I recently had to spend some time in hospital in connection with a long-standing respiratory condition (Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis).
While there, I noticed on my case notes the diagnosis “Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis v Sarcoidosis”.
What does the “v” indicate here? Is it that I have both conditions? or only one, but they aren’t sure which? (The doctors did originally diagnose Sarcoidosis, some years ago, but later changed their minds).
Any medical Dopers out there who can clarify?
It means ‘Differential diagnosis’ - asking the question ‘Is it A or B’
The “v.”, I think, comes from the Latin word vel = “or”.
perhaps related to “vs”
as in “condition A vs condition B”
“vs” is often shortened to “v”.
Ah, “v” for “vel” (or) makes sense as the doctors have never been very confident in their diagnosis. Thanks for this.
It means versus. like Army versus Navy.
I use it as versus.
It means I think it is the former entity, but the latter is still in my differential list.
It’s never pretty when bacteria sue each other.
‘v’ probably stands for ‘vel’ - but vel is a logical term that does not exactly mean ‘or’
It means ‘and’ / ‘or’ so it could be one of the two, or both of them.
The first time I’ve seen it used since Lemmon Logic in 1976