Diagnosis of exclusion
Diagnosis of exclusion (pronunciation: /daɪəɡˈnəʊsɪs ɒv ɪkˈskluːʒən/) is a medical term used to describe a condition that is determined by primarily ruling out other potential conditions. The etymology of the term comes from the Latin diagnosis, meaning "knowledge", and the English exclusion, meaning "the act of excluding".
Definition
A Diagnosis of exclusion is a conclusion reached by a process of elimination. It may be used when no definitive diagnosis can be made based on the initial clinical examination and medical tests, but the presence of other diseases has been ruled out.
Process
The process of a Diagnosis of exclusion often involves a series of medical tests and clinical examinations to rule out the most common conditions first. Once these have been excluded, less common or rare conditions may be considered. This process can be time-consuming and may require the expertise of various medical specialists.
Examples
Examples of conditions often diagnosed by exclusion include Fibromyalgia, IBS, and CFS. These conditions lack specific tests for diagnosis and are often diagnosed only after other potential conditions have been ruled out.
Related Terms
- Differential diagnosis: A systematic method used to identify unknowns. This method is essentially a process of elimination.
- Medical test: Tests used to screen for or diagnose diseases.
- Clinical examination: A process used by healthcare professionals to identify signs and symptoms of disease.
- Medical specialist: A healthcare professional who has completed additional training in a specific field of medicine.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Diagnosis of exclusion
- Wikipedia's article - Diagnosis of exclusion
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