title: [Diagnostic strategy in presence of diffuse pain].
abstract: Fibromyalgia (FM) is not the only diagnosis to be considered in patients suffering from chronic diffuse pain. A certain number of differential diagnoses must be taken into account to avoid overdiagnosing FM or mismanaging patients suffering from alternative causes of diffuse pain. In addition to a carefull history and a thorough clinical examination, a targeted biological assessment needs to be carried out. We review the main differential diagnoses of chronic diffuse pain conditions. In the absence of an alternative etiology, the diagnosis of FM must be considered in presence of a cluster of symptoms associating diffuse pain, asthenia and a certain number of tender points.
authors.affiliation: Service de rhumatologie, Departement de médecine interne, HUG, 1211 Genève 14. axel.finckh@hcuge.ch
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Finckh
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010808:Physical Examination; D025242:Spondylarthropathies / Q000175:diagnosis