dijagnoze

Dijagnoze, or diagnoses, refer to the process of identifying the identity of a disease or condition based on information from the patient's history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests. In medical practice, a dijagnoza guides management, prognosis, and communication, and may be provisional or final. The term is used in several South Slavic languages, including Croatian, Bosnian, and Serbian.

Diagnosis relies on pattern recognition and systematic evaluation. A clinician may propose a differential diagnosis list, prioritize most likely causes, and order tests to confirm or exclude them. Methods include medical history, physical examination, laboratory tests, imaging studies, pathology, and, when appropriate, genetic or molecular testing. The accuracy depends on test characteristics and the pre-test probability.

Classification: Diagnoses can be provisional (tentative) or definitive; some diseases require follow-up to confirm. Many diagnoses are categorized using coding systems such as ICD-10 or ICD-11 for administrative purposes, while mental disorders are described with DSM-5 or ICD-10-CM/11. In practice, clinicians may use differential diagnosis to rule in or rule out conditions.

Challenges and limitations: Diagnostic uncertainty, overlapping symptoms, rare diseases, and variable test performance can lead to misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis. Proper diagnosis aims to minimize harm of incorrect treatment and to provide appropriate care. Patient involvement and second opinions can improve accuracy.

Impact and evolution: Advances in imaging, genomics, and computational tools are changing how dijagnoze are established, enabling earlier detection and more personalized management. Despite progress, diagnostic processes remain a core and sometimes contested aspect of medicine.