A Quick and Comprehensive Guide to Differential Diagnosis of Neck and Back Pain: a Narrative Review

Abstract

The list of diagnostic options when approaching a patient with axial pain is impressively complex. Many offer limited diagnostic workups, but we could not find a truly comprehensive diagnostic guide to assist in the diagnostic evaluation. In this short paper, we briefly described a long list of medical conditions, each of which can manifest as back or neck pain, and whose prevalence ranges from common to very rare. We then proposed an algorithm for classifying them into subgroups. Further referral to diagnostic tests and specialist consultations, after assignment to one of those subgroups, could save time and unnecessary tests. We believe that this review and the proposed diagnostic algorithm can be valuable for medical education and for use in the primary care setting for the diagnostic evaluation of any type of back or neck pain in all patient groups.