diagnosis and non-lab testing Flashcards
why is diagnosis important
to provide an explanation, prognostication and therapy
do we always need to know exact cause? and why?
no - if something is minor and will likely go away on its own
yes - if it can progress to something incurable
* need good judgement here*
the 6 steps in the diagnostic process
- take history
- do physical exam
- generate differential diagnosis (few common/serious potential diagnoses)
- test your hypothesis
- modify you differential diagnosis
- repeat steps 1-5 until you have definite diagnosis
difference btw symptom and sign
symptom = subjective - patient experience sign = objective - evidence of disease
4 W’s for clinical history
who? find out about patient
what? what’s happening
when? when did this start
where? where are the symptoms localized
physical exam
guided by patients presenting symptoms. some exams done regardless of symptoms (blood pressure)
differential diagnosis
list of diseases to explain patients symptoms and signs
test *make sure that you dont __?
make sure that you dont shotgun order. - could find things that arent problematic, lots of time, invasion, money goes towards nothing..
once arrived at exact diagnosis you then __?
provide diagnosis and initiate therapy
static images: (+)/(-)
(+): allow us to assess anatomy
(-): cannot assess function.
cannot make pathological, micro-, physiological diagnosis.
beginning but not end
dynamic images
assess certain functions ie: blood flow, metabolic activity
x-ray
static
tissue that absorbs = white
tissue that doesnt absorb = black
uses: bone (frature, density), chest (pneumonia), abdominal (obstruction, perforation)
x-ray with contrast
visualize organs that cant be seen. radiopaque fluid added to line hollow structures
renal stones, abdominal x-ray w barium
angiography
x-ray with contrast – look for blockages in blood vessels
CT
create sliced images of body. see anatomy with greater details. much higher dose of radiation
