​Differential diagnosis of thoracic causes of diaphragmatic elevation are : 
-thoracic trauma 
-acute pleuritic
-lobectomy 
-pulmonary embolism 
-pulmonary fibrosis 
-pulmonary infarction 
-pneumectomy 
-atelectasis 
-traumatic rupture of the diaphragm 
-diaphragmatic hernia 

​Differential diagnosis of abdominal causes of diaphragmatic elevation are:
-Hematoma
-pregnancy
-hepatomegaly
-obesity
-ascites
-gaseous distention of the splenic flexture
-hepatomegaly
-gaseous distention of the stomach
-subphrenic abscess

​Differential diagnosis of diaphragmatic elevation are : 
-complete diaphragmatic eventration 
-subpulmonic pleural fluid 
-abdominal causes
-phrenic nerve paralysis 
-thoracic causes

​Differential diagnosis of infection related nerve injury causing innervation defects are : 
-botulism 
-measles
-diphtheria 
-tetanus 

​Differential diagnosis of phrenic nerve neuropathy causing innervation defects which lead to diaphragmatic dysfunction are : 
-alcohol abuse 
-nutritional neuropathy 
-diabetes mellitus 
-brachial plexus neuritis 
-Guillain Barre Syndrome 
-vasculitis neuropathy 
-trauma to the phrenic nerve 
-infection related nerve injury 

​Differential diagnosis of muscular disorders causing innervation defects which lead to diaphragmatic dysfunction are : 
-myasthenia gravis 
-metabolic myopathies 
-polymyositis 
-myotonic dystrophies 
-Duchenne muscular dystrophy

​Differential diagnosis of spinal cord disorders causing innervation defects which lead to diaphragmatic dysfunction are : 
-poliomyelitis 
-motor neuron disorders 
-syringomyelitis 
-cervical spinal cord injury 

​Differential diagnosis of innervation defects causing diaphragmatic dysfunction are : 
-idiopathic 
-spinal cord disorders
-muscular disorders
-phrenic nerve neuropathy 
-cerebrovascular accident 

​Differential diagnosis of acquired causes of anatomic defects causing diaphragmatic dysfunction are :
-surgical procedure
-traumatic injuries
-penetrating injuries
-idiopathic 

​Differential diagnosis of congenital causes of anatomic defects causing diaphragmatic dysfunction are :
-diaphragmatic agenesis
-eventration of the diaphragm
-Bochdalek hernia
-Morgagni hernia