Talk:Macrocytosis

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[edit] Macrocytosis

Macrocytosis is not a medical sign, its more of an investigation finding.

sign (sin) an indication of the existence of something; any objective evidence of a disease, i.e., such evidence as is perceptible to the examining physician, as opposed to the subjective sensations (symptoms) of the patient. [1].

Any objective evidence of disease. In the list is included a "Halo sign" which is something you can only see in an X-ray. Yes, the examining physician perceives it (it's not history) but not at the bedside (so it's not clinical). So it's possible that signs are not CLINICAL signs, so long as they are OBJECTIVE. Which means formally that all test results are signs, if they require interpretation by the physician. Now, I admit that the word isn't usually used in this fashion by doctors. But the formal definition allows it. But even though it's not wrong as is, I won't object to changing this article to say "lab sign" or "non-clinical sign" or perhaps we can get rid of the word entirely for those people who use the more common usage. Go for it. SBHarris 22:43, 8 January 2008 (UTC)