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. Most great imitators are systemic in nature. Diseases sometimes referred to with this name include:
- Various cancers
- Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma
- Mycosis Fungoides
- Beriberi
- Various rheumatic conditions, including:
- Fibromyalgia
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Lupus erythematosus
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Sarcoidosis
- Multiple sclerosis
- Celiac disease
- Addison's disease
- Pulmonary embolism
- Various infectious diseases, including:
- Syphilis
- Lyme disease
- Nocardiosis
- Tuberculosis
- Brucellosis
- Infective endocarditis
- Malaria
- Breathing-related sleep disorders (chiefly sleep apnea/hypopnea and upper-airway resistance syndrome)
- Hypoglycemia as an imitator of a stroke
- Amyloidosis
- Pheochromocytoma
- Various abdominal conditions:
- Appendicitis
- Pancreatitis