Medical device diagnostics are not required for the diagnosis of alcohol dependence.
For the diagnosis of secondary diseases, the following optional medical device diagnostics – depending on the results of the history, physical examination, laboratory diagnostics, and obligatory medical device diagnostics – may contribute to the differential diagnostic clarification
- Abdominal ultrasonography (ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs) – for suspected liver/kidney disease or biliary/pancreatic changes (pancreas = pancreas).
- Gastroscopy (gastroscopy) – on suspicion of reflux esophagitis (esophagitis due to reflux (reflux) of gastric acid), esophageal varices (varicose veins in the esophagus – bleeding from these is a life-threatening complication), ulcers (stomach ulcers); unclear blood loss.
- Colonoscopy (colonoscopy) – for unclear bleeding.
- Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen (abdominal CT) – for suspected pancreatitis (pancreatitis), tumor diseases.
- Computed tomography of the skull (cranial CT, cranial CT or cCT) – on suspicion of apoplexy (stroke), dementia (decline in mental performance), etc.
- Encephalogram (EEG; recording of the electrical activity of the brain) – if brain organic changes are suspected.
- Magnetic resonance imaging of the skull (cranial MRI, cranial MRI or cMRI) – if brain-organic changes are suspected.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG; recording of the electrical activities of the heart muscle) – if cardiac arrhythmias are suspected.
- Echocardiography (echo; heart ultrasound) – if cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease) is suspected.