Differential Diagnostic Classification Research Articles

Clinical Study of Pleural Effusion in Elderly

Abstract Background: The usual sign of a wide variety of diseases is the formation of fluid in the pleural region. Pleural effusion (PE) is a prevalent condition in regular medical practice and has a wide range of underlying medical conditions as causes. The prognosis and treatment of PE can be greatly affected by the cause; hence, accurate differential diagnostic classification is essential. Materials and Methods: This prospective and observational clinical study was conducted between August 2013 and February 2015. A total of 100 patients were enrolled in the study. The clinical history and physical examination were done. For radiological evaluation X-ray of the chest was taken, and if necessary, ultrasonography and computed tomography were done. Thoracocentesis was performed after obtaining informed consent, and all necessary investigations were done. Results: Out of 511 patients, 100 patients were included in the study who were 60 or above 60 years of age. The most common comorbid condition was hypertension, which was found to be (32.81%) in males and (30.56%) in females. In exudative PE, tuberculosis (TB) was mostly found in males (53.13%) and malignancy in females (25%), while in transudative PE, the cardiac cause was mostly found in females (30.56%) as compared to males (15.63%). Conclusion: In India incidence of tubercular PE is more common than malignant. Accurate diagnosis and treatment can prevent disease progression and complications.

Can disorders of subjective time inform the differential diagnosis of psychiatric disorders? A transdiagnostic taxonomy of time.

Time is a core aspect of psychopathology with potential for clinical use and early intervention. Temporal experience, perception, judgement and processing are distorted in various psychiatric disorders such as mood (depression and mania), anxiety, autistic, impulse-control, dissociative and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders. Can these disorders of time be used as early diagnostic or predictive markers? To answer this question, we develop a Transdiagnostic Taxonomy of (disordered) Time (TTT) that maps on to the symptomatological, phenomenal, perceptual and functional descriptions of each underlying disorder in a 2 × 2 × 2 state space. Temporal distortions may precede functional decline, and so assist efforts at early detection and intervention in at-risk groups. Firstly, this article integrates a psychological model of how time is processed with a subjective or phenomenological model of how time is experienced or perceived. Secondly, the integrated combined model of time is then used to heuristically map major psychiatric disorders on to the basic elements of temporal flow and integration. The TTT systematically describes the basic temporal nature of eight diagnostic categories of psychiatric illness. It differentiates between diagnoses primarily associated with distorted "macro-level" phenomenal temporal experiences (i.e. anxiety, dissociation/PTSD, depression, and mania) from those primarily related to distorted 'micro-level' temporal processing (i.e. psychotic, impulse-control, autistic and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders). The TTT allows differential diagnostic classification of various psychiatric disorders in terms of a possible underlying time disorder, making it useful for future diagnostic and predictive purposes using novel techniques of temporal processing, time perception, passage of time, and time perspective.

Pain in multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders

Multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders are autoimmune inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system, which can lead to a multitude of neurological complaints and pain syndromes. Pain may be an acute symptom during disease exacerbation as well as achronic symptom, whereby the latter sometimes substantially reduces the quality of life. The etiology of pain is very heterogeneous but the rapid differential diagnostic classification is decisive in order to be able to initiate a differentiated treatment strategy. Chronic pain must be differentiated from pain as a possible (early) symptom of an acute disease exacerbation, classified in more detail and individually treated. These include central neuropathic pain, pain associated with spasticity, musculoskeletal pain due to excess loading and pain as a side effect of immunotherapy and in the context of comorbidities. The treatment strategies are often insufficiently evidence-based due to the lack of data.

Thrombotische Mikroangiopathie

Die thrombotische Mikroangiopathie (TMA) zeichnet sich durch eine endothelschadenassoziierte Bildung von Plättchenthromben in arteriellen und venösen Mikrogefäßen aus. Die damit einhergehende Ischämie führt zu schwerwiegenden Organdysfunktionen und kann akut lebensbedrohlich sein. Ätiologisch verbirgt sich hinter der TMA ein sehr heterogenes Erkrankungsspektrum. Neben der thrombotisch-thrombozytopenischen Purpura, die durch eine stark reduzierte ADAMTS13(„a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13“)-Aktivität gekennzeichnet ist, dem infektassoziierten klassischen hämolytisch-urämischen Syndrom (HUS) sowie dem komplementvermittelten atypischen HUS (aHUS) können weitere sehr seltene Erkrankungen oder sekundäre Formen vorliegen. Die differenzialdiagnostische Einteilung ist aufgrund unterschiedlicher therapeutischer Ansätze erforderlich. Der Einsatz neuer spezifischer medikamentöser Behandlungsmethoden hat die Prognose der TMA deutlich verbessert.

White Matter Lesions in Adults - a Differential Diagnostic Approach.

Cerebral white matter lesions on MRI in adults are a common finding. On the one hand, they may correspond to a clinically incidental feature, be physiologically or age-associated, or on the other hand they may be the overture to a severe neurological disease. With regard to pathophysiological aspects, practical hints for the differential diagnostic interpretation of lesions in daily clinical practice are presented. With special regard to the vascular architecture and supply of the cerebral white matter, physiological structures are schematically represented and pathophysiological processes are highlighted by comparative image analysis of equally angulated MR sequences. The most frequent vascular, inflammatory, metabolic, and neoplastic disease entities are presented on the basis of characteristic imaging findings and corresponding clinical- neurological constellations. The details of signal intensities and localization essential for differential diagnosis are highlighted. By means of comparative image analysis and the recognition of characteristic lesion patterns, taking into account anatomical principles and pathophysiological processes, the differential diagnostic classification of cerebral white matter lesions and associated diseases can be significantly facilitated. The additional consideration of clinical and laboratory findings is essential. · Cerebral white matter lesions can be a harmless secondary finding or overture to a severe neurological disease.. · The comparative image analysis of different sequences with identical angulation is crucial.. · With special regard to the vascular anatomy, different lesion patterns can be identified.. · The consideration of neurological and laboratory chemical constellations is essential for the differential diagnosis.. · Weidauer S, Wagner M, Hattingen E. White Matter Lesions in Adults - a Differential Diagnostic Approach. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2020; 192: 1154 - 1173.

Abstract 88: Increasing False Positive Diagnoses May Lead to Overestimation of Stroke Incidence, Particularly in the Young

Introduction: Stroke incidence is reportedly increasing in younger adults. While increasing vascular risk factor prevalence has been suggested as a cause, the reasons for rising stroke incidence in the young are not clear. We explored several alternate explanations: trends in neurologically-focused emergency department (ED) visits, differential diagnostic classification of stroke and TIA over time, and changes in the use of advanced imaging in young and older adults. Methods: We performed a retrospective, serial, cross-sectional study on a nationally representative sample of all ED visits in the United States to quantify changes in patterns of neurologically-focused ED visits, stroke and TIA diagnoses, and rates of MRI utilization for young (18 – 44 years) and older (65+ years) adults over a 17-year period (1995 – 2000; 2005 – 2015) using National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) data. Results: In young adults, 0.4% (95% CI 0.3% – 0.5%) of neurologically-focused ED visits resulted in a primary diagnosis of stroke vs. 6.8% (95% CI 6.2% – 7.5%) for older adults. In both populations, the incidence of neurologically-focused ED visits has increased over time (+111/100,000 population/year, 95% CI +94 – +130 in the young vs. +70/100,000 population/year, 95% CI +34 – +108 in older adults). There was no evidence of differential classification of TIA to stroke over time (OR 1.001 per year, 95% CI 0.926 – 1.083 in the young; OR 1.003 per year, 95% CI 0.982 – 1.026 in older adults) and no evidence of disproportionate rise in MRI utilization for neurologically-focused ED visits in the young (OR 1.057 per year, 95% CI 1.028 – 1.086 in the young; OR 1.095 per year, 95% CI 1.066 – 1.125 in older adults). Conclusions: If the specificity of stroke diagnosis amongst ED visits is similar amongst young and older populations, then the combination of data observed here, including (1) a lower prior probability of stroke diagnoses in the young and (2) an increasing trend in neurologically-focused ED visits in both age groups, suggests that false positive diagnoses will increase over time, with a faster rise in the young compared to older adults. These data suggest a potential explanation that may contribute to higher stroke incidence in the young and merits further scrutiny.

Catatonia in clinical reality: underdiagnosed and forgotten

Catatonia is still a poorly understood, quite common, but often overlooked clinical picture. Consequences for patients are inadequate treatment, prolonged hospital stays and more serious complications. In this overview, the causes for an underdiagnosis are presented and measures for their prevention named, help for the differential diagnostic classification of catatonia is offered and the treatment is briefly explained. Catatonia is primarily associated with schizophrenia, but is also observed in other diseases such as neuroleptic malignant syndrome (MNS), in encephalitis and also in systemic diseases. Underdiagnosis can be avoided by simple measures such as a thorough physical examination, observance of verbal and non-verbal signs of catatonia, and psychiatric consultations in general hospitals. For the treatment of acute catatonia, the high-dose administration of benzodiazepines and electroconvulsive therapy are recommended.

Differenzialdiagnose psychotischer Symptome

Many patients with psychiatric and organic disorders may present primary or secondary psychotic symptoms. Based on the ICD 10 classification, this article describes the possible underlying diseases and their subdivision. The main focus will be differential-diagnostic evaluations of psychotic syndromes. In the clinical setting, the differential diagnosis of the paranoid schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders into three main disease groups is important: 1. other psychiatric diseases, 2. primary and secondary organic diseases and 3. autoimmune diseases. The first group contains, for example, drug-induced psychoses, affective disorders, personality disorders. The second group includes forms of dementia, forms of deliria or metabolic diseases. Recently, another focus is set on autoimmune diseases, especially encephalitides. A detailed medical history, a physical examination and organic diagnostic can lead to the correct diagnosis and therapy. The differential-diagnostic classification and the detection of organic causes is an important part of psychiatric care, but often a good cooperation with organic specialties is needed.

Diagnostic strategy and differential therapeutic approach for cystic lesions of the pancreas

Cystic pancreatic lesions (CPL) are diagnosed with increasing frequency. Because up to 60% of CPL are classified as malignant or premalignant, every CPL should be fully investigated and clarified. Serous CPL with low risk of malignancy must be differentiated from mucinous CPL with relevant potential malignancy (intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm IPMN) and mucinous cystic neoplasm (MCN) as well as from harmless pseudocysts. Cross-sectional imaging with computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a crucial role in the diagnostics of CPL. An algorithm for the differential diagnostic classification of CPL is presented. The connection to the pancreatic duct is the key diagnostic criterion to differentiate IPMN from all other CPL. An exception to this rule is that pseudocysts can also show a connection to the pancreatic duct. A further classification of CPL with no connection to the pancreatic duct can be made by morphological criteria and correlation of the radiological findings with patient age, sex, history and symptoms. Depending on the diagnosis and hence the malignant potential the indications for surgery or watch and wait have to be discussed in an interdisciplinary cooperation. Due to its higher soft tissue contrast MRI is often superior to CT for depiction of CPL morphology.

Pulmonary manifestations of connective tissue diseases

Systemic autoimmune diseases are responsible for about 25% of all deaths due to interstitial lung disease; therefore, an early identification of patients with pulmonary manifestation changes the management. Detection, differential diagnostic classification and staging of the pneumological pattern of findings are largely based on high-resolution computed tomography (HR-CT). The main differential diagnostic challenges are interstitial manifestations which present with radiological-histopathological phenotypes of interstitial pneumonia. The most common form of interstitial pulmonary reaction form of connective tissue diseases is the nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) pattern. In rheumatoid arthritis, a usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern is dominant. Uncharacteristic reactions of airways and pleura can be the leading symptom or present as accompanying findings. A serious complication is pulmonary hypertension. Drug-induced lung lesions can present with similar HR-CT morphology as connective tissue diseases and can only be differentiated in the temporal and clinical context.

EPA-1668 - Differential diagnostic classification of schizophrenia and depression using mri-based pattern recognition

Background The clinical differentiation of schizophrenic and mood disorders is frequently challenged by co-occurring affective and psychotic symptoms. Thus, it has long been discussed whether these disease groups are subserved by common or distinct neurobiological surrogates. Aims The detection of diagnostic biomarkers for schizophrenic and mood disorders could facilitate clinical decision making in ambiguous cases. Objective To evaluated whether multivariate pattern classification of structural MRI enables the differential diagnostic classification of 158 patients with schizophrenia (SZ) and 104 patients with major depression (MD). Methods T1-weighted patient scans were processed using voxel-based morphometry. Diagnostic features were extracted from the age- and sex-adjusted GM maps using PCA and linear SVMs. Repeated nested cross-validation was emplyoed to assess the generalizability of diagnostic performance. Results Cross-validated classification accuracy was 76% based on a discriminative pattern involving perisylvian, limbic, medial prefrontal and precuneal GM volume reductions in SZ vs. MD. GM volume reductions in MD vs. SZ were detected in the premotor, sensorimotor, parietal, cerebellar and brainstem structures. The 'SZ-likehood' of MD was correlated with the age of disease onset, leading to a significantly higher misclassification rate among MD patients with an age of onset between 15 and 30 yrs. Conclusions The findings suggest that SZ and MD can be identified at the single subject level using neuroanatomical pattern recognition. The decreased diagnostic separability of MD patients with an early disease onset may challenge the traditional nosological boundaries and may relate to higher levels of chronicity and unfavorable disease outcomes in this patient population.

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy and trucut biopsy in gastroenterology – An overview

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided biopsies are reliable, safe and effective techniques in obtaining samples for cytological or histological examinations either as a primary procedure or in cases where other biopsy techniques have failed. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy (EUS-FNA), as well as endoscopic ultrasound-guided trucut biopsy (EUS-TCB), has proven to be of significant value in the diagnostic evaluation of benign and malignant diseases, as well as in staging of the malignant tumours of the gastrointestinal tract and of adjacent organs. The diagnostic yield of EUS-guided biopsies depends on site, size and characteristics of target tissues as well as technical and procedural factors (type of needle, biopsy technique and material processing). Other weighting factors include expertise, training and interaction between the endosonographer and cytopathologist. Rapid on-site cytological evaluation has proven to be successful in optimising the diagnostic efficiency of EUS-FNA. A sensible alternative is to collect specimens for histological and immunohistochemical investigations in addition to the cytological smears. EUS-FNA using a 22-gauge needle is successful in harvesting core biopsies in approximately three out of four cases. Therefore, the use of 19-gauge needles for EUS-FNA or EUS-TCB may only be necessary in selected cases. The reproducibility of cytopathological diagnosis among pathologists with special experience in assessing material obtained by EUS-guided biopsies is very high. False-positive diagnosis of malignancy in EUS-guided biopsy is rare. False-negative diagnosis appears with variable frequency depending on the target tissue, technical factors and expertise of the endosonographer and cytopathologist. There are numerous challenges and pitfalls in the differential diagnostic classification of benign and malignant lesions. These problems are related to the characteristics of samples obtained by EUS-guided biopsy, as well as to the multiple diagnoses with similar or overlapping cytological or histological characteristics. The high prognostic and therapeutic relevance of the cytopathological diagnoses resulting from EUS-guided biopsy calls for a shared responsibility of an endosonographer and a cytopathologist.

Endosonografisch gestützte Biopsie: diagnostischer Ertrag, Fallstricke, Qualitätssicherung

The differential diagnosis of tumorous lesions in the pancreas, liver, adrenal gland or lymph nodes is ambiguous. Specific tissue diagnoses are essential for treatment decisions. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided biopsy has proven to be a reliable and effective modality in obtaining samples for cytological or histological examinations either primarily or in cases in which other biopsy techniques have failed. The reproducibility of cytopathological diagnoses among pathologists with special experience in assessing material obtained by endoscopic ultrasound-guided biopsies is very high. False positive diagnoses of malignancy in endoscopic ultrasound-guided biopsy are rare; false negative diagnoses appear in a variable frequency depending on target tissue, technical factors, and expertise of the endosonographer and cytopathologist. There are numerous challenges and pitfalls in the differential diagnostic classification of benign and malignant lesions. These problems are related to the characteristics of samples obtained by endoscopic ultrasound-guided biopsy, as well as to the multiple diagnoses with similar or overlapping cytological or histological characteristics. This review discusses the performance of endoscopic ultrasound-guided biopsy in establishing specific tissue diagnoses, possible pitfalls as well as opportunities to minimise differential diagnostic errors.

Diagnosis and classification of eating disorders in adults with intellectual disability: the Diagnostic Criteria for Psychiatric Disorders for Use with Adults with Learning Disabilities/Mental Retardation (DC-LD) approach.

Previous classifications of eating disorders [EDs] employed a narrower concept of EDs. They did not include the wide range of abnormal eating behaviours [AEBs], persistent feeding disorders and EDs psychopathology, aetiological and comorbidity factors seen in adults with intellectual disability [ID]. The International Classification of Diseases--10 [ICD-10], ICD-10-MR, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual--IV [DSM-IV] and Diagnostic Criteria for Psychiatric Disorders for Use with Adults with Learning Disabilities/Mental Retardation[DC-LD] diagnostic approaches to EDs in adults with ID are compared. The DC-LD encourages conceptually clearer and systematic hierarchical differential diagnostic classification of AEBs and EDs. The DC-LD also allows consideration of relevant aetiological and comorbidity issues. DC-LD-based multi-axial case formulation supports the multimodal clinical assessment of AEBs and EDs. Further research should develop similar systematic and evidence-based multicomponent clinical diagnostic, management and service models for adults with ID and EDs.

Die Wertigkeit der Sonographie in der Differentialdiagnostik von Weichteiltumoren

A total of 379 patients with soft tissue swellings of unclear aetiology underwent a prospective examination with a high-resolution linear scanner during an interdisciplinary study. We diagnosed 112 true soft tissue tumours, 42 peripheric soft tissue metastases, 34 lymph node metastases, 106 tumour-simulating diseases, 56 inflammatory diseases, and 29 vascular alterations. Eighty-eight per cent of the cases were given the correct differential diagnostic classification by means of sonography. Assessment of malignancy ist not possible by means of sonography.

Delirium metabolicum und erstarrende Rückbildungsdepression im höheren Lebensalter

A melancholic-schizophrenic mixed psychosis is described in a 64-year-old man. It was diagnosed as a ‘rigid (or catatonic) involutional depression’ (<i>Medow</i>, 1922), showing besides hypochondriacal, nihilistic and micromanic delusions, a transient delusional syndrome of ‘Delirium metabolicum’ (<i>Mendel</i>, 1902), with zo-anthropy. An attempt was made to avoid the differential diagnostic classification of that clinical picture into involutional melancholia (296.0) and paranoid psychosis of involutional age (197.1) which, as in so many psychoses of the older age groups, is quite inadequate. Thus the psychopathological phenomena of the psychosis, which after all are the only reliable data, were attributed on the one hand to the senile deterioration and slight but demonstrable arteriosclerosis of the brain, and on the other hand, to the conspicuous premorbid characteristics which correspond to an anankastic psychopathy with a depressive-inadequate basic mood. It was considered as likely that the Delirium metabolicum represented an exogenous (organic) psychotic syndrome, and that the precipitation of the psychosis as well as its development into an enfeebled endstate was due to an organic brain lesion, while the catatoniformpsychomotor phenomena and the melancholic stupor were crystalisations of traits in the premorbid personality.