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Medicine vocabulary · Diagnosis and Tests

Differential diagnosis

Meaning in medicine, with examples

nounCommon term

In medicine, differential diagnosis means: A list of the possible diseases that could explain a patient's symptoms and signs, which the doctor narrows down with tests and more questions.

In Turkish: ayırıcı tanı

How it is used

Written DDx in notes. Students are asked 'What's your differential?' on ward rounds; the answer usually starts with the most likely or the most dangerous cause. 'Differentials' is the informal plural.

Example sentences

  1. The differential diagnosis includes pneumonia, pulmonary embolism and heart failure.

  2. Pulmonary embolism should be high on your differential diagnosis for this patient.

Common collocations

  • broad differential diagnosis
  • narrow the differential
  • top of the differential
  • consider in the differential
  • diagnosisThe decision about which disease or condition is causing a patient's problems, reached after taking a history, examining the patient and doing tests.
  • rule outTo show with a history, an examination or a test that a patient does not have a particular disease, so it can be removed from the list of possibilities.
  • investigationA test or examination, such as a blood test or a scan, done to find the cause of a patient's problem or to check their condition.
  • red flagA symptom or sign that suggests a serious cause, such as cancer or a spinal problem, and needs urgent attention or tests.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Diagnosis and Tests

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.