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Intermediate Technical In the Industry Vocabulary Test

CTCAE

Pronunciation: C-T-CAE

Also written as: CTCAE — Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events

Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events - NCI standard for grading adverse events in cancer clinical trials.

Full Definition

The Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) is a descriptive terminology that provides a grading scale for adverse events in cancer clinical trials and other oncology research. Developed by the National Cancer Institute, CTCAE provides a standardized classification and severity grading of adverse events. The current version (5.0) includes over 800 adverse event terms with grades from 1 (mild) to 5 (death). In oncology informatics, CTCAE terms and grades must be accurately captured, coded, and reported to ensure patient safety and regulatory compliance.

Usage

Usage note: Always specify version number (e.g., 'CTCAE v5.0') when precision is required. Write as 'CTCAE' in all caps.

In Context

  • "The patient experienced Grade 2 fatigue according to CTCAE version 5.0 criteria." — Adverse event report
  • "Safety data was coded using CTCAE terminology and submitted to regulatory authorities." — Clinical study report

Also known as

Common Terminology Criteria

Don't confuse with

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