pertinent negative

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pertinent negative

An element of the patient's history that aids diagnosis because the patient denies that it is present.

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References in periodicals archive ?

When such benign lesions are difficult to classify, the terms benign keratosis or verrucous keratosis can be very helpful (sometimes with inclusion of the pertinent negatives [see below]).

Practical Strategies to Improve the Clinical Utility of the Dermatopathology Report

The rest of his review of symptoms was benign with pertinent negatives for recent fever, illness, malaise, headache, neck stiffness, rash, or genital lesions.

Pertinent negatives were normal jugular venous pressure, normal lung sounds and cardiac regular rhythm.