Pathodromology

Pathodromology (from the Greek páthos = suffering, disease; drómos = course, progression; lógos = study) refers to the study of the temporal progression, dynamics, and developmental patterns of diseases.

Pathodromology deals with the temporal sequence of pathological processes, their natural course, and the factors that influence their onset, progression, remission, or chronicity.

It focuses in particular on the latent and prodromal phases, clinical manifestation, disease progression, and possible remissions, relapses, and long-term consequences.

Distinction: While the term“pathogenesis” describes the causal mechanisms underlying the development of a disease, pathodromology refers to its temporal progression.

Pathodromology is not a generally accepted, independent technical term in modern medicine. Etymologically, however, the term can be logically defined as “the study of the course of a disease.”