# Lateralized Disorder Naming Conventions **This Editorial Guide is used for Education Purposes Only. It is used in the Authoring Courses and Certifications. It is based on the January 2026 Editorial Guide.** {% hint style="warning" %} **For more information** See also Anatomical Structure Naming Conventions section [Naming Convention for Digits of Hand and Foot](https://docs.snomed.org/education/snomed-ct-education-editorial-guide/readme/authoring/domain-specific-modeling/body-structure/index/naming-convention-for-digits-of-hand-and-foot) and Laterality section [Laterality](https://docs.snomed.org/education/snomed-ct-education-editorial-guide/readme/authoring/domain-specific-modeling/body-structure/anatomical-concept-model/laterality) {% endhint %} ## Right, left disorder concepts When creating a lateralized disorder concept, two concepts should be created: 1. concept for the left side 2. concept for the right side Descriptions * FSN: \ of \_right/left\_ \ (disorder) * PT: *Right/left* * For example, 1089071000119109 | Inflammation of left mastoid (disorder)| * FSN: Inflammation of left mastoid (disorder) * PT: Left mastoiditis

Stated view of Inflammation of left mastoid (disorder)

When creating a lateralized disorder concept, if a non-lateralized parent does not exist, then it should be created as well. In other words, do not just create the right and left versions, but also create a concept to represent the laterality-agnostic parent. * For example, * When creating *Inflammation of left mastoid* and *Inflammation of right mastoid*, also ensure a concept for *Inflammation of mastoid* exists. Where the disorder is left/right of a specific anatomical site, and the preferred term naming pattern of *Right/left* causes a combination that does not sound like natural flowing English, the guidance above can be circumvented. See the section [Naming Convention for Digits of Hand and Foot](https://docs.snomed.org/education/snomed-ct-education-editorial-guide/readme/authoring/domain-specific-modeling/body-structure/index/naming-convention-for-digits-of-hand-and-foot) and Laterality section [Laterality](https://docs.snomed.org/education/snomed-ct-education-editorial-guide/readme/authoring/domain-specific-modeling/body-structure/anatomical-concept-model/laterality). * For example, * *Left interphalangeal thumb joint open traumatic dislocation* should follow naming guidance of *Open traumatic dislocation of interphalangeal joint of left thumb*. * *Left abscess of foot* is an incorrect term; instead, this should read *Abscess of left foot*. {% hint style="info" %} **Unilateral** With the addition of lateralized content in the International Release, the need for unspecified unilateral concepts is removed, as well as potentially dangerous, if used directly in a patient record. Unilateral concepts are not accepted. {% endhint %} ## Bilateral disorder concepts Where the bilateral disorder description causes a combination that does not sound like natural flowing English, the guidance below can be circumvented. #### When the body structure and the morphologic abnormality are combined into one word, the following naming pattern applies: * FSN: of bilateral (disorder) * PT: Bilateral * SYN: of bilateral * SYN: of both * For example, 1084011000119100 | Inflammation of bilateral mastoids (disorder)| * FSN: Inflammation of bilateral mastoids (disorder) * PT: Bilateral mastoiditis * SYN: Inflammation of bilateral mastoids * SYN: Inflammation of both mastoids ### When the body structure and morphologic abnormality are separate, the following naming pattern applies: * FSN: of bilateral (disorder) * PT: of bilateral * SYN: of both Note the PT of Bilateral is not required. *Bilateral* is to describe the body site, not the morphologic abnormality. * For example, 15725081000119100 | Effusion of joint of bilateral feet (disorder) | * FSN: Effusion of joint of bilateral feet (disorder) * PT: Effusion of joint of bilateral feet * SYN: Effusion of joint of both feet Also note that *joint* is singular. This is to denote that the joint may be singular on each side of the body; the plurality of feet will represent the laterality. Using *joints* as plural may incorrectly reflect that there are multiple joints affected in both feet. {% hint style="warning" %} Do not use *both* to describe disorders of the eyelids unless the concept's means *both upper eyelids* or *both lower eyelids* , only then can that synonym be included for bilateral eyelid disorder concepts. {% endhint %} ## Modeling of bilateral disorders Bilateral disorders should be modeled using two relationship groups, one for each lateralized body structure.

Stated view of Inflammation of bilateral mastoids (disorder) with a role group for each side

{% hint style="info" %} **Structure, Structure of** Lateralized disorder concepts should not include the words *structure* or *structure of*. * For example, * With use of 266005 | Structure of lower lobe of right lung (body structure)|, * a disorder concept is termed 724056005 | Malignant neoplasm of lower lobe of right lung (disorder)| * a procedure is termed 726425007 | Lobectomy of lower lobe of right lung (procedure)| {% endhint %} Provide Feedback --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.snomed.org/education/snomed-ct-education-editorial-guide/readme/authoring/domain-specific-modeling/clinical-finding-and-disorder/index/lateralized-disorder-naming-conventions.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.