General Clinical Terminology

acute

sudden onset or short duration

chronic

long-lasting or persistent

subacute

between acute and chronic

benign

noncancerous; generally does not invade or metastasize

malignant

cancerous; can invade and metastasize

localized

limited to one area

systemic

affecting the body as a whole

idiopathic

having no known cause

congenital

present at birth

acquired

developed after birth

iatrogenic

caused unintentionally by medical treatment or intervention

prophylaxis

treatment given to prevent disease or an unwanted outcome

differential diagnosis

list of possible diagnoses explaining a patient's findings

prognosis

expected course or outcome of a disease

etiology

cause or origin of a disease

pathology

study or description of disease processes

pathophysiology

how disease changes normal body function

diagnosis

identification of a disease or condition

symptom

subjective experience reported by the patient

sign

objective finding observed or measured by a clinician