Review of systems

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Abbreviated commonly as ROS, review of systems, in medical history taking, is a way to go through any associated symptoms from related systems.

For example, a patient presenting with the chief complaint of shortness of breath, may have not just pulmonary symptoms, but other related symptoms such as palpitations, leg swelling, changes in appetite, chest pain, fever or chills etc.

What is ROS?[edit | edit source]

A ROS is an inventory of body systems obtained through a series of questions seeking to identify signs and/or symptoms which the patient may be experiencing or has experienced.

Medical history taking
Medical history taking

What is reviewed in ROS?[edit | edit source]

For purposes of ROS, the following systems are recognized:

  1. Constitutional symptoms (e.g., fever, weight loss)
  2. Eyes
  3. Ears, Nose, Mouth, Throat
  4. Cardiovascular
  5. Respiratory
  6. Gastrointestinal
  7. Genitourinary
  8. Musculoskeletal
  9. Integumentary (skin and/or breast)
  10. Neurological
  11. Psychiatric
  12. Endocrine
  13. Hematologic/Lymphatic
  14. Allergic/Immunologic

Problem pertinent ROS[edit | edit source]

A problem pertinent ROS inquires about the system directly related to the problem(s) identified in the HPI. The patient's positive responses and pertinent negatives for the system related to the problem should be documented.

Extended ROS[edit | edit source]

An extended ROS inquires about the system directly related to the problem(s) identified in the HPI and a limited number of additional systems. The patient's positive responses and pertinent negatives for two to nine systems should be documented.

Complete ROS[edit | edit source]

A complete ROS inquires about the system(s) directly related to the problem(s) identified in the HPI plus all additional body systems. At least ten organ systems must be reviewed. Those systems with positive or pertinent negative responses must be individually documented. For the remaining systems, a notation indicating all other systems are negative is permissible. In the absence of such a notation, at least ten systems must be individually documented.

Review of systems on Wikipedia[edit source]

Wikipedia

Latest articles - Review of systems

PubMed
Clinical trials
UpToDate









WikiMD
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD

Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Let Food Be Thy Medicine
Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD