Natural history, complications and prognosis template
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Charmaine Patel, M.D. [2]
Introduction to the Natural History, Complications and Prognosis Page
- The page name should be "(Disease name) natural history, complications and prognosis", with only the first letter of the title capitalized.
- Goal: To provide information on the natural progression of the disease without treatment, complications that occur as a result of the disease and its treatment, and the anticipated and actual outcomes of treatment.
- As with all microchapter pages linking to the main page, at the top of the edit box put {{CMG}}, your name template, and the microchapter navigation template you created at the beginning.
- Remember to create links within Wikidoc by placing [[square brackets]] around key words which you want to link to other pages. Make sure you make your links as specific as possible. For example if a sentence contained the phrase anterior spinal artery syndrome, the link should be to anterior spinal artery syndrome not anterior or artery or syndrome. For more information on how to create links click here.
- Remember to follow the same format and capitalization of letters as outlined in the template below.
- Remember this is not the section to put the history of the disease in time. This would be detailed in the historical perspective section.
- Remember this is not the section to put the history of the patient. This would be detailed in the diagnosis section, under history.
- You should include the name of the disease in the first sentence of every subsection.
A guide on how to write the Natural History, Complications and Prognosis Page contents
Overview
- The overview section should include the disease name in the first sentence.
- The goal is to summarize the entire page in several sentences. This section can be the same as the natural history, complications and prognosis segment on the overview page.
- To see an example, click here.
Template
- First Sentences:
- If left untreated, [#]% of patients with [disease name] may progress to develop [manifestation 1], [manifestation 2], and [manifestation 3]. Common complications of [disease name] include [complication 1], [complication 2], and [complication 3]. Prognosis is generally excellent/good/poor, and the 1/5/10-year mortality/survival rate of patients with [disease name] is approximately [#]%.
- OR
- Depending on the extent of the tumor at the time of diagnosis, the prognosis may vary. However, the prognosis is generally regarded as poor/good/excellent.
- Examples:
- Example 1: If left untreated, 20% to 30% of patients with IgA nephropathy may progress to develop ESRD. Common complications of IgA nephropathy include pro-thrombotic states, such as stroke and myocardial infarction. Prognosis is generally good, and the 5-year mortality rate of patients with IgA nephropathy is approximately 5%.
- Additional Sentences:
- [Disease/malignancy] is associated with a 5 year survival rate of [#]%.
- The presence of metastasis is associated with a particularly poor prognosis among patients with [disease/malignancy]. The 5 year event free survival rate is less than [#]%.
- The [Subtype of disease or malignancy] is associated with the most favorable prognosis.
- The prognosis varies with the [characteristic] of tumor: [subtype of disease/malignancy] have the most favorable prognosis.
- Examples:
- Example 1: Rhabdomyosarcoma is associated with a 5 year survival rate of 72%.
- Example 2: The presence of metastasis is associated with a particularly poor prognosis among patients with rhabdomyosarcoma. The 5 year event free survival rate is less than 30%.
- Example 3: The embryonal subtype of rhabdomyosarcoma is associated with the most favorable prognosis.
- Example 4: The prognosis varies with the location of tumor: orbital and genitourinary tract rhabdomyosarcomas have the most favorable prognosis.
Preferred Template Statements
- If left untreated, [#]% of patients with [disease name] may progress to develop [manifestation 1], [manifestation 2], and [manifestation 3].
- Common complications of [disease name] include [complication 1], [complication 2], and [complication 3].
- Prognosis is generally excellent/good/poor, and the 1/5/10-year mortality/survival rate of patients with [disease name] is approximately [#]%.
- Depending on the extent of the [tumor/disease progression/etc.] at the time of diagnosis, the prognosis may vary. However, the prognosis is generally regarded as poor/good/excellent.
Additional Sentences
- The presence of [characteristic of disease] is associated with a particularly [good/poor] prognosis among patients with [disease/malignancy].
- [Subtype of disease/malignancy] is associated with the most favorable prognosis.
- The prognosis varies with the [characteristic] of tumor; [subtype of disease/malignancy] have the most favorable prognosis.
Natural History
- The natural history of disease details how the disease progresses without treatment.
- Here are a few template sentences you can use: "The symptoms of (disease name) usually develop in the first/ second/ third decade of life, and start with symptoms such as ___. The symptoms of (disease name) typically develop ___ years after exposure to ___. Without treatment, the patient will develop symptoms of ___, which will/ may eventually lead to ___.
Complications
- Using lists can be helpful for describing this section.
- You can use these template sentences;
- "Complications that can develop as a result of (disease name) are ___ (describe in list form)".
- "Complications that can develop as a result of the treatment of (disease name) are ___ (describe in list form).
- Next to each complication, provide a brief one sentence description detailing the complication.
- For an example of the complications section in a natural history, complications and prognosis page, click here.
Prognosis
- This section should detail the prognosis of the disease, both treated and untreated.
- Here are some template sentences; "The prognosis of (disease name) is poor/good with treatment. Without treatment, (disease name) will result in ___. (Disease name) is associated with a 1/5/10 year mortality of __ among patient with ______ (for example high grade lesions). The presence of ___ is associated with a particularly poor prognosis among patients with (disease name).
- For an example of a prognosis section within a natural history, complications and prognosis page, click here.
References
- References should be cited for the material that you have put on your page. Type in {{reflist|2}}.This will generate your references in small font, in two columns, with links to the original article and abstract.
- For information on how to add references into your page, click here.