[Look back on the tenth revision of the international classification of diseases (ICD - 10)].

Following the 6th revision, the 10th revision of ICD is another revision of significance as a milestone. The major change is the replacement of pure numerical form of code structure by alphabet - numerical one. There is also progress in the classification thinking in ICD-10, marking the progress toward maturity of the thinking in disease classification. Descriptions are given to the general condition, revision of its contents, the conception of classified 'family' of disease classification, and the new renewal mechanism in the 10th revision.