Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease differential diagnosis
|
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Microchapters |
|
Differentiating Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from other Diseases |
|---|
|
Diagnosis |
|
Treatment |
|
Case Studies |
|
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease differential diagnosis On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease differential diagnosis |
|
FDA on Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease differential diagnosis |
|
CDC on Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease differential diagnosis |
|
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease differential diagnosis in the news |
|
Blogs on Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease differential diagnosis</small> |
|
Directions to Hospitals Treating Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |
|
Risk calculators and risk factors for Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease differential diagnosis |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [2]; Philip Marcus, M.D., M.P.H. [3]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [4]
Overview
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is characterized by the pathological limitation of airflow in the airway that is not fully reversible [1]. COPD is the umbrella term for chronic bronchitis, emphysema and a range of other lung disorders. This leads to a limitation of the flow of air to and from the lungs, causing shortness of breath (dyspnea), cough, and wheezing. In clinical practice, COPD is defined by its characteristically low airflow on lung function tests.[2] In contrast to asthma, this limitation is poorly reversible and usually gets progressively worse over time. It should be differentiated from certain conditions that have similar presentation for instance congestive heart failure, chronic asthma, bronchiectasis, and bronchiolitis obliterans.
Differentiating Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease from other Diseases
Features Specific for Congestive Heart Failure
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be confused with congestive heart failure due to similar presentations like wheezing and shortness of breath. Features specific to congestive heart failure are:
- Orthopnea
- Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
- Fine crackles on ausculatation
- Chest X ray findings of cardiac enlargement, pulmonary congestion (Kerley B lines, and pleural effusion)
- The peak expiratory flow is low in COPD whereas there is higher flow in heart failure
- Comet-tail sign on ultrasonography is a good indicator of heart failure–related dyspnea [3]
Features Specific for Bronchiectasis
- Copious purulent sputum
- Coarse crackles
- Clubbing
- CT findings suggestive of Bronchiectasis.
Features Specific for Bronchiolitis Obliterans
- History of collagen vascular disease.
- Young patient usually without a history of smoking
- CT scan shows finding of mosaic attenuation and no evidence of emphysema.
Features Specific for Chronic Asthma
- Chronic asthma responds well to bronchodilators.
- Normal diffusion capacity of lung on pulmonary function test.
References
- ↑ Mannino DM, Homa DM, Akinbami LJ, Ford ES, Redd SC (August 2002). "Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease surveillance--United States, 1971-2000". MMWR. Surveillance Summaries : Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Surveillance Summaries / CDC 51 (6): 1–16. PMID 12198919. Retrieved on 2012-03-01.
- ↑ Template:Cite doi [1]
- ↑ Prosen G, Klemen P, Strnad M, Grmec S (December 2011). "Correction: Combination of lung ultrasound (a comet-tail sign) and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide in differentiating acute heart failure from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma as cause of acute dyspnea in prehospital emergency setting". Critical Care (London, England) 15 (6): 450. doi:10.1186/cc10511. PMID 22188907. Retrieved on 2012-03-05.
Table of Contents In Alphabetical Order | By Individual Diseases | Signs and Symptoms | Physical Examination | Lab Tests | Drugs
Editor Tools Become an Editor | Editors Help Menu | Create a Page | Edit a Page | Upload a Picture or File | Printable version | Permanent link | Maintain Pages | What Pages Link HereThere is no pharmaceutical or device industry support for this site and we need your viewer supported Donations | Editorial Board | Governance | Licensing | Disclaimers | Avoid Plagiarism | Policies
