ECOG performance status
Also written as: ECOG — Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group
Standardized scale measuring a cancer patient's functional ability and quality of life.
Full Definition
ECOG performance status is a standardized assessment tool developed by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group to evaluate a cancer patient's level of functioning in terms of their ability to care for themselves, daily activity, and physical ability. The scale ranges from 0 (fully active) to 5 (dead), with intermediate levels indicating varying degrees of restriction in activity. This metric is crucial for determining treatment eligibility, prognosis, and is often used as an inclusion criterion in clinical trials.
Usage
Usage note: Always capitalize ECOG. The full form should be spelled out on first use in documents.
In Context
- "The patient's ECOG performance status of 2 indicates significant activity limitation." — Patient assessment note
- "Clinical trial enrollment requires ECOG performance status of 0-1." — Protocol eligibility criteria