Patho: Differential Diagnosis

What is Differential Diagnosis?

the process where you differentiate between 2 or more conditions that could be cause of a patient's lesion or symptoms
**The ACTUAL diagnosis can only be determined through specific testing - such as doing a biopsy, pulp test, etc.

MOST LIKELY = fibroma

Differential =

-Peripheral Giant Cell Fibroma

-Neurofibroma

-Traumatic Neuroma

What is the most likely diagnosis for this? What are the differential diagnoses?

-Does it hurt? NO

-How long has it been there? days/weeks (?)

-Do you ever bite your tongue? YES

What questions should you ask and what answers do you expect to confirm the diagnosis?

MOST LIKELY = geographic tongue

Differential =

-Candidiasis

-Lichenoid Lesion

-Lichen Planus

What is the most likely diagnosis? What else could it be?
-38 y/o male
-asymptomatic

-Does it hurt? NO

-How long has it been there? a little bit, been stressed

-Are there other lesions on the tongue? Bilateral? YES; multiple lesions that move

-Are you taking any medication? None that would cause this

-Do you have any skin lesions? No

What questions should you ask and what answers do you expect to confirm the diagnosis?

MOST LIKELY = primary herpetic gingivostomatitis

Differential =

-Herpetiform Aphthous Ulcers

-Hand Foot Mouth Disease

-Herpangina

-Measles

Most likely diagnosis? What else could it be?
-5 y/o male
-painful

-Does it hurt? YES

-Is child eating/drinking? not much bc pain

-Fever? YES

-How long has it been there? 5-14 days

-Other lesions in mouth? just multiple tiny vesicles (ulcers)

-Do you have any skin lesions? NO

-Has your child been exposed to any known disease? herpes

What questions should you ask and what answers do you expect to confirm the diagnosis?