Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
differential diagnosis
noun
/ˌdɪfəˈrɛnʃəl daɪəɡˈnoʊsɪs/
Definition
The process of distinguishing a particular disease or condition from others that present with similar clinical features.
Examples
- When faced with a patient showing multiple symptoms, the doctor performed a differential diagnosis to narrow down the possible conditions.
- The differential diagnosis helped the medical team rule out more serious diseases.
Meaning
Differential diagnosis involves evaluating various potential diagnoses to determine which is the most likely based on symptoms and medical history.
Synonyms
- Diagnosis
- Differentiation
- Clinical assessment
