yokota  +  20958 Sat, 31 Jan 04 04:48 PM We commonly use abbreviations such as Dx for diagnosis, Fx for fracture, Hx for history, Sx for symptoms, Tx for treatment or transplant and so forth. It is quite convenient to use those abbreviations in writing a medical chart. What I really don't understand is the reason why were those abbreviations such as Dx, Fx, Hx, Sx, Tx created by using "x"? I mean why an alphabet such as "D" followed by "x" means an abbreviation for diagnosis. Why does "x" mean an abbreviation? I can imagine that perhaps "x" means something special. But why should it be "x", not "y"? Do you agree that this "x" might be somewhat related to the old symbol "Rx" referring to prescription? I would appreciate it if you would provide me with some more information on my question. yokota Joined on Sat, Jan 31 2004 New Member 02 Abbreviations

	idecraemer  +  21765 Sun, 08 Feb 04 04:37 PM Interesting question! Unfortunatly i don't know the answer either. I'm writing a thesis about pancreas Tx and I'm using that abbreviation hundreds of times, but I can't imagin where it comes from. greets a belgian med student idecraemer Joined on Sun, Feb 8 2004 New Member 03 Abbreviations

	Melodie  +  22802 Wed, 18 Feb 04 11:31 PM Rx originates in the Latin. According to Stedmans Concise Medical Dictionary it means " recipe, take; prescription; treatment." It is always the first words on a prescription. They define Dx as "diagnosis" but have no history for the abbreviation. Tabers Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary defines Rx simply as "recipe". Dugas & Knor's Nursing Foundations, A Canadian Perspective defines Rx as "treatment" and Dx as "diagnosis'. Rx was the original form of abbreviation or symbol. These others used today are adulterations and career-specific to health care. They have become acceptable jargon. They are not usually found in medical resource texts. If you check at hospital in North America, most have an 'approved abbreviations' list in the policy manual that allows us to use these forms of words. Be careful when you use these short forms. They can have very different meaning on different hospital units or areas of specialization. For example, Sx generally stands for Schizophrenia here in Western Canada. What are you using it for? Melodie Joined on Fri, Nov 28 2003 New Member 35 Abbreviations, Medical Dictionary

	bratannia  +  30779 Sun, 23 May 04 06:40 PM There are two theories of Rx origin at http://www.endomail.com/articles/ad13rx.html bratannia Joined on Fri, Apr 9 2004 Amsterdam Junior Member 66 Articles, Abbreviations