Occam’s razor versus Hickam’s dictum: two very rare tumours in one single patient

Freixa, M.; Simões, André; Rodrigues, Joana Barbosa; Úria, S.; Silva, Glória Nunes da

doi:10.1093/omcr/omz029

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…A more thorough assessment and consecutive treatment also considers the other 90% of the iceberg. Such has been stated well by Hickam: "A man can have as many diseases as he damn well pleases" 33 .…”

Section: Therapeutical Outlookmentioning

confidence: 85%

A Critical View on the Importance of Treating Spasticity and New Options to Improve Function in Patients with Cerebral Palsy GMFCS I-III

Brunner

2023

MRAJ

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Spasticity in patients with cerebral palsy is seen as an important factor which causes functional handicap as well as functional and later structural deformities. Because spasticity is seen as a deteriorating factor for function, treatment of spasticity is one of the main columns in the treatment of spastic children with cerebral palsy. However, recent publications raise doubts on the efficacy of spasticity treatment that focuses on compensating for weakness. Other publications highlight the possibility of conditioning reflexes, paving the way to new treatment concepts where experiencing successful movements can condition control of reflexes positively. This paper looks at recent literature on new aspects of spasticity and describes the possible therapeutic consequences. The main shift is to help patients cope with their spasticity in a context of joy and discovery in a large spectrum of movements.

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Section: Therapeutical Outlookmentioning

confidence: 85%

A Critical View on the Importance of Treating Spasticity and New Options to Improve Function in Patients with Cerebral Palsy GMFCS I-III

Brunner

2023

MRAJ

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“…This brings us to the question of Occam's razor which teaches us to associate seemingly unrelated signs versus Hickam's dictum which proclaims that a single person can have different unrelated diseases independently. [ 4 ]…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aceruloplasminemia with Novel Mutation, with IgG4 Related Pachymeningitis – Occam’s Razor or Hickam’s Dictum?

Yaranagula,

Mathukumalli,

Kola

et al. 2023

Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology

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To report a patient with concomitant aceruloplasminemia (with a novel mutation) and IgG4-related pachymeningitis and to hypothesize on the possible relation between the two diseases. Clinical, radiological, and laboratory features of a 56-year-old lady with chronic headache, bifacial palsy, and cerebellar signs are described. Pathophysiology of aceruloplasminemia leading to hyperferritinemia and consequent immune activation is elucidated. A coherent explanation of IgG4-related pachymeningitis resulting from aceruloplasminemia and hyperferritinemia is given. The patient has aceruloplasminemia with a novel nonsense mutation. She also suffers from biopsy-proven IgG4 related pachymeningitis as per standard criteria. These two seemingly unrelated illnesses are linked by hyperferritinemia. This case is a fine example of Occam’s razor. Immune dysfunction and autoimmune disorders in aceruloplasminemia need to be explored through further studies to look for causal associations.

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“…Indeed, Sox, Higgins, and Owens (2013) point out that having two common diseases can be more probable than having a single but rare disease. Marta Freixa et al (2019) go one step further by describing a case of two rare diseases occurring in a patient, which they consider to be in violation of diagnostic parsimony.…”

Section: Further Challenges To Diagnostic Parsimonymentioning

confidence: 99%

Diagnostic Parsimony

Autzen

2022

philmed

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Ockham’s razor is the idea that simpler hypotheses are to be preferred over more complex ones. In the context of medical diagnosis, this is taken to mean that when a patient has multiple symptoms, a single diagnosis should be sought that accounts for all the clinical features, rather than attributing a different diagnosis to each. This paper examines whether diagnostic parsimony can be justified by reference to probability theory. I argue that while attempts to offer universal justifications of diagnostic parsimony fail, a more constrained use of this diagnostic principle can be supported.

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Occam’s razor versus Hickam’s dictum: two very rare tumours in one single patient

Cited by 5 publications

References 5 publications

A Critical View on the Importance of Treating Spasticity and New Options to Improve Function in Patients with Cerebral Palsy GMFCS I-III

A Critical View on the Importance of Treating Spasticity and New Options to Improve Function in Patients with Cerebral Palsy GMFCS I-III

Aceruloplasminemia with Novel Mutation, with IgG4 Related Pachymeningitis – Occam’s Razor or Hickam’s Dictum?

Diagnostic Parsimony

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