Undetermined

Undetermined (pronunciation: /ʌndɪˈtɜːmɪnd/) is a term used in various fields of medicine to describe a condition, diagnosis, or cause that is not yet clearly defined or established. The term is often used when the cause of a patient's symptoms cannot be identified, or when a disease or condition does not fit into any existing categories.

Etymology

The term "undetermined" is derived from the prefix "un-", meaning "not", and the word "determined", which comes from the Latin "determinare", meaning "to limit, set boundaries". In a medical context, it is used to indicate that the boundaries or limits of a condition or diagnosis have not yet been established.

Related Terms

Differential diagnosis: A process of elimination used by healthcare providers to identify the cause of a patient's symptoms when multiple possibilities exist.
Idiopathic: A term used to describe a disease or condition that arises spontaneously or for which the cause is unknown.
Prognosis: An estimate of the likely course and outcome of a disease.
Symptom: A physical or mental feature that is regarded as indicating a condition of disease, particularly such a feature that is apparent to the patient.
Diagnosis: The identification of the nature of an illness or other problem by examination of the symptoms.