Diagnostic Tests for Ankle swelling

Diagnostic Test list for Ankle swelling:

The list of diagnostic tests mentioned in various sources as used in the diagnosis of Ankle swelling includes:

• Physical examination
  • Noting bruising, swelling, deformity, tenderness and reduced range of movement of ankle
  • Look for nail changes that suggest psoriasis
• If swelling is due to edema , is it pitting (skin is indented when pressure is applied) or non-pitting - can assist in determining cause of edema.
• If swelling is due to edema , examine for signs of possible causes - e.g. congestive cardiac failure , liver cirrhosis , nephritic syndrome, deep venous thrombosis , hypothyroidism and varicose veins.
• Blood tests
  • Full blood count - looking for infection suggesting septic arthritis.
  • ESR - looking for inflammation.
  • Uric acid - may be elevated in gout.
  • Rheumatoid factor , ANA and ENA antibodies , CH50 and CH100 , C3, C4
  • HLA-B27 - can help diagnose or exclude Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, ankylosing spondylitis.
  • Viral tests - e.g. rubella , Ross river virus , cytomegalovirus , hepatitis B and HIV.
  • Borrelia burgdorferi antibodies - if suspect recent tick bite.
  • Thyroid function test - can detect hypothyroidism as cause of ankle edema.
  • Liver function test - can diagnose cirrhosis and hypoalbuminaemia which may be a cause of ankle edema.
• Urine tests - increased protein in urine can help detect Nephrotic syndrome which may be a cause of ankle edema.
• Stool culture - for bacteria that may cause reactive arthritis.
• Genital (urethral or cervical) swab - if suspect Chlamydia or gonorrhea.
• Radiology investigations
  • X-ray of ankle
  • Ultrasound - can may assist in detecting blood or fluid accumulation.
  • Radionuclide scan - may help detect pathology not found on x-ray e.g. bone tumors, bone infection or stress fracture.
  • Venous Ultrasound study - can assist in detecting deep venous thrombosis.

 » Next page: Glossary

Rate This Website

What do you think about the features of this website? Take our user survey and have your say:

Website User Survey

Medical Tools & Articles:

Next articles:

• Glossary
• Surveys
• Join in at the forums

Tools & Services:

• Bookmark this page
• Take a survey relating to Ankle swelling
• Symptom Search
• Symptom Checker
• Medical Dictionary
• Give your feedback

Medical Articles:

• Disease & Treatments Search
• Misdiagnosis Center
• Full list of interesting articles

Forums & Message Boards

• Ask or answer a question at the Boards:
• I cannot get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for my condition?
• See all the Boards.

Enter your search terms Submit search form
Search The Web Search wrongdiagnosis.com

Common Health Mistakes

Symptom
Checker

Search Specialists by State and City