Common Abbreviations (All)

A | B | C | D-E | F-H | I-K | L | M | N-O | P | Q-R | S | T-Z

Abbreviation Word or Phrase
A Allergy
A Annum
A Anode
A Anterior
A Aortic
A Artery
A Axial
AA Aplastic anemia
AB Abort (miscarry)
AB About
AB Antibody
AB Asthmatic bronchitis
ABD, ABDOM Abdomen
ABN Abnormal
ABP Arterial blood pressure
ABST Abstract
AC Adrenal cortex
AC Air contrast
AC Anterior chamber
ACH Adrenal cortical hormone
ACID PHOS Acid phosphatase
ACID P'TASE Acid phosphatase
ACTH Adrenocorticotrophic hormone
ADENOCA Adenocarcinoma
ADH Antidiuretic hormone (vasopressin)
ADJ Adjacent
ADM Admission
ADM Admit
ADR Adverse drug reaction
AFF Afferent
AFF Affirmative
AFP Alpha-fetoprotein
AG Atrial gallop
AG Antigen
AG Argentum (silver, chemical symbol for)
AGL Acute granulocytic leukemia
A/G RATIO Albumin-globulin ratio
AGNO3 Silver Nitrate
AIDS Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
AIL Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy
AILD Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysprotinemia
AIN Anal intraepithelial neoplasia
AK(A) Above knee (amputation)
AKA Also known as
ALB Albumin
ALCL Anaplastic large cell lymphoma
ALK PHOS alkaline phosphatase
ALL Acute lymphocytic leukemia
AMA Against medical advice
AMB ambulatory
AMKL Acute megakaryocytic leukemia
AML Acute myelogenous leukemia
AMP Amputation
ANAP Anaplastic
ANAT Anatomy
ANO Axillary node dissection
ANED Alive no evidence of disease
ANES(TH) Anesthesia, anesthetic
ANT Anterior
ANTE Before
A&P Ausculation & percussion
AP Abdominal perineal
AP Anteroposterior
AP Anterior pituitary
AP&LAT Anteroposterior & lateral
ARMS Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma
B Bacillus
B Black
B Blue
B Born
B Brother
BA Bachelor of Arts
BA Barium (chemical symbol for)
BA Bronchial asthma
BALT Bronchial-associated lymphoid tissue
BAS Basal
BASOS Basophil(s) (granular leukocyte)
BBB Blood-brain block
BBB Bundle-branch block
BBT Basal body temperature
BC Birth control
BC Bone conduction
BC Buccocervical
BCC Basal cell carcinoma
B-CELLS Special lymphocytes formed in bone marrow (derived from bursa of Fabricius)
BCG Bacillus Calmette-Guerin
BD Bile duct
BE Barium enema
B/F Black female
BIO Twice a day
BIL Bilateral
BK(A) Below knee (amputation)
BM Bone marrow
BM Bowel movement
B/M Black male
BMR Basal metabolic rate
BMT Bone marrow transplant
BP Blood pressure
BPH Benign prostatic hypertrophy/hyperlplasia
BRM Biological response modifier
BSC Bone scan
BSE Breast self examination
BSO Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy
BT Brain tumor
BUN Blood urea nitrogen
BUS Bartholin's, uethral & Skene's glands
BX Biopsy
C Centigrade
Ca Ca-Journal of the American Cancer Society
C1-C7 Cervical vertebrae
CA Calcium
CA Carcinoma
CAT Computerized axial tomography
CBC Complete blood count
CBD Common bile duct
CC Chief complaint
CC Cubic centimeter
CCU Coronary care unit
CEA Carcinoembryonic antigen
CGL Chronic granulocytic leukemia
CHF Congestive heart failure
CHR Chronic
CIG Cigarettes
CIN Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia
CIS Carcinoma-in situ
CLL Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
CM Centimeter
CM Costal margin
CML Chronic myeloid/myelocytic leukemia
CMML Chromic myelomonocytic leukemia
CMV Cytomegalovirus
CNS Central nervous system
C/O Complaining of
CO2 Carbon dioxide
Co60 Cobalt 60
COR Heart
CR Complete remission
CRF Chronic renal failure
CS Cesium
CSF Cerebrospinal fluid
CSF Colony-stimulating factor
C-SPINE Cervical spine
CTCL Cutaneous T cell lymphoma
CTR Certified Tumor Registrar
CT SC Computerized (axial) tomography scan
CVA Cerebrovascular accident
CVA Costovertebral angle
C/W Consistent with
CX Cervix
CXR Chest x-ray
CYSTO Cystoscopy
CYTO Cytology
D1, D2 ETC First dorsal vertebra, second, etc.
D&C Dilatation and curettage
DC Discharge
DC Discontinued
DCIS Ductal carcinoma in situ
DERM Dermatology
DD Discharge diagnosis
DDX Differential diagnosis
DIAM Diameter
DIFF Differentiated, differential
DIS, DISCH Disease; Discharge
DLS Date last seen
DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid
DNR Do not resuscitate
DO Doctor of Osteopathy
DOA Dead on arrival
DOB Date of birth
DOD Date of death
DOE Dyspnea on exertion
DR (Medical) doctor
DS Discharge
DTR Deep tendon reflex
DX Diagnosis
ECF Extended care facility
ECG, EKG Electrocardiogram
EEG Electroencephalogram
EENT Eyes, ears, nose, & throat
EGD Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
EMG Electromyogram
ENL Enlarged
ENT Ear, nose & throat
EPA Erect (standing), posterior, anterior
ER Emergency room
ER(A) Estrogen receptor (assay)
ERCP Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
EST Electroshock therapy
EUA Exam under anesthesia
EXAM Examination
EXC Excision
EXP LAP Exploratory laparotomy
EXT Extend, extension
EXT External; Extremity
F Fahrenheit
FAB French American and British Classification Scheme for Leukemia
FB Fingerbreadth
FBS Fasting blood sugar
FDA Food and Drug Administration in USA
FIGO International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics
F(M)H Family (medical) history
FLURO Fluoroscopy
FOM Floor of mouth
FP Flat plate
FU Follow up
FUO Fever unknown origin
FX Fracture
FX Frozen section
GA Gastric analysis
GB Gallbladder
GBM Glioblastoma multiforme
GCT Germ cell tumor
GE Gastroenterostomy
GE Gastroesophageal
GEN Generalized
GI Gastrointestinal
GM Gram
GP General practitioner
GR Grade, grain(s)
GU Genitourinary
GYN Gynecology
HB Hemoglobin
HCG Human Chorionic gonadotropin
HCL Hairy cell leukemia
HCT Hematocrit
HCVD Hypertensive cardiovascular disease
HD Heart disease
HD Heart disease
HEENT Head, eyes, ears, nose & throat
HGB Hemoglobin
HIV Human immunodeficiency virus
HN2 Nitrogen mustard
H2O Water
H/O History of
HORM Hormone
HOSP Hospital
H&P History and physical
HPF High power field
HPI History of present illness
HPV Human papilloma virus
HR(S) Hour(s)
HRT Hormone Replacement therapy
HTLV-III Human T-lymphotrophic virus type III
HVD Hypertensive vascular disease
HX History
HYST Hysterectomy
I Iodine
IARC International Agency for Research on Cancer
ICD-O-1 International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, 1st Ed., 1976
ICD-O-2 International Classification of Diseases, for Oncology, 2nd Ed., 1992
ICD-O-3 International Classification of Diseases, for Oncology, 3rd Ed., 2000
ICF Intercellular fluid
ICM Intercostal margin
ICS Intercostal space
ICU Intensive care unit
IG Immunoglobulin
IM Intramuscular
IMA Internal mammary artery
IMP Impression
INCL Includes, including
INF Inferior
INF Infraction
INF Infusion
INFILT Infiltrating
INJ Injection
INT MED Internal medicine
INPT Inpatient
IPPB Intermittent positive pressure breathing
IT Intrathecal
IV Intravenous
IVC Inferior vena cava
IVP Intravenous pyelogram
JVD Jugular venous distention
K Potassium
KG Kilogram
KJ Knee jerk
KK Knee kick
KUB Kidneys, ureters, bladder
KV Kilovolt
L Left
L Liter
L Lower
L1-L5 Lumbar vertebrae
LAD Lymphadenopathy
LAP Laparotomy
LAT Lateral
LAV Lymphadenopathy-associated virus
LCIS Lobular carcinoma in-situ
LCM Left costal margin
LDH Lactic dehydrogenase
LE Lower extremity; Lupus erythematosus
LFT Liver function test
LG Large
LIF Left iliac fossa
LINAC Linear accelerator
LIQ Lower inner quadrant (breast)
LKS(B) Liver, kidney, spleen, (bladder)
LLE Left lower extremity
LLL Left lower lobe (lung)
LLQ Left lower quadrant (abdomen)
LMD Local medical doctor
LMP Last menstrual period
LN(S) Lymph node(s)
LOP Lower outer quadrant (breast)
LP Lumbar puncture
LPF Lower power field
LPN Licensed practical nurse
LS Lumbosacral
LSK, LKS Liver, spleen, kidneys
LSO Left salpingo-oophorectomy
L-SPINE Lumbar spine
LT Left
LUE Left upper extremity
LUL Left upper lobe (lung)
LUQ Left upper quadrant (abdomen)
L&W Living and well
M Monocytes, meter
MAB Monoclonal antibody
MAL Malignant
MALT mucosal-associated lymphoid tissue
MALIG Malignant
MAND Mandible
MAST Mastectomy
M-CSF Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor
MC Millicurie
MCH Mean corpuscular hemoglobin
MCHC Mean corpuscular hemoglobin count
MCL Mid clavicular line
MCV Mean corpuscular volume
MD Medical doctor
MD Moderately differentiated
MOS Myelodysplastic syndrome
MET, METS Metastatic, metastases
MEV Million electron volts
MH Marital history
MH Mental health
MI Myocardial infarction
MG Milligram
MICRO Microscopic
ML Middle lobe
ML Milliliter
MM Millimeter
MOD Moderate
MOD DIFF Moderately differentiated
MPNST Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor
MRI Magnetic resonance imaging
MRM Modified radical mastectomy
MS Mitral stenosis
MS Multiple sclerosis
MSL Mid sternal line
MX Microscopic
MX Maxilla(ry), maximum
NA Not applicable
NBS Normal bowel sounds
NEC Not elsewhere classified
NED No evidence of disease
NEG or - Negative
NERD No evidence of recurrent disease
NEURO Neurology
NHL Non Hodgkin lymphoma
NK Natural killer
NL Normal
NOS Not otherwise specified
NR Not recorded
NR Not reportable
NSCLC Non small cell lung carcinoma
NSF N significant findings
NTP Normal temperature and pressure
N&V Nausea and vomiting
NVD neck vein distention
OB Obstetrics
OBST Obstructed (ing, ion)
OD Right eye (oculus dexter)
ODS Oncology Data Specialist
OH Occupational history
OP Operation
OP Outpatient
OPD Outpatient clinic; department
OPHTH Ophthalmology
OR Operating room
ORTH Orthopedics
OS Bone
OS Left eye (oculus sinister)
OS Mouth
OS Opening
OSTEO Osteomyelitis
OT Occupational therapy
OTO Otology
OU Each eye (oculus uterque)
OV Office visit
OZ Ounce
P Pulse
P&A Percussion and auscultation
PA Posteroanterior
PA Pulmonary artery
PA Physician assistant
PALP Palpable, palpated, palpation
PAP Papanicolaou smear
PAP Papillary
PAR Post anesthesia room
PARA Number of pregnancies resulting in viable infants
PATH Pathology
PCV Packed cell volume
PD Poorly differentiated
PDR Physician's Desk Reference
PE Physical examination
PED Pediatrics
PEG Pneumoencephalography
PEG Percutaneous gastrostomy tube
PERC Percutaneous
PET Positron emission tomography
PH Past or personal history
PI Present illness
PID Pelvic inflammatory disease
PIN Prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia
PLT Platelets
PM Post mortem (after death)
PMD Personal (primary) medical doctor
PMH Past medical history
PND Postnasal drip
PNET Peripheral neuroectodermal tumor (bone tumors)
PNET Primitive neuroectodermal tumor (CNS tumors)
PO, POSTOP Postoperative(ly)
POD Postoperative day
POOR DIFF Poorly differentiated
POS or + Positive
POSS Possible
POST Posterior
POST Postmortem examination
POSTOP Postoperative(ly)
PPD Purified protein derivative (Tuberculin skin test)
PPD Packs per day
PR Partial response
PR(A) Progesterone receptor (assay)
PREOP Preoperative(ly)
PROB Probable(ly)
PSA Prostate specific antigen
PT Patient
PT Physiotherapy
PTA Prior to examination
PUO Pyrexia of undetermined origin
PULM Pulmonary
Q Quadrant
QID Four times a day
R Roentgen
R Respiration
R Right
RA Radium
RAD Radiation
RAD Radiation Absorbed Dose
RAD Radical
RAEB (-T) Refractory anemia with excess blasts (in transformation)
RAIU Radioactive iodine (I 131) uptake
RARS Refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts
RBC Red blood cells
RCM Right costal margin
RCS Reticulum cell sarcoma
REG Radioencephalogram
RES Reticuloendothelial system
RESEC Resection
RESP Respiratory
RH Rhesus (monkey) factor in blood
RIA Radioimmunoassay
RIF Right iliac fossa
RIQ Right inner quadrant (abdomen)
RLE Right lower extremity
RLL Right lower lobe (lung)
RLQ Right lower quadrant
RML Right middle lobe (lung)
RMS Rhabdomyosarcoma
RN Registered nurse
RNP Registered nurse practioner
RNA Ribonucleic acid
RO, R/O Rule out
ROF Review of outside films
ROM Range of motions
ROS Review of slides
ROS Review of outside slides
ROQ Right outer quadrant (abdomen)
RSO Right salpingo-oophorectomy
R-S cells Reed-Sternberg cells
RT Radiation therapy
RT Right
RUE Right upper extremity
RUL Right upper lobe
RUQ Right upper quadrant
R-V Rectovaginal
RX Treatment
S1S5 Sacral vertebra
SALT Skin-associated lymphoid tissue
SARC Sarcoma
SB Small bowel
SBE Subacute bacterial endocarditis
SCC Squamous cell carcinoma
SEER Surveilance Epidemiology and End Results
SGOT Serum glutamic oxaloacetic
SGPT Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase
SS Social Secrutity
SH Serum hepatitis
SM Small
SMA Sequential multiple analysis (Biochem profile)
SML BWL Small bowel
SNF Skilled nursing facility
SO Salpingo-oophorectomy
SOB Shortness of breath
SOL Solution
S/P Status post
SPEC Specimen
SP GR Specific gravity
S-Q, SQ Subcutaneous
SQ, SQUAM Squamous
SQ CELL CA Squamous cell carcinoma
SR Sedimentation rate
S-SPINE Sacral spine
STAPH Staphylococus
STAT Immediately (statim)
STREP Streptococcus
STSG Split thickness skin graft
SUBCU Subcutaneous
SUB-Q, SUBQ Subcutaneous
SURG Surgery, surgical
SVC Superior vena cava
SX Symptoms
SYMP Symptoms
T Temperature
T Thoracic
TA Toxin-antitoxin
T1-T2 Thoracic vertebra
T&A Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
TAH Total abdominal hysterectomy
TAH-BSO Total abdominal hysterectomy-bilateral salpingo oophorectomy
TB, TBC Tuberculosis
TCC Transitional cell carcinoma
TD Tumor dose
TID Three times a day
TNM Tumor, Nodes, Metastasis
TP Total protein
TPN Total parenteral nutrition
TPR Temperature, pulse and respiration
TS Tumor size
TSH Thyroid stimulating hormone
T-SPINE Thoracic spine
TUR Transurethral resection
TURB Transurethral resection-Bladder
TURP Transurethral resection-Prostate
TVH Total vaginal hysterectomy
TX Treatment
U Unit
UCHD Usual childhood diseases
UE Upper extremity
UGI Upper gastrointestinal
UIQ Upper inner quadrant (breast)
ULCC Undifferentiated large cell carcinoma
UMB Navel (umbilicus)
UNDIFF Undifferentiated
UOQ Upper outer quadrant (abdomen)
UR Urine
URI Upper respiratory infection
UROL Urology
UTI Urinary tract infection
VAG Vagina, Vaginal
VAG HYST Vaginal hysterectomy
VAIN Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia
VASC Vascular
VD Venereal Disease
VIN Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia
VS Vital signs
W/ With
WBC White blood cells
W/D Well developed
WD, WELL DIFF Well differentiated
W/F White female
W/M White male
WN Well nourished
WNL Within normal limits
W/O Without
WT Weight
W/U Work-up
XR X-ray
Y/O Year old
YR Year

Updated: December 28, 2023