differential diagnosis
noun
: the distinguishing of a disease or condition from others presenting with similar signs and symptoms
Examples of differential diagnosis in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The differential diagnosis includes bacterial folliculitis, an infection of the hair follicles caused by Staphylococcus aureus.71
Milder cases of tinea barbae appear similar to the following diseases that cause comparable symptoms.
—
Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 15 Aug. 2024
Later that night, they were told that their MRI was canceled as doctors would be doing a differential diagnosis instead.
—Georgia Slater, Peoplemag, 27 Apr. 2023
Accurate differential diagnosis is essential not just for getting patients care, but also for furthering medical understanding of a still-obscure condition.
—WIRED, 2 Sep. 2022
Human cystericosis of the breast is rare, nevertheless, this should be considered as a differential diagnosis for amass in the breast particularly in the tropics and developing countries.
—Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 14 June 2016
The new leading differential diagnosis has been Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a progressive neuromuscular disease in which the muscles slowly waste away, leading to paralysis and sensory numbness in adulthood.
—Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 30 Mar. 2016
Supernumerary nipple should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a vulvar mass.
—Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 5 May 2017
More often, though, differential diagnosis is a long, sometimes discouraging, process that involves interrogating multiple explanations for each symptom.
—WIRED, 2 Sep. 2022
But with no diagnostic criteria—except the minor’s statement—there is no differential diagnosis.
—Elliot Kaufman, WSJ, 23 Aug. 2022
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Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 15 Aug. 2024
Later that night, they were told that their MRI was canceled as doctors would be doing a differential diagnosis instead.
—Georgia Slater, Peoplemag, 27 Apr. 2023
Accurate differential diagnosis is essential not just for getting patients care, but also for furthering medical understanding of a still-obscure condition.
—WIRED, 2 Sep. 2022
Human cystericosis of the breast is rare, nevertheless, this should be considered as a differential diagnosis for amass in the breast particularly in the tropics and developing countries.
—Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 14 June 2016
The new leading differential diagnosis has been Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a progressive neuromuscular disease in which the muscles slowly waste away, leading to paralysis and sensory numbness in adulthood.
—Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 30 Mar. 2016
Supernumerary nipple should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a vulvar mass.
—Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 5 May 2017
More often, though, differential diagnosis is a long, sometimes discouraging, process that involves interrogating multiple explanations for each symptom.
—WIRED, 2 Sep. 2022
But with no diagnostic criteria—except the minor’s statement—there is no differential diagnosis.
—Elliot Kaufman, WSJ, 23 Aug. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Differential diagnosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/differential%20diagnosis. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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