====== Prognostic value ====== The term "prognostic [[value]]" refers to the ability of a clinical or biological factor to predict the future course or outcome of a disease. In medical practice, this can relate to various outcomes such as survival, disease recurrence, or response to treatment. For example: - In oncology, certain biomarkers might have prognostic value in predicting how likely a cancer is to recur after treatment. - In neurology, imaging results or clinical signs might provide prognostic value in determining the outcome of patients with stroke or traumatic brain injury. Prognostic factors can guide clinical decision-making, helping clinicians to tailor treatment plans based on the predicted risks or benefits for each patient. ---- The term prognostic value refers to a genetic factor's ability to project the [[natural history]] of disease in relation to another factor (such as treatment or environmental exposure or another genetic factor; henceforth referred to as treatment) by discriminating between good versus bad [[prognosis]].