SNOMED CT Editorial Advisory Group

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Jim Case

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The current editorial guidance on the use of slashes in FSNs states: "The forward slash should not be used in FSNs. Exceptions: A forward slash may be used for representing units of measure, as required in the pharmaceutical products hierarchy, and in laboratory test results and units of measure hierarchies. They may also be used in the construct "and/or" in FSNs. There should be no space either before or after the slash."

We have received a request to represent types of thalassemia that have heterozygous hemoglobin genes. For example: Hemoglobin D/beta thalassemia where one gene codes for HgbD and the other for the mutation in the HBB gene that causes beta-thalassemia. Should we revise the guidance for use of slashes to allow for this type of concept or provide another representation?

Contributors (5)

9 Comments

  1. Keith Campbell

    I think we should allow for use of / anytime an authoritative organization considers the / as part of their preferred form of the name. If no authoritative organization recognizes the use as part of a name they define, we should discourage its use. 

     

  2. Jim Case

    From Bruce Goldberg,

    At KP we have discouraged use of "/" in our physician facing names due to the ambiguity in the meaning i.e. ratio, and or, or. I agree with Keith that if this notation is supported by an authoritative organization and is widely recognizable it should be appropriate to use. For the hemoglobinopathys although this seems to be a standard nomenclature,  I am wondering whether this would fit the pattern of x co-occurrent with y i.e Hemoglobin D disease co-occurrent with beta-thalassemia? 

  3. Jim Case

    Bruce,

    These requests have originated from KP, so we would seriously consider what is acceptable for y'all in modifying our editorial stance.

    1. Bruce Goldberg

      Thanks Jim.

  4. Monica Harry

    With a view to revising the Ed. guide; have you reached a definite decision on this? 

  5. Jim Case

    After spending a fair amount of time trying to find the proper nomenclature for this type of content, I have seen the use of the slash"/" most often; however, there is no precedent in the SNOMED CT terminology for the use of the slash. in this context.  I would recommend at this point that we simply use the "hyphen", which is approved, in the FSN and allow the slash in one of the descriptions.

    Thus the FSN would be "Heterozygous hemoglobin D-beta thalassemia".  Comments?

    1. Paul Amos

      Wasn't keen on the 'dash', but the 'hyphen' is OK with me ??

       

  6. Bruce Goldberg

    OK with me.

     

    Bruce

  7. Jim Case

    JCA will write up a draft statement for the editorial guide