Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease differential diagnosis

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Philip Marcus, M.D., M.P.H. [2]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Syed Hassan A. Kazmi BSc, MD [3] Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [4]

Overview

COPD should be differentiated from other diseases presenting with chronic cough, shortness of breath and tachypnea, such as pneumonia, congestive heart failure, pulmonary embolism, and bronchiectasis.

Differentiating Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease from other Diseases

COPD should be differentiated from other diseases presenting with chronic cough, shortness of breath and tachypnea. The differentials include the following:[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]

Diseases Diagnostic tests Physical Examination Symptoms Past medical history Other Findings
CT scan and MRI EKG Chest X-ray Tachypnea Tachycardia Fever Chest Pain Hemoptysis Dyspnea on Exertion Wheezing Chest Tenderness Nasalopharyngeal Ulceration Carotid Bruit
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • On CT scan:
  • On MRI:
    • Increased diameter of pulmonary arteries
    • Peripheral pulmonary vasculature attentuation
    • Loss of retrosternal airspace due to right ventricular enlargement
    • Hyperpolarized Helium MRI may show progressively poor ventilation and destruction of lung
- - - - - -
Pneumonia - - - -
Congestive heart failure
  • Goldberg's criteria may aid in diagnosis of left ventricular dysfunction: (High specificity)
    • SV1 or SV2 + RV5 or RV6 ≥3.5 mV
    • Total QRS amplitude in each of the limb leads ≤0.8 mV
    • R/S ratio <1 in lead V4
- - - - - -
Pulmonary embolism
  • On CT angiography:
    • Intra-luminal filling defect
  • On MRI:
    • Narrowing of involved vessel
    • No contrast seen distal to obstruction
    • Polo-mint sign (partial filling defect surrounded by contrast)
✔ (Low grade) ✔ (In case of massive PE) - - - -
Percarditis
  • ST elevation
  • PR depression
  • Large collection of fluid inside the pericardial sac (pericardial effusion)
  • Calcification of pericardial sac
✔ (Low grade) ✔ (Relieved by sitting up and leaning forward) - - - - -
  • May be clinically classified into:
    • Acute (< 6 weeks)
    • Sub-acute (6 weeks - 6 months)
    • Chronic (> 6 months)
Vasculitis

Homogeneous, circumferential vessel wall swelling

-

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:

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

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  2. "CT Angiography of Pulmonary Embolism: Diagnostic Criteria and Causes of Misdiagnosis | RadioGraphics".
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  21. Prosen G, Klemen P, Strnad M, Grmec S (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 2012-03-05. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)

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