Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques, and Equipment

Karnofsky Performance Status

A performance measure for rating the ability of a person to perform usual activities, evaluating a patient's progress after a therapeutic procedure, and determining a patient's suitability for therapy. It is used most commonly in the prognosis of cancer therapy, usually after chemotherapy and customarily administered before and after therapy. It was named for Dr. David A. Karnofsky, an American specialist in cancer chemotherapy.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A performance measure for rating the ability of a person to perform usual activities, evaluating a patient's progress after a therapeutic procedure, and determining a patient's suitability for therapy. It is used most commonly in the prognosis of cancer therapy, usually after chemotherapy and customarily administered before and after therapy. It was named for Dr. David A. Karnofsky, an American specialist in cancer chemotherapy.

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

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See Also

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Synonyms

7 entry terms
  • Karnofsky Index
  • Karnofsky Performance Status Scale
  • Karnofsky Scale
  • Index, Karnofsky
  • Performance Status, Karnofsky
  • Scale, Karnofsky
  • Status, Karnofsky Performance

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

3 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings history, standards, statistics & numerical data.

MeSH Record

History Note

94

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. E05.318w.308w.980w.438.475w.456.500w.500
  2. N05.715w.360.300w.800w.438.375w.364.500w.500
  3. N06.850w.520w.308w.980w.438.475w.364.500w.500

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Karnofsky Performance Status. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D017567. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D017567
  2. Karnofsky Performance Status. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q46130774