January 2023 Update to Emtree(R) Now Available in Embase(R)

The latest version of the Emtree thesaurus launched in Embase on STNext in late January 2023. Emtree is a critical resource for the most updated terminology in biomedicine, pharmacology and medical devices, and is updated three times per year. A notable feature of the first EMTREE update of the year is the inclusion of new terminology from the 2023 MeSH (Medical Subject Headings), the controlled indexing vocabulary for MEDLINE.

The latest Emtree version adds 315 new drug terms and 1,403 non-drug terms. The thesaurus now contains about 96,304 preferred terms and about 500,000 synonyms.

Highlights of the new version include:

• Revision and expansion of the terminology for tumors and neoplasms:
  • urogenital tract tumors
  • pelvis tumors
  • musculoskeletal tumors (previously referred to as locomotor system tumors)
  • muscle tissue tumors in the soft tissue tumor branch
  • bone tissue neoplasms under connective tissue tumors

• Revision and expansion of the hierarchies for:
  • bacterial infections, including new terminology for six CNS infections
  • artery occlusions
  • seizures, epilepsy and convulsions

Other significant enhancements include:

• new terminology related to COVID-19, including clinical trials, vaccines and trade names
• 279 additions to the Organisms hierarchy, including many related to the SARS-CoV-2 virus variants
• new Anatomy terms in the brain and genital system branches
• about 700 additional medical device trade names

Customers running Alerts in Embase are encouraged to review the latest additions and changes to Emtree to determine whether their search strategies should be updated to ensure continued comprehensive retrieval. A repository of Emtree Release Notes, as well as lists of Added and Changed Emtree terms, can be found at:

https://service.elsevier.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/16354/supporthub/