Misdiagnosis of conversion disorders.
Five cases are presented describing the clinical features for which they were referred and admitted to a rehabilitation unit and later identified as having been misdiagnosed as having a conversion disorder. The diagnoses were sarcoma-induced osteomalacia, cerebellar medulloblastoma, Huntington's chorea, transverse myelitis, and lower extremity dystonia. A perceived history of psychological difficulties, an unusual neurologic presentation, and normal initial diagnostic testing in a female patient were associated with a misdiagnosis of conversion disorders; unfortunately, these factors also characterize actual conversion disorders.
Teasell
Robert W
RW
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, London Health Sciences Centre, University of Western Ontario, Canada.
Shapiro
Allan P
AP
D000328:Adult; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D003291:Conversion Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009188:Myelitis, Transverse / Q000175:diagnosis; D010018:Osteomalacia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis