German for doctors' letters & findings

The abbreviations and set phrases that make every doctor's letter (Arztbrief) and report hard to read – here is what they really mean in plain language.

Content created with AI assistance from public clinical sources (RKI, AWMF) – may contain mistakes; if in doubt, your textbook is right

Description and notes translated from the German original, which is authoritative. Terms and example sentences are in German – the language of the exam.

Z. n. (Zustand nach)

„Z. n. Apoplex 2023 – Patient mit Restschwäche links.“

English: status post (history of / after)

Simply means: the patient has had this before (here: a stroke in 2023).

V. a. (Verdacht auf)

„Aufnahme bei V. a. Pneumonie.“

English: suspected / suspicion of

Simply means: it is suspected but not yet confirmed.

a. e. (am ehesten)

„Infiltrat im rechten Unterlappen, a. e. pneumonisch.“

English: most likely / most probably

Simply means: the most likely explanation when several are possible.

DD (Differentialdiagnose)

„Thoraxschmerz, DD kardial, DD muskuloskelettal.“

English: differential diagnosis

Simply means: other diseases that could cause the same symptoms and have to be ruled out.

o. B. (ohne Befund)

„Abdomen o. B., keine Abwehrspannung.“

English: no abnormal findings

Simply means: everything normal, nothing abnormal found.

unauffällig

„Der neurologische Status ist unauffällig.“

English: unremarkable / normal

Simply means: normal, no problem detectable.

regelrecht

„Postoperativ regelrechte Wundheilung.“

English: as expected / normal / proper

Simply means: working as it should – normal and proper.

kompensiert / dekompensiert

„Bei Aufnahme kardial dekompensiert mit Beinödemen und Luftnot.“

English: compensated / decompensated (organ keeps up / can no longer keep up)

Simply means: kompensiert = the body can still make up for it; dekompensiert = it can no longer cope, and symptoms break through.