Differential Diagnoses for Provided Scenarios
Scenario 4: Erectile Dysfunction
- Single most likely diagnosis:
- Psychological causes (e.g., stress, relationship issues) given the patient's work schedule and wife's unhappiness.
- Other Likely diagnoses:
- Vascular diseases (e.g., atherosclerosis) due to the potential for late hours and possible lifestyle factors contributing to vascular health.
- Neurological issues (e.g., neuropathy) that could be related to lifestyle or underlying health conditions.
- Do Not Miss:
- Diabetes mellitus, as erectile dysfunction can be an early sign, and missing this diagnosis could lead to delayed treatment of a significant health issue.
- Hypertension, given its impact on vascular health and potential contribution to erectile dysfunction.
- Rare diagnoses:
- Hormonal imbalances (e.g., low testosterone), which could be a less common but significant cause of erectile dysfunction.
- Certain medications or substance use that might contribute to erectile dysfunction.
Scenario 7: 9-month-old child with weight concern
- Single most likely diagnosis:
- Failure to thrive (FTT), given the child's weight is a concern at 9 months.
- Other Likely diagnoses:
- Inadequate nutrition or feeding issues.
- Gastrointestinal issues (e.g., reflux, infections) that could lead to poor weight gain.
- Do Not Miss:
- Congenital heart disease or other cardiac issues, as these can lead to failure to thrive and are critical to diagnose early.
- Metabolic disorders (e.g., cystic fibrosis), which could explain poor weight gain and require early intervention.
- Rare diagnoses:
- Genetic disorders (e.g., Prader-Willi syndrome) that could affect growth and development.
Scenario 9: 36-week pregnant woman with itchy rash
- Single most likely diagnosis:
- Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP), given the description and gestational age.
- Other Likely diagnoses:
- Polymorphic eruption of pregnancy (PEP), another common dermatosis in pregnancy.
- Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP), which can cause itching but typically without a rash.
- Do Not Miss:
- Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP), as it can have significant implications for fetal health and requires prompt diagnosis and management.
- Pemphigoid gestationis, a rare autoimmune blistering disease that can be dangerous if not treated.
- Rare diagnoses:
- Other autoimmune diseases (e.g., pemphigus) that could present with a rash during pregnancy.
Scenario 10: Young male with leg pain on walking
- Single most likely diagnosis:
- Intermittent claudication due to peripheral arterial disease (PAD), especially given the patient's smoking history.
- Other Likely diagnoses:
- Musculoskeletal issues (e.g., shin splints, stress fractures) that could cause leg pain with activity.
- Nerve compression or neuropathy.
- Do Not Miss:
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), as it is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment.
- Acute arterial occlusion, which is also an emergency.
- Rare diagnoses:
- Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome, a rare condition that can cause claudication in young individuals.
Scenario 11: Young male with submandibular lymph node pain
- Single most likely diagnosis:
- Viral pharyngitis or tonsillitis, given the acute onset and location of pain.
- Other Likely diagnoses:
- Bacterial infections (e.g., streptococcal pharyngitis).
- Dental infections or abscesses.
- Do Not Miss:
- Tuberculosis (TB), as it can present with lymphadenopathy and is a significant public health concern.
- Malignancy (e.g., lymphoma), which is rare but critical to diagnose early.
- Rare diagnoses:
- Cat-scratch disease, a rare bacterial infection that can cause lymphadenopathy.
- Other infectious diseases (e.g., toxoplasmosis) that could cause similar symptoms.
Scenario 12: Young lady with past chlamydia infection
- Single most likely diagnosis:
- None specifically, as the task is to advise on testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) given her past infection and new relationship.
- Other Likely diagnoses:
- Reinfection with chlamydia or other STIs (e.g., gonorrhea, syphilis) due to her past history and new sexual partner.
- Do Not Miss:
- HIV, as it is a critical diagnosis that requires early detection and treatment.
- Other STIs that could have long-term health implications if not treated.
- Rare diagnoses:
- Less common STIs (e.g., genital herpes, human papillomavirus) that she might be at risk for.
Scenario 13: 82-year-old lady with hip surgery and wedge fractures
- Single most likely diagnosis:
- Osteoporosis, given her age, gender, and history of fractures.
- Other Likely diagnoses:
- Osteopenia, a condition of low bone mass that is less severe than osteoporosis but still increases fracture risk.
- Do Not Miss:
- Malignancy (e.g., metastatic bone disease), as it can cause fractures and is critical to diagnose.
- Other metabolic bone diseases (e.g., osteomalacia) that could contribute to fracture risk.
- Rare diagnoses:
- Rare genetic disorders affecting bone health (e.g., osteogenesis imperfecta).
Scenario 14: Eye examination findings
- Single most likely diagnosis:
- Not specified, as the scenario lacks details on the findings.
- Other Likely diagnoses:
- Refractive errors (e.g., myopia, hyperopia) if the examination reveals vision problems.
- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or other age-related eye diseases if the patient is older.
- Do Not Miss:
- Glaucoma, as it is a leading cause of blindness and requires early detection and treatment.
- Diabetic retinopathy, especially if the patient has diabetes.
- Rare diagnoses:
- Inherited retinal diseases (e.g., retinitis pigmentosa).
Scenario 15: Old lady with cognition impairment post-surgery
- Single most likely diagnosis:
- Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD), given her recent surgery.
- Other Likely diagnoses:
- Pre-existing dementia or cognitive impairment that may have been exacerbated by surgery.
- Do Not Miss:
- Delirium, as it is a common and serious condition in elderly patients post-surgery.
- Stroke or other cerebrovascular events that could cause cognitive impairment.
- Rare diagnoses:
- Rare metabolic or infectious causes of cognitive impairment (e.g., vitamin B12 deficiency, neurosyphilis).
Scenario 16: Middle-aged lady with dizziness and palpitations
- Single most likely diagnosis:
- Anxiety or panic disorder, given the symptoms of dizziness and palpitations.
- Other Likely diagnoses:
- Cardiac arrhythmias (e.g., atrial fibrillation) that could cause palpitations.
- Hypertension or other cardiovascular conditions.
- Do Not Miss:
- Myocardial infarction (MI) or acute coronary syndrome, as these are medical emergencies.
- Pulmonary embolism (PE), which can cause dizziness and palpitations and is life-threatening.
- Rare diagnoses:
- Pheochromocytoma, a rare tumor that can cause episodic hypertension, palpitations, and dizziness.
- Other endocrine disorders (e.g., hyperthyroidism) that could cause similar symptoms.