Differential diagnosis of erectile dysfunction

 Erectile dysfunction means an inability for an adult male to sustained an adequate erection to allow penetration.

 

Organic causes Drug causes
  • Smoking - major
  • Alcohol – major
  • Diabetes mellitus (DM) – major
  • Endocrine causes : hypogonadism, hyperthyroidism, prolactin excess, androgen deficiency, primary gonadal failure
  • Neurological causes: spinal cord lesions, myasthenia gravis, autonomic neuropathy (e.g.: DM)
  • Radiotherapy
  • Renal failure
  • Hepatic failure
  • Prostatic hyperthrophy
  • Surgical causes : post bladder-neck prostate surgery, post prostatectomy
  • Penile abnormality : peyronie disease, post priapism
  • Venous leak (valve incompetence)
  • Vascular causes: peripheral vascular disease, aortoiliac occlusion, hypogastric-cavernous occlusion, pudendal artery occlusion
 

  • Antihypertensive – e.g.: beta blockers, diuretics, thiazide, methyldopa, clonidine
  • Digoxin
  • Major tranquilizers
  • Alcohol
  • Oestrogens
  • Levodopa
  • Opiates
  • Antidepressants – e.g.: monoamine oxidase (MOA) inhibitors, tricyclics
  • Barbiturates
  • Lithium
  • H2 blockers – e.g.: cimetidine
  • Steroids
  • Cancer chemotherapeutic
  • Metoclopramide
  • Phenytoin
  • Phenothiazine
  • Indomethacine
  • Antihistamine
  • Spirinolactone
  • Ketoconazole
  •  

    If everything has been ruled out, the possible cause is psychological. Most of the time, the cause of erectile dysfunction is multifactorial.

     

                   

     

     

    Reference:

    1. Murray Longmore et al. Oxford handbook of Clinical Medicine. 7th edition
    2. David S. Smith et al. Field Guide to Bedside diagnosis. 2nd edition. 2007. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

    Differential diagnosis of dysphagia

    Dysphagia means difficulty swallowing.

     

    Intrinsic lesion
    • Benign (peptic) stricture
    • Malignant stricture
    • Reflux stricture
    • Foreign body
    • Oesophageal ring or web
    • Oesophageal cancer
    • Pharyngeal pouch
    • Zenker diverticulum
    • Infectious oesophagitis
    • Radiation injury
    • Globus hystericus
    Neuromuscular disorder (transfer dysphagia)
    • Bulbar palsy
    • Pseudobulbar palsy
    • Dermatomyositis
    • Muscular dystrophy
    • Pharyngeal disorders
    • Myasthenia gravis
    Motility disorder
    Extrinsic pressure (external compression)
    • Goiter or thyromegaly
    • Mediastinal glands
    • Mediastinal mass
    • Descending thoracic aortic aneurysm
    • Paraesophageal diaphragmatic hernia
    • Enlarged left atrium in mitral valve disease

     

     

    Reference:

    1. Stephen Patchett et al. Pocket essentials of Clinical medicine.Kumar and Clark Family. 4th edition. Saunders Elsevier.
    2. David S. Smith et al. Field Guide to Bedside diagnosis. 2nd edition. 2007. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.