What's in a name? Change to Ramsays?

An example from ICD-11 of the eponymous name listed under Synonyms to the Fully Specified Name. (The asterisk at the end of "Ramsay-Hunt syndrome" denotes which of the Synonyms terms is the Specified Inclusion to the Fully Specified Name: Geniculate ganglionitis):


ICD-11:

https://icd.who.int/dev11/f/en#/http://id.who.int/icd/entity/305361524

Geniculate ganglionitis

Synonyms

• Ramsay-Hunt syndrome *
• Ramsay-Hunt disease or syndrome

Narrower Terms

• Hunt neuralgia

-------------------


There is also a "Ramsay Hunt cerebellar syndrome" which is a different disorder listed elsewhere in ICD-11.



In SNOMED CT, the cerebellar disorder is listed as "Ramsay Hunt syndrome 1", to distinguish it from Herpes zosta auricularis, which is listed as "Ramsay Hunt syndrome 2".)


SNOMED CT:

Using "Ramsay Hunt" as an example of an eponymous term in SNOMED CT, when searched for within SNOMED CT, a number of SCTID Concept codes will be offered for selection, since "Ramsay Hunt" has been used in association with a number of different disorders and there is also a Ramsay sedation scale.

The terms in grey down the right side of the search engine returns are the terms which are the SNOMED CT "Fully specified name (FSN)" and the designated "Preferred term" for that specific SCTID Concept code. The eponymous term is listed under Synonyms to the FSN.

This screenshot displays the entry for

SCTID 21954000 Herpes zoster auricularis (disorder)

which has "Ramsay Hunt syndrome 2" listed at the end of the Synonyms list:

https://browser.ihtsdotools.org/?pe....org/api/snomed&langRefset=900000000000509007






I hope this example will serve to demonstrate that eponymous terms lack specificity and may result in incorrect terms being entered into electronic medical record systems.

The fact that there are already several terms associated with the name "Ramsay" and "Ramsay Hunt" is incidental. But I have selected "Ramsay Hunt" as an example because it has been necessary to distinguish between two syndromes both associated with the name "Ramsay Hunt" - Progressive cerebellar tremor and Herpes zoster auricularis.

 

And if I haven't already mentioned it, according to the ICD-11 Reference Guide and Content Model, the convention for ICD-11 is that no eponyms are followed by a possessive apostrophe (where the name ends in an "s") or a possessive apostrophe + "s".

For ICD-11, it is Down syndrome; Parkinson disease; Williams-Beuren syndrome etc.

So even if the WHO were to consider a formal proposal supported by evidence for adding an additional term under Synonyms, Inclusions or Index terms, it would be styled as "Ramsay disease" not "Ramsay's disease".

 

Addendum to Post 41

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramsay_Hunt_syndrome

[Extract]

Three different neurological syndromes carry the name of Ramsay Hunt syndrome. Their only connection is that they were all first described by the famous neurologist James Ramsay Hunt (1872–1937).

• Ramsay Hunt syndrome type 1, also called Ramsay Hunt cerebellar syndrome, is a rare form of cerebellar degeneration which involves myoclonicepilepsy, progressive ataxia, tremor, and a dementing process.[1]
• Ramsay Hunt syndrome type 2 is the reactivation of herpes zoster in the geniculate ganglion. It is sometimes called herpes zoster oticus, and has variable presentation which may include a lower motor neuron lesion of the facial nerve, deafness, vertigo, and pain.[2][3] A triad of ipsilateral facial paralysis, ear pain, and vesicles on the face, on the ear, or in the ear is the typical presentation.
• Ramsay Hunt syndrome type 3 is a less commonly referenced condition, an occupationally induced neuropathy of the deep palmar branch of the ulnar nerve. It is also called Hunt's disease or artisan's palsy.[4]

 

I noticed that both Solve and the MEA have schemes named after Ramsay

https://solvecfs.org/about-the-ramsay-grant-program/

this from 2015 L. Jason

https://blog.oup.com/2015/09/patients-battle-for-justice/

and on OMF website

https://www.omf.ngo/history-mecfs/

 

yet we have "Parkinson's disease"
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/parkinsons-disease
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/parkinsons-disease/

The BPS lot seem to be able to create names for invented disorders at the drop of a hat.

There is nothing to stop the ME/CFS community, and biomedical researchers using say
Ramsay's PIND (Post infection neuroimmune disease) Ramsays for short.
The WHO and Snomed might not like it and may take a while to accept it but once it was mainstream...........