ECOG performance status
Pronunciation: EE-kog
Also written as: ECOG — Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status
A standardized scale measuring a cancer patient's functional capacity and ability to perform daily activities.
Full Definition
The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ranges from 0 (fully active) to 5 (dead), providing oncologists with a quantitative assessment of patient functionality. This metric is crucial for treatment planning, clinical trial eligibility, and prognosis determination. Editors must ensure the scale is referenced correctly and that scores are presented consistently in clinical documentation and research protocols.
Usage
Usage note: Always capitalize ECOG; scores should be presented as numerals (0-5), not spelled out.
In Context
- "Patients with ECOG performance status 0-1 were eligible for the aggressive chemotherapy protocol." — Clinical trial protocol
- "The patient's ECOG performance status deteriorated from 1 to 3 following treatment." — Progress note