title: The differential diagnosis of rheumatism; a clinical study of 500 cases.
abstract: Five hundred consecutive admissions to the rheumatism service of a large hospital were reviewed in an effort to establish criteria for accurate differential diagnosis in rheumatic disorders. Forty-one per cent of the patients presented evidence of articular involvement or arthritis; 28 per cent had non-articular rheumatism, embracing the various types of fibrositis; 7 per cent had musculoskeletal neuroses, and 24 per cent had a variety of diseases unrelated to the musculoskeletal system. A working classification of the various causes of musculoskeletal pain is presented and criteria for the differentiation of the individual diseases are suggested.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: FURLONG
mesh_terms: D001168:Arthritis; D035843:Biomedical Research; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints; D008297:Male; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*
keywords: RHEUMATISM/diagnosis, diagnostic