Medical diagnosis

Medical diagnosis (pronunciation: /ˈmɛdɪkəl daɪəgˈnoʊsɪs/; etymology: from the Greek words medikos meaning "pertaining to healing" and diagnosis meaning "distinguishing, discerning") is the process of determining which disease or condition explains a person's symptoms and signs. It is most often referred to as diagnosis with the medical context being implicit.

History

The practice of medical diagnosis dates back to ancient times. The earliest recorded examples of medical diagnosis are found in the writings of Imhotep in ancient Egypt.

Process

A diagnosis, in the sense of diagnostic procedure, can be regarded as an attempt at classification of an individual's condition into separate and distinct categories that allow medical decisions about treatment and prognosis to be made.

Types

There are several types of medical diagnosis. These include:

Clinical diagnosis: A diagnosis based on the medical history and physical examination of the patient.
Differential diagnosis: The process of distinguishing between two or more conditions that share similar signs or symptoms.
Laboratory diagnosis: A diagnosis based on laboratory tests such as blood tests, urine tests, etc.
Radiologic diagnosis: A diagnosis based on imaging studies such as X-rays, CT scans, MRI, etc.

Related terms

Prognosis: A prediction of the likely course and outcome of a disease.
Symptom: A physical or mental feature that is regarded as indicating a condition of disease.
Sign: An objective evidence of disease especially as observed and interpreted by the physician rather than by the patient or lay observer.
Pathogenesis: The manner of development of a disease.