Separating lesion localisation from aetiology (VITAMIN CDE)

What it is

Localizing a lesion is not the same as its cause. Once the site is known the cause is still open. VITAMIN CDE is the list to run through for the cause:

• V: vascular
• I: infectious, inflammatory
• T: traumatic, toxic
• A: autoimmune
• M: metabolic
• I: iatrogenic, idiopathic
• N: neoplastic
• C: congenital
• D: degenerative
• E: endocrine