Table 2. summary of frequent/representative misuses of CTCAE v3.0.

Section	Descriptors in the articles	Correct form or comments
Adverse Events Terms	Anemia Neutropenia Thrombocytopenia Edema Thromboembolic events Constitutional symptoms Vascular Cardiac arrhythmia Palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia Fatigue; asthenia Deterioration in general physical condition Decreased appetite Pyrexia Yellow skin Cardiac toxicity Leukopenia Nausea-vomiting Lacrimation Nasopharyngitis Paresthesia Azotemia Thyroid disorders Neutropenic fever Glossodynia Dysphonia Abdominal distention Renal impairment Menopausal symptoms Skin exfoliation Jaundice Psychiatric disorders Epistaxis Mucosal inflammation	Hemoglobin Neutrophils Platelets Should be Edema-limb or similar Not an AE term Not an AE term Not an AE term Not an AE term Not a CTCAE v3.0 term; this is a CTCAE v4.0 term Should use Fatigue; they are separate terms in CTCAE v4.0. Not an AE term Should use anorexia Not an AE term Not an AE term Not an AE term Leukocytes Not an AE term Not an AE term Not an AE term Not an AE term Not an AE term Not an AE term Not an AE term Not an AE term Not an AE term Not an AE term Not an AE term Not an AE term Not an AE term Not an AE term Not an AE term Not an AE term Not an AE term
Supra-ordinate Terms	Mucositis Mucositis; stomatitis Infection Hemorrhage Pain Perforation Fistula	Should be more specific, for example: mucositis (clinical exam) _ oral cavity They should be the same term rather than different terms. Should be more specific; for example: Infection with normal ANC _lung Should be more specific; for example: Hemorrhage, GI-colon Should be more specific; for example: Pain -bone Should be more specific; for example: Perforation, GU-bladder Should be more specific; for example: fistula, pulmonary-trachea
Grades	Febrile neutropenia grade 1 or 2 Alopecia grade 3 Weight loss grade 4 Dysgeusia grade 3 Dyspepsia grade 4 Hypoalbuminemia grade 4 Hyperpigmentation grade 3 Pruritus grade 4 Renal failure grade 1 or 2 Dry skin grade 4 Fatigue grade 5 Cough grade 4 Hot flash grade 4 Libido grade 3 Nail change grade 4 Watery eye grade 4 Hypokalemia grade 2	Minimum grade 3 Maximum grade 2 Maximum grade 3 Maximum grade 2 Maximum grade 3 No grade 4 Maximum grade 2 Maximum grade 3 Minimum grade 3 Maximum grade 3 Maximum grade 4 Maximum grade 3 Maximum grade 3 Maximum grade 2 Maximum grade 3 Maximum grade 3 No grade 2
The Use of ‘Other, specify’	Blood, other Infection, other Skin, other	Should briefly describe the event right after the word ‘Other’ and be more specific

Abbreviations: AE, adverse event; CTC, Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events; ANC, absolute neutrophil count. Note: Detailed rating information is described in the Methods section.