Optional medical device diagnostics – depending on the results of history, physical examination, laboratory diagnostics and obligatory medical device diagnostics – for differential diagnostic workup
- X-rays of the affected hand – if rheumatoid arthritis, collagenoses (group of connective tissue diseases caused by autoimmune processes are suspected).
- X-ray of the thorax (X-ray thorax / chest), in two planes – in the case of clock glass nails or. yellowish discolored nails; in suspected systemic diseases such as tuberculosis, bronchial carcinoma (lung cancer) or rheumatoid arthritis, as well as in chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis (synonym: bronchiectasis; irreversible saccular or cylindrical expansion of the medium-sized airways (bronchi)), pleural effusion (fluid accumulation in the pleural cavity).
- Abdominal ultrasonography (ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs) – for suspected diseases such as liver/kidney insufficiency.
- Echocardiography (echo; cardiac ultrasound) – for suspected cardiac diseases such as heart defects, endocarditis (endocarditis).
