List of medical triads, tetrads, and pentads
Medical triads, tetrads, and pentads are sets of three, four, or five clinical signs, symptoms, or other entities that are often associated with a particular medical condition or disease. These groupings can help healthcare professionals in diagnosing or managing specific conditions. This article provides an overview of some of the most well-known medical triads, tetrads, and pentads, highlighting their significance in clinical practice.
Medical Triads[edit | edit source]
Beck's Triad[edit | edit source]
Beck's Triad is associated with Cardiac tamponade, consisting of:
- Distant heart sounds
- Distended jugular veins
- Hypotension
Charcot's Triad[edit | edit source]
Charcot's Triad is related to Cholangitis, featuring:
- Right upper quadrant pain
- Jaundice
- Fever
Cushing's Triad[edit | edit source]
Cushing's Triad is indicative of increased intracranial pressure, with:
- Hypertension
- Bradycardia
- Irregular respiration
Virchow's Triad[edit | edit source]
Virchow's Triad is associated with Thrombosis, including:
- Endothelial injury
- Stasis or turbulent blood flow
- Hypercoagulability
Medical Tetrads[edit | edit source]
Whipple's Tetrad[edit | edit source]
Whipple's Tetrad is used in the diagnosis of Insulinoma, consisting of:
- Hypoglycemia
- CNS symptoms
- Relief of symptoms after glucose administration
- Documented low blood glucose
Tetralogy of Fallot[edit | edit source]
Tetralogy of Fallot is a congenital heart defect with four components:
- Pulmonary stenosis
- Ventricular septal defect
- Right ventricular hypertrophy
- Overriding aorta
Medical Pentads[edit | edit source]
Trousseau's Sign of Malignancy[edit | edit source]
Trousseau's Sign of Malignancy is not a classic pentad but is often discussed in the context of multiple signs indicating malignancy, including:
- Migratory thrombophlebitis
- Hypercoagulability
Pentad of TTP[edit | edit source]
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP) includes a pentad of:
- Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia
- Thrombocytopenia
- Neurological symptoms
- Fever
- Renal dysfunction
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Medical triads, tetrads, and pentads serve as valuable tools for clinicians in the diagnosis and management of various diseases. Their presence can often suggest a specific diagnosis or guide further investigation and treatment.
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Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD