Diagnostic Uncertainty in German: Precise Phrases for Case Presentations

In a medical-language presentation, precision is more useful than theatrical certainty. A suspected diagnosis is not a confirmed finding; an unanswered question is not a negative result.

FaMed supplies the information for its patient presentations and does not separately assess medical knowledge.

Name the source and degree of certainty

Use the wording that the task supports:

These are practice formulations, not prescribed official sentences.

Use alternatives without inventing a conclusion

If the assignment contains alternatives, introduce them clearly:

• „Als weitere Möglichkeit wird … genannt.“
• „Die Befunde erlauben laut Bericht noch keine eindeutige Zuordnung.“
• „Zur Klärung ist im vorgegebenen Plan … vorgesehen.“

If you offer an interpretation in a practice exercise, label it as your interpretation. Do not report that an investigation was performed or ordered when it was not.

A fictional language exercise

Source note: a patient reports breathlessness after an operation; the supplied note describes a suspected embolism and planned further investigation. No result is given.

Die Patientin berichte über nach einer Operation aufgetretene Atemnot. Im vorliegenden Bericht wird der Verdacht auf eine Lungenembolie genannt. Die weitere Abklärung sei geplant; ein Untersuchungsergebnis liegt in dieser Übung nicht vor.

This exercise practises source accuracy, not the clinical diagnosis or exclusion of embolism.

Keep connectors proportionate

„Dafür spricht …“ indicates supporting information; it does not mean „beweist …“. „Dagegen spricht …“ does not automatically mean „sicher ausgeschlossen“. Practise that difference using only the facts provided.

Use SBAR as an organising aid, then compare the recorded presentation with its source. For patient-facing questions, see the history guide.

Sources and review

Editorial check: 18 October 2026, human medicine. Official exam flow, Current human-medicine practice test. Practice examples are created by FaMED Prep; they are not predictions of exam questions.