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Diseases » Scleroderma » Misdiagnosis
 

Misdiagnosis of Scleroderma

Contents
  1. Scleroderma: Introduction
  2. Alternative Diagnoses List
  3. Possible Misdiagnoses
  4. Common Misdiagnoses
  5. Rare Types
  6. Curable Types
  7. Discussion of Misdiagnosis
  8. News about Misdiagnosis
  9. Misdiagnosis Center
  10. Scleroderma: Introduction
  11. Symptoms: Scleroderma
  12. Treatments
  13. Tests

Alternative diagnoses list for Scleroderma:

For a diagnosis of Scleroderma, the following list of conditions have been mentioned in sources as possible alternative diagnoses to consider during the diagnostic process for Scleroderma:

Diseases for which Scleroderma may be an alternative diagnosis

The other diseases for which Scleroderma is listed as a possible alternative diagnosis in their lists include:

Rare Types of Scleroderma:

  • Pericardial effusion associated with scleroderma
  • Erectile dysfunction associated with scleroderma
  • Hypothyroidism associated with scleroderma
  • Primary biliary cirrhosis related to scleroderma
  • Trigeminal neuralgia associated to scleroderma
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome associated to scleroderma
  • More rare types »

Scleroderma Diagnosis: Book Excerpts

Discussion of diagnosis/misdiagnosis of Scleroderma:

Symptoms similar to those seen in scleroderma can occur with a number of other diseases. Here are some of the most common scleroderma lookalikes:

  • Eosinophilic fasciitis (EF) (EE-oh-SIN-oh-FIL-ik fa-shi-EYE-tis): a disease that involves the fascia (FA-shuh), the thin connective tissue around the muscles, particularly those of the forearms, arms, legs, and trunk. EF causes the muscles to become encased in collagen, the fibrous protein that makes up tissue such as the skin and tendons. Permanent shortening of the muscles and tendons, called contractures, may develop, sometimes causing disfigurement and problems with joint motion and function. EF may begin after hard physical exertion. The disease usually fades away after several years, but people sometimes have relapses. Although the upper layers of the skin are not thickened in EF, the thickened fascia may cause the skin to look somewhat like the tight, hard skin of scleroderma. A skin biopsy easily distinguishes between the two.

  • Undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD): a diagnosis for patients who have some signs and symptoms of various related diseases, but not enough symptoms of any one disease to make a definite diagnosis. In other words, their condition hasn't "differentiated" into a particular connective tissue disease. In time, UCTD can go in one of three directions: it can change into a systemic disease such as systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, or rheumatoid arthritis; it can remain undifferentiated; or it can improve spontaneously.

  • Overlap syndromes: a disease combination in which patients have symptoms and lab findings characteristic of two or more conditions.

At other times, symptoms resembling those of scleroderma can be the result of an unrelated disease or condition. For example:

  • Skin thickening on the fingers and hands also appears with diabetes, mycosis fungoides, amyloidosis, and adult celiac disease. It can also result from hand trauma.

  • Generalized skin thickening may occur with scleromyxedema, graft-versus-host disease, porphyria cutanea tarda, and human adjuvant disease.

  • Internal organ damage, similar to that seen in systemic sclerosis, may instead be related to primary pulmonary hypertension, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, or collagenous colitis.

  • Raynaud's phenomenon also appears with atherosclerosis or systemic lupus erythematosus or in the absence of underlying disease.
(Source: excerpt from Handout on Health Scleroderma: NIAMS)

Common Misdiagnoses and Scleroderma

Psoriasis often undiagnosed cause of skin symptoms in children: Children who suffer from the skin disorder called psoriasis can often go undiagnosed. The main problem is that psoriasis is rare in children, and not often seen by physicians for this reason. children may receive treatment for fungal skin infections. See misdiagnosis of psoriasis or symptoms of psoriasis.

Medical news summaries about misdiagnosis of Scleroderma:

The following medical news items are relevant to misdiagnosis of Scleroderma:

General Misdiagnosis Articles

Read these general articles with an overview of misdiagnosis issues.

About misdiagnosis:

When checking for a misdiagnosis of Scleroderma or confirming a diagnosis of Scleroderma, it is useful to consider what other medical conditions might be possible misdiagnoses or other alternative conditions relevant to diagnosis. These alternate diagnoses of Scleroderma may already have been considered by your doctor or may need to be considered as possible alternative diagnoses or candidates for misdiagnosis of Scleroderma. For a general overview of misdiagnosis issues for all diseases, see Overview of Misdiagnosis.


 » Next page: Undiagnosed Scleroderma

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