An official website of the United States government
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