Pathognomonic

Advanced 🏥 Healthcare / Medical

Definition

A sign or symptom uniquely characteristic of a disease—the smoking gun that makes diagnosis obvious.

Example Usage

Koplik spots are pathognomonic for measles.

Origin

Greek: pathos (disease) + gnomon (indicator); first used in medical literature in the 1600s

Fun Fact

Few conditions have truly pathognomonic signs; most have multiple overlapping presentations that complicate diagnosis.

Source: Clinical semiology and diagnosis standards

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radiologist

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🏥 Healthcare / Medical

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