The DX medical abbreviation means diagnosis, the name a clinician gives to the condition that explains a person's symptoms, exam findings and test results. It is usually written Dx, DX or dx.
Dx belongs to a group of x-ending short forms, such as Hx (history), Tx (treatment) and Sx (symptoms). You will meet it in progress notes, referral letters, lab and imaging requests and billing records. This page covers how to read it, the related forms such as DDx and working Dx, and how diagnosis entries connect to medical coding.
At a glance
Stands for
DiagnosisWritten as
Dx, DX, dxPlural or forms
Dxs or diagnoses; DDx for differential diagnosisWhere you see it
Problem lists, referrals, discharge summaries, claimsRelated shorthand
Hx (history), Tx (treatment), Sx (symptoms), Rx (prescription)Other meanings
Sometimes diagnostic, as in Dx imaging
What the DX medical abbreviation means in practice
A diagnosis is the clinician's best explanation for what is going on. Writing Dx in front of a condition marks it as the conclusion of the visit or admission, separate from symptoms and test results. A note might read "Dx: migraine without aura" or "primary Dx: acute kidney injury."
Occasionally Dx is used as an adjective meaning diagnostic, as in "Dx imaging" for scans done to find a cause. The surrounding words make this clear. In both uses, the letters point to the same idea of identifying a condition.
In medical terminology there is no hidden second sense: the medical term for Dx is simply diagnosis, and the Dx medical term meaning is the same in a clinic, a hospital or a coding office.
Types of diagnosis you may see written
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Working Dx | The leading explanation for now, while tests continue |
| Provisional Dx | Similar to working Dx; expected to be confirmed or changed |
| DDx | Differential diagnosis, the list of possibilities still being weighed |
| Primary or principal Dx | The main condition treated during the visit or stay |
| Secondary Dx | Other conditions present that also affect care |
| Discharge Dx | The diagnoses listed when a patient leaves the hospital |
A diagnosis can change. Early in a hospital stay a note may say "c/f pneumonia" and later "Dx: pneumonia" once a chest X ray confirms it, or the diagnosis may be revised as new results arrive.
Diagnosis abbreviation medical writers use in the x family
Many clinicians use a short form that ends in x for the main sections of thinking about a patient. Knowing the set makes notes much faster to read.
- Hx: history, what has happened before
- Sx: symptoms the person feels
- Dx: the diagnosis
- Tx: treatment, what is being done about it
- Rx: a prescription
- Px: prognosis, the expected course
A clinic summary: "Sx: burning urination x 2 days. Dx: uncomplicated UTI. Tx: antibiotic, fluids, f/u PRN." In order, it gives what the patient felt, what the clinician concluded, and the plan.
How Dx links to medical coding
Every diagnosis in a record can be matched to a standard diagnosis code used for statistics, insurance claims and public health tracking. Medical coders read the clinician's diagnosis statements and choose the code that fits best, so clear and specific wording in the Dx line matters. A vague entry such as "leg pain" codes differently from "deep vein thrombosis of the left calf."
Coding and scribe trainees learn that a code must be supported by the clinician's documentation. Coders do not create a diagnosis on their own; they query the clinician when the note is unclear.
Reading your own diagnosis list
Patient portals often show a problem list built from past diagnoses. Some entries may be old, resolved or worded in coding language that sounds unfamiliar. If a diagnosis on your list seems wrong or out of date, you can ask your care team to review it.
For terms grouped by condition, see the diagnosis abbreviations section, and for everyday charting shorthand the nursing and chart notes guide.
This page explains a chart term only. Questions about a diagnosis in your own records, or what it means for your care, belong with your doctor or care team.
Frequently asked questions
What is the medical abbreviation for diagnosis?
The usual abbreviation is Dx, also written DX or dx. Its relative DDx means differential diagnosis.
What is the difference between Dx and DDx?
Dx is the diagnosis the clinician has settled on, at least for now. DDx is the list of possible diagnoses still being considered before tests narrow it down.
Why do so many chart short forms finish with the letter x?
Endings in x are a quick charting habit: Hx is history, Sx is symptoms, Tx is treatment. No formal rule requires it, but the pattern is taught widely.
What does working Dx mean?
A working diagnosis is the leading explanation the team is acting on while more information comes in. It may be confirmed or changed later.