The great imitator

The Great Imitator (also The Great Masquerader) is a phrase used for medical conditions that feature nonspecific symptoms and may be confused with a number of other diseases.^[1] Most great imitators are systemic in nature. Diseases sometimes referred to with this name include:

• Various cancers^[2]
• Various rheumatic conditions, including:
  • Fibromyalgia^[3]
  • Lupus erythematosus ^[4]
    • Systemic lupus erythematosus^[5][6]
  • Sarcoidosis^[7]
• Multiple sclerosis^[8]
• Celiac disease^[9]
• Addison's Disease^[10]
• Pulmonary embolism^[11]
• Various Infectious diseases, including:
  • Syphilis^[12]
  • Lyme disease^[13]
  • Nocardiosis^[14]
  • Tuberculosis^[15]
  • Brucellosis
  • Malaria^[16]

References

1. J.C. Segen. The Dictionary of Modern Medicine. CRC Press; 1992. ISBN 978-1-85070-321-1. p. 265.
2. Kufe, Donald W. (2009). Holland-Frei cancer medicine (8th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Medical. pp. 1–3. ISBN 978-1-60795-014-1.
3. Fibromyalgia as the great imitator, retrieved December 16th, 2006
4. Excerpt from NINDS Neurological Sequelae Of Lupus Information Page
5. Bell, JM; Nair, R; Solon, A; Walker, PD (2005). "SLE: The great imitator strikes again". American Journal of Kidney Diseases 45 (1): 219–22. doi:10.1053/j.ajkd.2004.05.049. PMID 15696465.
6. Rooney, J (2005). "Systemic lupus erythematosus: Unmasking a great imitator". Nursing 35 (11): 54–60; quiz 60–61. doi:10.1097/00152193-200511000-00049. PMID 16280927.
7. Tchernev, G (2006). "Cutaneous sarcoidosis: The 'great imitator': Etiopathogenesis, morphology, differential diagnosis, and clinical management". American journal of clinical dermatology 7 (6): 375–82. doi:10.2165/00128071-200607060-00006. PMID 17173472.
8. Multiple Sclerosis as the great imitator, retrieved December 16th, 2006
9. http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/181_07_041004/woo_fm.html
10. Williams, Penny; Evans, Sorcha; Thachil, Jecko (2010). "The Great Imitator". The American Journal of Medicine 123 (7): e5. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2009.12.027. PMID 20609673.
11. Sharma, GV; Sasahara, AA; McIntyre, KM (1976). "Pulmonary embolism: The great imitator". Disease-a-month 22 (7): 4–38. doi:10.1016/s0011-5029(76)80005-3. PMID 770102.
12. STD Facts from the CDC
13. NYT article on Lyme disease, retrieved December 16th, 2006
14. Lederman, Edith R.; Crum, Nancy F. (2004). "A Case Series and Focused Review of Nocardiosis". Medicine 83 (5): 300–13. doi:10.1097/01.md.0000141100.30871.39. PMID 15342974.
15. Sivers, Maurice L. (1961). "The Second "Great Imitator" - Tuberculosis". JAMA 176 (9): 809–810. doi:10.1001/jama.1961.63040220009017a.
16. http://www.malariasite.com/clinical-features.htm