Indication

Indication is a term used in medicine and other fields to denote a factor or circumstance that makes a particular treatment or procedure appropriate. In clinical practice, an indication is a valid reason to start, continue, or perform something for a patient. This is distinct from a contraindication, which is a reason not to proceed.

Medical indications include therapeutic indications (the conditions for which a treatment can improve outcomes), diagnostic indications (tests used to establish a diagnosis), and procedural indications (reasons to perform a surgery or procedure). Drug labeling often lists indications as approved uses; expansions require regulatory review. Off-label use refers to applying a drug to conditions beyond its approved indications.

Indications are not diagnoses themselves; they are about context for action. They may be based on guidelines, clinical trials, expert consensus, or observational data. Signs, symptoms, laboratory findings, and imaging results can serve as indications when they point toward a particular diagnosis or management plan.

Indication can evolve with new evidence, safety data, and regulatory decisions. While a drug may have a primary indication, clinicians consider individual patient factors, risk-benefit, and availability of alternatives when applying indications in practice.