prolapse
  • Cervical spondylitis
  • Thoracic outlet syndrome
  • Tenosynovitis
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Trauma
38
Q

Sore throat (7)

A
  • Infectious mononucleosis
  • Pharyngitis (bacterial (strep) or viral)
  • Acute HIV infection
  • Streptococcal tonsillitis/scarlet fever
  • GERD
  • Post nasal drip
  • Atypical Pneumonia (Mycoplasma pneumonia)
39
Q

Chest Pain (15)

A
  • Myocardial Infarct (MI)
  • Arrhythmia
  • Pericarditis
  • Angina
  • Cocaine induced
  • Aortic dissection
  • Sickle Cell Disease - Pulmonary Infarct
  • Pulmonary Embolism (PE)
  • Pleurisy
  • Pneumonia
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux Disorder (GERD)
  • Esophageal tear
  • Esophageal spasm
  • Costochondritis
  • Panic attack
40
Q

Nausea/Vomiting (16)

A
  • Pregnancy
  • Gastritis
  • GERD
  • Gastroenteritis
  • PUD
  • Pancreatitis
  • Appendicitis
  • Bowel Obstruction
  • Pyelonephritis
  • UTI
  • Hypercalcemia
  • DM
  • Intracraneal tumor
  • Encephalitis/meningitis
  • Drugs (Digoxin)
  • Anorexia
41
Q

Pediatric Diarrhea (6)

A
  • Rotavirus
  • Bacterial diarrhea
  • Malabsorption
  • UTI
  • Sepsis
  • Intussusception
42
Q

Acute Shortness of Breath (7)

A
  • PE
  • Pneumothorax
  • COPD exacerbation
  • Bronchial Asthma
  • CHF
  • Anxiety
  • Panic attack
43
Q

Vaginal Bleeding (11)

A
  • Regular menses
  • Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding (DUB)
  • Endometrial Hyperplasia
  • Endometrial Cancer (postmenopausal bleeding)
  • Cervical Cancer (intermenstrual or post-coital bleeding)
  • Ruptured Uterine Pregnancy
  • Spontaneous Abortion
  • Ectopic Pregnancy/Rupture
  • Molar Pregnancy
  • Trauma
  • Bleeding disorder
44
Q

Amenorrhea (11)

A
  • Pregnancy
  • Menopause
  • PCOS
  • Hypothyroid
  • Prolactinoma
  • Sheehan’s
  • Asherman’s
  • Anorexia
  • Anxiety
  • Stress induced
  • Excessive exercise
45
Q

Weight gain (9)

A
  • Smoking cessation
  • Drugs (Lithium)
  • Hypothyroid
  • Cushing’s Syndrome/Disease/Syndrome
  • PCOS
  • DM
  • Atypical depression
  • Familial
  • Pregnancy
46
Q

Sickle Cell Px with Chest Pain (4)

A
  • Vaso-occlusive crisis/Acute chest syndrome
  • Pneumonia
  • Osteomyelitis (salmonella)
  • PE
47
Q

Numbness/Weakness (9)

A
  • TIA
  • Stroke
  • Guillain Barre
  • MS
  • DM peripheral
  • Myasthenia Gravis
  • Todd’s Paralysis
  • Complex migraine
  • Conversion disorder
48
Q

Polyuria (6)

A
  • DM
  • Diabetes Insipidus (neurogenic, nephrogenic)
  • Psychogenic polydypsia
  • UTI
  • Drugs (diuretics)
  • Hypercalcemia
49
Q

Dysuria (5)

A
  • Pyelonephritis
  • Cystitis
  • Urethritis
  • Vulvovaginitis
  • PID
50
Q

Bilateral Leg Pain (7)

A
  • Thromboangitis obliterans
  • Atherosclerotic vascular disease
  • Lumbar spinal stenosis
  • Diabetic polyneuropathy
  • Radiculopathy
  • Varicose veins
  • Statins
51
Q

Enuresis (4)

A
  • Primary nocturnal enuresis
  • UTI
  • Constipation
  • Sleep apnea
52
Q

Insomnia (14)

A
  • Caffeine
  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea
  • COPD
  • CHF
  • PUD
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • PTSD
  • Irritable leg syndrome
  • Circadian rhythm disorder
  • Menopause
  • Medications
  • Malignancy
53
Q

Cough (17)

A
  • Common cold
  • Acute sinusitis
  • Acute bronchitis
  • Chronic bronchitis
  • COPD Exacerbation
  • Bronchiectasis
  • Asthma
  • PE
  • GERD
  • Pneumonia
  • Drugs: ACEI
  • Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea (PND)
  • HIV
  • Tuberculosis (TB)
  • Posterior nasal drip
  • Lung cancer
  • Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
54
Q

Loss of consciousness (12)

A
  • TIA
  • Stroke
  • Migraine
  • Seizure, grand mal
  • Vasovagal syncope
  • Convulsive syncope
  • Cardiac arrhythmia
  • CAD
  • HOCM
  • Aortic stenosis
  • Drug/orthostatic hypotension
  • Conversion disorder
55
Q

Dizziness (18)

A
  • Meniere’s disease
  • Orthostatic hypotension
  • Benign Positional Vertigo
  • Vestibular Neuronitis
  • Labyrinthitis
  • Neurological infections
  • IC neoplasm
  • IC hemorrhage
  • Head trauma
  • Cardiac arrhythmia
  • Aortic stenosis
  • HOCM
  • Acute coronary syndrome
  • Otitis media
  • Hypoglycemia
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Anemia
  • Panic attacks
56
Q

Cough with Chest Pain (6)

A
  • Pneumonia
  • Pleurisy
  • TB
  • Lung cancer
  • PE
  • GERD
57
Q

Abdominal pain (17)

A
  • Func. Dyspepsia
  • Stomach Cancer
  • PUD
  • Perforated ulcer
  • Pancreatic Cancer
  • Acute Pancreatitis
  • Acute Cholecystitis
  • Ascending Cholangitis
  • Acute Hepatitis
  • Splenic rupture
  • Intestinal Obstruction
  • Appendicitis
  • IBS
  • Mesenteric Ischemia
  • Ovarian Torsion
  • Diverticulitis
  • PID
58
Q

Upper GI Bleeding (hematemesis) (6)

A
  • Peptic Ulcer Disease
  • Gastritis
  • Esophageal varices
  • Mallory Weiss tear
  • Stomach cancer
  • Pseudohemoptysis
59
Q

Hot Flashes (7)

A
  • Menopause
  • Premature ovarian failure
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Carcinoid syndrome
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Occult malignancy
  • Factitious disorder
60
Q

Rash (7)

A
  • Viral exanthema (Impetigo, Rubella, Measles)
  • Insect bite
  • Allergic
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • SLE
  • Photodermatitis
  • Occupational exposure
61
Q

Fatigue/Sleepiness (12)

A
  • Sleep deprivation
  • Anemia
  • Depression
  • Hypothyroid
  • Diabetes Mellitus (DM)
  • Addison’s disease
  • TB
  • HIV
  • Malabsorption
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD)
  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
  • Occult malignancy