List of medical abbreviations

0-9
Abbrev.
Diagnosis; Change Differential diagnosis (the list of possible diagnoses, and the effort to narrow that

Meaning

# #NOF

list)
Fracture Fracture to the neck of the femur

x/12 x/40 x/52 x/7 5-HIAA 5-HT

(R with crossed tail) prescription

Psychiatry Sigmoidoscopy

x number of months x number of weeks of pregnancy x number of weeks x number of days

5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid

5-hydroxytryptamine, that is, serotonin

A
Abbrev. A a.a.
artery Adenosine

Meaning (a with a bar over it) before (from Latin ante)

Apical Of each (from Latin ana ana) Amino acids: A or Ala -- alanine C or Cys -- cysteine D or Asp -- aspartic acid E or Glu -- glutamic acid F or Phe -- phenylalanine H or His -- histidine I or Ile -- isoleucine K or Lys -- lysine L or Leu -- leucine M or Met -- methionine

 AAA AAT AAL AAOx3 A/B ab Ab AB ABC

N or Asn -- asparagine O or Pyl -- pyrrolysine P or Pro -- proline Q or Gln -- glutamine R or Arg -- arginine S or Ser -- serine T or Thr -- threonine U or Sec -- selenocysteine V or Val -- valine W or Trp -- tryptophan Y or Tyr -- tyrosine

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (pronounced "triple-A") Activity as tolerated Anterior axillary line Awake, alert, and oriented, times 3 (i.e., to person, place, and time)

Acid-base ratio
Abdomen Abdominal Antibody Abortion Airway, breathing, circulation Aspiration biopsy cytology Airway, breathing, circulation, disability

ABCD ABCs ABCDs ABCDEs Abd ABE ABG ABI ABMT Abn ABO ABPA ABPI ABVD ABX a.c.

Asymmetry, borders, color, diameter (features on considering "Is it a malignant melanoma?") ABCD rating (a staging system for prostate cancer)
Airway, breathing, circulation, etc. Refers to priority of needs in emergency

situations. Exact spell-out and details after "C" vary by institution, but the "ABCs" theme is recurrent.
Abdomen Abdominal

Acute bacterial endocarditis

Arterial blood gas Acquired brain injury Ankle brachial pressure index Autologous bone marrow transplantation

Abnormal
Landsteiner's blood grouping system

Allergic broncho-pulmonary aspergillosis

Ankle brachial pressure index Doxorubicin (Adriamycin), bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine(first-line treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma) Antibiotics

Before a meal (from Latin ante cibum)

AC ACB AC&BC Acc ACCU ACD ACDF Ace ACE ACEI ACh AChE ACL ACLS ACS ACTH ACU ad. AD ADA ADC ADCC ADD ADH ADHD ADHR ADLs ad lib adm Adn ADP ad part. dolent ADR AED AEM AF
Aortocoronary bypass

Air conduction and bone conduction, as in Weber test

Accommodation (eye)

Acute coronary care unit

Anemia of chronic disease Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion Acetone Angiotensin-converting enzyme Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor(s) Acetylcholine Acetylcholine esterase Anterior cruciate ligament Advanced cardiac life support Acute coronary syndrome Adrenocorticotropic hormone

Ambulatory care unit Right ear (from Latin auris dexter)

Alzheimer's disease

Acute distress Right ear (from Latin auris dexter)

Adenosine deaminase AIDS dementia complex Antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity Attention deficit disorder Antidiuretic hormone Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder Autosomal-dominant hypophosphatemic rickets Activities of daily living As desired (from Latin ad libitum) Admission

Adnexae (for example, adnexae of the uterus)

Adenosine diphosphate

To the painful parts (from Latin ad partes dolentes)

Adverse drug reaction Automated external defibrillator Anti-epileptic drug(s) Ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring Atrial fibrillation

Atrial flutter Amniotic fluid

AFB AFib AFO AFP Ag AGA

Acid-fast bacilli Atrial fibrillation Ankle-foot orthosis Alpha-fetoprotein Antigen Anti-gliadin antibodies

Appropriate gestational age (see birth weight) Acute glomerulonephritis Every other hour (from Latin alternis horis)
Antihemophilic factor Antihemophilic globulin Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase

AGES criteria Age, grade, extent, size (for tumors) AGN a.h. AHF AHG AHH AHR AI AICD AID AIDS AIH AIHD AIPD AIIRB AIN AIS aka AKA ALA Alc ALG ALI Alk phos ALL ALP ALPS

Airway hyper-reactivity
Artificial insemination Aortic insufficiency Automated implantable cardioverter-defibrillator Artificial insemination by donor Acquired immune deficiency syndrome Artificial insemination by husband Artificial insemination by pooled husband and donor semen

Acute infectious and parasitical diseases Autoimmune progesterone dermatitis

Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy angiotensin II receptor antagonist Acute interstitial nephritis Adenocarcinoma in situ Also known as above-knee amputation

Also known as
Aminolevulinic acid Alcohol Antilymphocytic globulin Acute lung injury Alkaline phosphatase (sometimes abbreviated as ALP) Acute lymphoblastic leukemia Allergies Alkaline phosphatase (sometimes abbreviated as Alk phos) Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome

ALS ALT altern. d. AMA Amb AMC AMI AML AMP Amp
AMPAreceptor

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Advanced life support Alanine transaminase

Every other day (from Latin alterno die) Advanced maternal age (35 years or greater)
Against medical advice Anti-mitochondrial antibody American Medical Association Ambulate Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita Acute myocardial infarction Acute myeloid leukemia Adenosine monophosphate Ampule Ampere

Alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor of the brain

Acute mountain sickness Atypical measles syndrome

AMS Amt ANA ANCA ANDI ANF ANP ANS Ant AntiANTR ANUG A&O A&Ox3 A&Ox4 AODM AOM a.p. AP A&P
APACHE II

Amount
Anti-nuclear antibody Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody

Aberrations of normal development and involution (of breast)

Atrial natriuretic factor Atrial natriuretic peptide Autonomic nervous system Anterior

Refers to an antibody to the suffixed antigen

Asymmetrical tonic neck reflex Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis Aware and oriented Alert and oriented, times 3 (to person, place, and time) Alert and oriented, times 4 (to person, place, time, and circumstances) (often used

interchangeably with A&Ox3) Adult-onset diabetes mellitus (now called diabetes mellitus type 2) Acute otitis media Before a meal (from Latin ante prandium)
Alkaline phosphatase Anteroposterior

Angina pectoris
Auscultation and percussion

Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II

APAP

Paracetamol (aka acetaminophen) (from its chemical name, N-acetyl-para-

aminophenol)
Automatic positive airway pressure Atrial premature contraction Antigen-presenting cell Activated protein C Adult polycystic disease

APC APD APKD APECED APGAR APH APLS

APMPPE

Automated peritoneal dialysis

Adult polycystic kidney disease Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy Appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, respiration - used to assess newborns Antepartum haemorrhage Antiphospholipid syndrome Acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy

applic. APR APS APSAC aPTT aq. aq. bull. aq. calid. aq. dist. aq. gel. AR ARB ARC ARDS ARF Arg ARM AROM ART ARVC ARVD AS ASA ASAP

Applicandus (Latin meaning "to be applied")

Abdominoperineal resection Autoimmune polyendocrine/polyglandular syndrome Anisoylated plasminogen streptokinase activator complex Activated partial thromboplastin time

Water (from Latin aqua) Boiling water (from Latin aqua bulliens) Warm or hot water (from Latin aqua calida) Distilled water (from Latin aqua distillata) Cold water (from Latin aqua gelida)
Aortic regurgitation Angiotensin II receptor antagonist AIDS-related complex acute respiratory distress syndrome

Adult respiratory distress syndrome

Acute renal failure Arginine Artificial rupture of membranes (also abbreviated as AROM) Active range of motion Artificial rupture of membranes Antiretroviral therapy

Assuming room temperature (that is, the patient has died)

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia Aortic stenosis Atherosclerosis

Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) As soon as possible

ASC ASCAD ASCUS ASCVD ASD ASGUS ASH ASHD ASIS ASO ASOT Ass AST ASX AT ATA ATB ATCC ATG AT-III ATN ATNR ATP Atp ATRA ATS AUC aur. aur. dextro. aur. laev aurist. AV AVM AVR A&W A/W

Ambulatory surgery center Arteriosclerotic coronary artery disease

Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance Arteriosclerotic vascular disease (arteriosclerosis)

Atrial septal defect

Atypical squamous glandular cells of undetermined significance Arteriosclerotic heart disease (coronary heart disease)
Anterior superior iliac spine Antistreptolysin-O Antistreptolysin-O titre

Assessment
Aspartate transaminase Asymptomatic Antithrombin Angiotensin Anti-transglutaminase antibodies Antibiotic American Type Culture Collection Antithymic globulin Antithrombin III Acute tubular necrosis Asymmetrical tonic neck reflex Acute thrombocytopenic purpura Adenosine triphosphate Anti-tachycardia pacing

Atapical
All-trans retinoic acid

Anti-tetanus serum, that is, anti-tetanus immunoglobulins Area under the curve (pharmacology) Ear (from Latin auris) To right ear (from Latin auris dextrae) To left ear (from Latin auris laevae) Ear drops (from Latin auristillae)
Arteriovenous Atrioventricular Arteriovenous malformation Aortic valve replacement

Alive and well

Ax AXR AZT

Axillary Abdominal x-ray Azidothymidine

B
Abbrev. Bx Ba BAC BAL BAO BAT BBB BBB L BBB R BC BCC BCG BCP BCX BCx BBMF BD BDD BDI BE BFP BGAT BGL BIB BIBA BID bid b.i.d.
Biopsy Barium Blood alcohol content Bronchoalveolar lavage British anti-Lewisite Blood alcohol level Basic acid output Brown adipose tissue Blood brain barrier Left bundle branch block Right bundle branch block Bone conduction Blood culture Basal cell carcinoma Blind carbon copy Bacille Calmette-Guerin (a tuberculosis vaccination) Birth control pill Blood culture

Meaning

"Bone break, me fix" (orthopedic consent form)

Bipolar disorder

Twice a day (from Latin bis in die)

Body dysmorphic disorder Beck Depression Inventory Barium enema Base excess

Bundle forming pilus Blood Glucose Awareness Training (to help patients with diabetic hypoglycemia)
Blood glucose level

Brought in by Brought in by ambulance Twice a day (from Latin bis in die)

Bilat eq BiPAP BiVAD BK BKA bl.cult bld BLS BM BMC BMD BMI BMP BMR BMT BNO BNP BO B/O BOA BOI BOM BOOP BP BPAD BPD BPH BPM BPPV BR BRA BRAT BRATY BRB

Bilaterally equal Bilevel positive airway pressure Bilateral ventricular assist device (left and right)
Bradykinin

Below-the-knee amputation
Blood culture Blood Basic life support Bowel movement

Bone mineral content

Bone mineral density (also termed bone mass measurement) Body mass index

Blood metabolic profile

Basal metabolic rate Bone marrow transplantation

Bowel not open

Brain natriuretic peptide

Bowel open Because of Born out of asepsis Born on island (i.e., a local patient) Bilateral otitis media
Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia Blood pressure Bipolar disorder Bipolar affective disorder Biparietal diameter Borderline personality disorder

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Benign prostatic hyperplasia aka benign prostatic hypertrophy Beats per minute Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo Bedrest Bathroom

Bilateral renal agenesis The BRAT diet: bananas, rice, applesauce, (dry) toast (helps digestion in some GI disorders) Another version of the BRAT diet: bananas, rice, applesauce, (dry) toast, yogurt (helps digestion in some GI disorders) Bright red blood (color is important as an indicator of source, for example in gastrointestinal bleeding)

BRBPR BRCA1(gene) BRCA1 (protein) BRCA2(gene) BRCA2 (protein) BRP BS BSA BSC BSE BSL BSP BT BTL BTP BUN BV BVP Bx BZDs

Bright red blood per rectum Breast cancer 1 (a human gene and its protein)

Breast cancer 2 (a human gene and its protein) Bathroom privileges

Breath Breath sound Bowel sounds on auscultation with stethoscope

Blood sugar Body surface area

Bedside commode
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy Breast self-examination Blood sugar level Bromsulphthalein Bleeding time

Bilateral tubal ligation Breakthrough pain

Blood urea nitrogen Bacterial vaginosis

Biventricular pacing (see artificial pacemaker)

Biopsy benzodiazepines

C
Abbrev. c C C1 C2
Cytosine Cervical vertebrae Atlas - first cervical vertebra of the spine Axis - second cervical vertebra of the spine Carcinoma Cancer Calcium Carcinoma Cancer Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (pronounced "cabbage") Coronary artery bypass procedure

Meaning (c with a bar over it) with (from Latin cum)

C-section Cesarean section CA Ca CABG CABP

CAD CADASIL CAG CAGS cAMP CAH CAPD Caps CAT Cath CBC CBD CBS CC cc CCCU CCE C/C/E CCF CCK CCK-PZ CCR CCU CD CDH CDP CEA CF CFA CFIDS CFS CFTR cGMP

Coronary artery disease Cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy Coronary artery graft Coronary angiography Coronary artery graft surgery Cyclic adenosine monophosphate Chronic active hepatitis Congenital adrenal hyperplasia Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis Capsule Computed axial tomography Catheter Complete blood count Common Bile Duct Chronic brain syndrome Cubic centimeter (use mL insteadsee the do-not-use list) Chief complaint Cardiac catheter Carbon copy

CBC/DIFF Complete blood count/differential

Critical coronary care unit Clubbing, cyanosis, and edema (general signs of cardiovascular disease)
Congestive cardiac failure Cholecystokinin Cholecystokinin-pancreozymin

Cardiocerebral resuscitation
Coronary care unit Critical care unit Crohn's disease

Congenital dislocated hip

Cytosine diphosphate Carcinoembryonic antigen Carotid endarterectomy Cost-effectiveness analysis Cystic fibrosis

Colonization factor antigen

Chronic fatigue immune dysfunction syndrome Chronic fatigue syndrome Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator Cyclic guanosine monophosphate

CGN CH CHD ChE CHEM-7

Chronic glomerulonephritis
Congenital hypothyroidism

Chronic heart disease

Cholinesterase

A group of blood tests, commonly called a basic metabolic panel (blood urea nitrogen, carbon dioxide, creatinine, glucose, serum chloride, serum potassium, serum sodium)

A group of blood tests (albumin, alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen,calcium - serum, serum chloride, carbon CHEM-20 dioxide, creatinine, direct bilirubin, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, glucose test,lactate dehydrogenase, phosphorus - serum, potassium test, serum sodium, total bilirubin, total cholesterol, total protein, uric acid) CHD CHE CHF CHO Chol CHT CI CICU CIDP CIN Circ CIS CJD CK CKD CKMB CLL CM CMD CME CML CMML CMP CMS CMT
Coronary heart disease Cholinesterase Congestive heart failure Carbohydrate Cholesterol Congenital hypothyroidism Confidence interval Cardiac index

Cardiac intensive care unit Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia Circumcision Circulation Carcinoma in situ Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease Creatine kinase Creatinine phosphokinase (formerly CPK) Chronic kidney disease

MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia Chirurgiae Magister Master of Surgery British and Commonwealth countries medical

degree Cystic medial degeneration

Continuing medical education Chronic myelogenous leukemia, also called chronic myeloid leukaemia Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia Complete metabolic panel Cytosine monophosphate Chronic mountain sickness Cervical motion tenderness

CMV CN CNS C/O CO COAD COCP COLD Comp Conj COPD CO2 COX-1 COX-2 COX-3 CP CPAP CPC CPE CPK CPKMB CPP CPR CPT CR Cr CrCl Creat CREST CRF CRH CRI Crit CRP

Cytomegalovirus Cranial nerves Central nervous system Crigler-Najjar syndrome Complains of... Cardiac output Carbon monoxide Complains of... Chronic obstructive airways disease Combined oral contraceptive pill Chronic obstructive lung disease

Compound
Conjunctiva Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Carbon dioxide Cyclooxygenase 1 Cyclooxygenase 2 Cyclooxygenase 3 Cerebral palsy Chest pain Continuous positive airway pressure

Clinical pathological conference Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin

Creatine phosphokinase Creatine phosphokinase heart Cerebral perfusion pressure Cardiopulmonary resuscitation Current procedural terminology Complete remission Creatinine Creatinine clearance

(Note: Looks similar to, but does not mean, the chromium chloridesCrCl2, CrCl3, CrCl4)
Creatinine Calcinosis Raynaud Esophagus Sclerosis Teleangiectasiae Chronic renal failure Corticotropin-releasing factor Corticotropin-releasing hormone Chronic renal insufficiency Hematocrit C-reactive protein

CRT CS C/S C&S C-spine CsA CSF CT CTA CTP CTS CTU CTX CV CVA CVAT CVC CVD CVI CVP CVS CVID c/w CWP Cx CXR

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (artificial pacemaker)

Caesarean section

Culture and sensitivity (antibiogram)

Cervical spine Ciclosporin A Cerebrospinal fluid Colony stimulating factor Computed tomography

Clear to auscultation
Computed tomography angiography Cytosine triphosphate Computed tomography scan

Cancer treatment unit

Ceftriaxone (a third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic)

Contractions
Cardiovascular Cerebrovascular accident

Costovertebral angle Costovertebral angle tenderness

Central venous catheter Chronic venous congestion Cardiovascular disease Cerebrovascular incident Central venous pressure Chorionic villus sampling Cardiovascular system Common variable immunodeficiency

Consistent with
Coal worker's pneumoconiosis Microbiological culture Chest x-ray

D
Abbrev. DS D5 D5W d DA
Diagnosis

Meaning 5% dextrose 5% dextrose in water - IV fluids for intravenous therapy Day(s)

Dopamine

DAEC DALY DBP DBS D&C D/C DCBE DCIS DCM DD DDD DDx D&E DES DEXA DH DHE DHEA-S DHF DI DIB DIC DIP DiPerTe Dis Disch DiTe DIU DJD DKA dl dL DLE DM DMD DNA

Diffusely-adherent Escherichia coli

Disability adjusted life year Diastolic blood pressure Deep brain stimulation Dilatation and curettage

Discontinue Discharge
Double Contrast Barium Enema Ductal carcinoma in situ Dilated cardiomyopathy Differential diagnosis Daily Defined Doses Differential diagnosis Dilatation and evacuation Diethylstilbestrol Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry

Developmental history
Dihydroergotamine Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate

Decompensated heart failure

Diabetes insipidus Dead in Bed Disseminated intravascular coagulation Distal interphalangeal joint Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus

Dislocation Discharge
Diphtheria Tetanus

Death in utero - stillbirth

Degenerative Joint Disease

Degenerative joint disease - Osteoarthritis

Diabetic Keto-Acidosis

Deciliter Deciliter Disseminated lupus erythematosus - Systemic lupus erythematosus

Diabetes mellitus Duchenne muscular dystrophy; Dentariae Medicinae Doctor, that is, Doctor of Dental Medicine Deoxyribonucleic acid

DNI DNR DNAR DOA DOB DOE DOSS DP DPH DPL DPT DRT DS DS DSA DSD Dsg DSM dsRNA DT DTA DTaP DTP DTR DTs DU DUB DVT DW D5W DX DZ

Do Not Intubate Do not resuscitate Do not attempt resuscitation Dead on arrival

Drugs of abuse Date of birth

Dyspnea on exertion Docusate sodium; from the chemical name dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate Dorsalis pedis Diphenylhydantoin diagnostic peritoneal lavage Diphtheria Pertussis Tetanus - DPT vaccine

Dead right there

Disease Down's Syndrome - Trisomy 21 Digital subtraction angiography

Dry sterile dressing

Dressing Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

Double stranded RNA

Diphtheria Tetanus Delirium tremens

Descending thoracic aorta

Diphtheria Tetanus acellular Pertussis Diphtheria Tetanus Pertussis

Deep tendon reflex

Delirium tremens

Duodenal ulcer - peptic ulcer

Dysfunctional uterine bleeding Deep vein thrombosis Dextrose in water

5% dextrose in water
Diagnosis Disease

E
Abbrev. E
Ecstasy Electrolytes

Meaning

Enterococcus Epinephrine

EAC EACA EAEC EAF EBL EBM EBT EBV EC ECF ECG ECM ECHO ECI ECLS ECMO ECP ECT ED EDC EDD EDH EDM EDRF EDTA EDV EEE EEG EENT EEX EF EFM

External acoustic meatus Epsilon-aminocaproic acid

Enteroadhesive Escherichia coli Enteric adherence factor Estimated blood loss (see bleeding)
Evidence-based medicine Expressed breast milk Electron beam tomography Epstein-Barr virus Enteric coating Extracellular fluid

Enteric cytopathic human orphan

Electrocardiogram

Extracellular matrix Enteric cytopathic human orphan virus

Febris e causa ignota (normally written as febris E.C.I.)

Fever of unknown origin

Extracorporeal life support Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation Emergency Care Practitioner Electroconvulsive therapy Emergency department Erectile dysfunction Ectodermal dysplasia

Estimated date of confinement (at 40/40 weeks of pregnancy) Estimated date of delivery (at 40/40 weeks of pregnancy); expected date of delivery Estimated date of discharge
Epidural hematoma

Esophageal Doppler monitor

Endothelium-derived relaxing factor aka nitric oxide Ethylene-diamine-tetraacetic acid End-diastolic volume Eastern equine encephalitis Electroencephalogram

Ears, eyes, nose, throat (see Otolaryngology)

Electrodiagnosis Ejection fraction

Electronic fetal monitoring, aka external fetal monitoring (cardiotocograph)

EGBUS EGD EGF EHEC EIEC EJ EKG ELLSCS ELISA EmBx EMC EMD EMF EMG

External genitalia, Bartholin's glands, urethra & Skene's glands Esophagogastroduodenoscopy Epidermal growth factor

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli Elbow jerk (triceps reflex)
Electrocardiogram

Elective lower segment caesarean section

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay Endometrial biopsy Encephalomyocarditis

Early morning discovery

Electromechanical dissociation Endomyocardial fibrosis Electromyography

EMLSCS Emergency lower segment Caesarean section EMU Emul ENT EOM EOMI EPEC EPH EPO EPS ER ERCP ESL ESBL ESR ESRD ESV ESWL ET ETEC Etiol ETOH Early morning urine sample (being the most concentrated, generally used for pregnancy testing)
Emulsion

Ear, nose, and throat (see Otolaryngology)

Extraocular muscles

Extraocular movements intact (see eye movement) Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Edema proteinuria hypertension
Erythropoietin Electrophysiology Emergency room Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (also ESWL) (seelithotriptor); English as a second language (affects provider-patient communication)
Extended spectrum beta-lactamase (see also gram-negative bacteria) Erythrocyte sedimentation rate End-stage renal disease End-systolic volume

Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (also ESL) (see lithotriptor)

Endothelin Endotracheal

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

Etiology Ethanol (ethyl alcohol)

ETS ETT EUA EUP EUS EVAR EVF Exam Ext

Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy Endotracheal tube

Examination under anesthesia

Extrauterine pregnancy Endoscopic ultrasonography Endovascular aneurysm repair

Erythrocyte volume fraction (see hematocrit) Examination (for example, physical examination)
Extremities

Exp Lap Exploratory laparotomy

F
Abbrev. Fx FAMMM syndrome FAP FAST FB FBC FBE FBG FBS F/C FDC FDIU FDP FEV1 Fe fem FEP FF FFA FFP FHR FHS FHT
Fracture Familial atypical multiple mole melanoma syndrome Familial adenomatous polyposis Focused assessment with sonography for trauma Foreign body Full blood count Full blood exam Fasting blood glucose

Meaning

Fasting blood sugar

Fevers and/or chills Follicular dendritic cells Foetal demise in utero Fibrin degradation product Forced expiratory volume in 1 second Iron Female Femoral

Free erythrocyte protoporphyrin Free fluids (non-thickened fluids)

Free fatty acids Fresh frozen plasma Fetal heart rate Fetal heart sound Fetal heart tones

FHx FIBD FISH FLK fl.oz. FMF FMP fMRI FN FNA FNAB FNAC FNC FNH FOBT FOF FOS FPG FROM FSBS FSE FSH FTA FTA-ABS FTT F/U FUO FVC FWB FWD Fx

Family history (in medicine, meaning specifically the medical histories of family

members and ancestors) Found in bed dead

Fluorescence in situ hybridization

Funny-looking kid (unprofessional, offensive slang referring imprecisely to dysmorphic features)

Fluid ounce (1 Imperial fluid ounce 28.4 mL; 1 U.S. fluid ounce 29.6 mL) (use of these units is generally deprecated in modern medicine in favor of mL) Fetal movements felt

First menstrual period (that is, menarche)

Functional magnetic resonance imaging

Finger-to-nose test (one simple clinical test of motor coordination)

Fine-needle aspiration Fine-needle aspiration biopsy Fine-needle aspiration cytology Full nursing care Focal nodular hyperplasia Fecal occult blood test

Found on floor (patient fell out of bed) Full of stool

Fasting plasma glucose Full range of motion

Finger-stick blood sugar (one method of blood glucose monitoring) Fetal scalp electrode
Follicle-stimulating hormone Fluorescent treponemal antibody Fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption Failure to thrive

Follow-up
Fever of unknown origin forced vital capacity (spirometry test value used in assessment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)

Full weight bearing Full ward diet; forward

Fracture of a bone

G
Abbrev. Meaning

G G6PD GA GABA GB GBS GBM GC GCA GCS G-CSF GDA GDLH GDP GERD GFR GGT GGTP GH GHRF GI GIFT GIST GIT GITS GMC GMP GN GNRH GOAT GOD GOK
GOMER

Gravidity (total number of pregnancies, successful or not) Guanosine Glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase General anaesthesia Gamma-aminobutyric acid Gallbladder Guillain-Barre syndrome Glioblastoma multiforme Glomerular basement membrane

General Condition
Gonococcus Giant cell arteritis Glasgow coma scale Granulocyte - colony stimulating factor Gastroduodenal artery Glutamate dehydrogenase Guanosine diphosphate Gastroesophageal reflux disease Glomerular filtration rate Gamma glutamyl transferase Gamma glutamyl transpeptidase Growth hormone Growth hormone releasing factor Gastrointestinal (... tract) Gamete intrafallopian transfer Gastrointestinal stromal tumor

Gastrointestinal tract
Gastrointestinal therapeutic system

General Medical Condition (i.e., 0 GMC)

Guanosine monophosphate Glomerulonephritis Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Galveston Orientation and Amnesia Test Glucose Oxidase

GM-CSF Granulocyte-Monocyte - Colony Stimulating Factor

God only knows Get Outta My E.R. i.e. patient who frequently presents at the ER near death but manages to pull through each and every time.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease Glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase

GORD GOT

GP GPT Gr GRAV I GSW GTN GTT Gtts GU GUM GvH GvHD GYN

General practitioner Glutamic-pyruvic transaminase Grain

Indicating woman during first pregnancy

Gunshot wound see HVLT (High-velocity Lead Therapy) Glyceryl trinitrate Glucose tolerance test

Drops - Guttae
Genitourinary Gastric ulcer Genitourinary medicine (often used more restrictively as alternative to sexually

transmitted disease clinic)

Graft-versus-host Graft-versus-host disease Gynecology

H
Abbrev. h H Hx HA H/A HAA HAART HACE
HACEK Hour Histamine or its receptors (if with subscripts) hemagglutinin History Hypertonia arterialis Headache Headache Hepatitis Associated antigen

Meaning

Highly active anti-aetroviral therapy High-altitude cerebral edema acronym for a group of bacteria that are a frequent cause of endocarditis in children
Hereditary angioedema HIV-associated dementia Headache

HAE HAD H/A HALE HAPE HAV Hb HB Hb%

Health-adjusted life expectancy High-altitude pulmonary edema

Hepatitis A virus Hemoglobin Heart block Hemoglobin concentration in gram per deciliter

HbA HbA1C HBD HbF HBP HbsAg HBV HC HCC hCG HCL HCM Hct HCT HCRP HCTZ HD HCV HDL HDL-C HDU HDV H&E HEENT HELP HELLP HEMA Hema HES HETE HEV HFM HFRS HGB HGSIL HGV HH

Hemoglobin A (commonest type of hemoglobin) Glycosylated hemoglobin (used as a measure of diabetescontrol)

Has been drinking

Fetal hemoglobin

High blood pressure, that is, hypertension

Hepatitis B surface antigen Bepatitis B virus

Hemorrhagic colitis
Hepatocellular carcinoma Human chorionic gonadotropin Hairy cell leukemia Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Hematocrit Hematocrit

Hematopoietic cell transplantation Hospital Cornea Retrieval Programme

Hydrochlorothiazide Hodgkin's disease Hepatitis C virus High-density lipoprotein High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol High dependency unit Hepatitis D virus Hematoxylin and eosin, a standard tissue stain Head, eyes, ears, nose, throat Hypertension, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets (syndrome) (in pregnancy) Hydroxy ethyl methacrylate, a material in soft contact lenses

Hematest - e.g. Hema (-) - fecal occult blood

Hydroxyethyl starch Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid Hepatitis E virus Hand foot and mouth disease

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome

Hemoglobin High grade squamous intraepithelial lesion Hepatitis G virus Hiatus hernia

HGPRTase Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase

H&H HHT HHV HI Hib HIDS HIT HIV HL HLA HLHS H&M HMD HMGR HMS HMSN HN HND HNPCC H/O HOB HOCM HONK H&P HPA HPETE HPF HPI H/oPI HPOA HPL HPS HPV HR HRCT HRT

Hemoglobin and hematocrit

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectisia Human herpesvirus (including numerous subtypes such as HHV8) Homicidal ideation
haemophilus influenzae B

Hyper-IgD (and periodic fever) syndrome

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia Human immunodeficiency virus Hepatic lipase Hodgkin's lymphoma

Hearing level
Human leukocyte antigen Hypoplastic left heart syndrome Hematemesis and melena Hyaline membrane disease 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase

HMG-CoA 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA Hyper-reactive malarial splenomegaly Hereditary motor sensory neuropathy Hemagglutinin-neuraminidase
Hemolytic disease of the newborn Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer History of ...

Head of bed--usually followed by degrees

Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy Hyperosmolar nonketotic coma History and physical examination (which very often are considered as a pair) Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid

High power field (microscopy)

History of the present illness

Hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy (clubbing)

Human placental lactogen (same as human chorionic somatomammotropin)

Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome

Human papillomavirus Heart rate High resolution computed tomography Hormone replacement therapy

h.s. hs HS HSC HSG HSIL HSP HSV HT Ht HTLV HTN HTPA HTVD HUS HVLT Hx

At bedtime (from Latin hora somni) Hours of sleep Heel-to-shin test Human chorionic somatomammotropin (same as human placental lactogen)
Hysterosalpingogram High grade squamous intraepithelial lesion Henoch-Schnlein purpura Herpes simplex virus Hypertension Height Human T-lymphotropic virus Hypertension Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis

Hypertensive vascular disease

Hemolytic uremic syndrome

High-velocity lead therapy (see also GSW, gunshot wound)

History (of)

I
Abbrev.
131

Meaning
Intra-arterial Intra-aortic balloon pump Intra-amniotic infection Inflammatory breast cancer Inflammatory bowel disease Irritable bowel syndrome Ileocecal Immunocompromised Informed consent Intensive care Interstitial cystitis Immune complex Intracardiac Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator Integrated Child Development Services Program International Classification of Diseases-10th Revision Intracellular fluid Impedance cardiography Intracerebral hemorrhage

I or I131 Radioactive iodine

IA IABP IAI IBC IBD IBS

IC

ICD ICDS ICD-10 ICF ICG ICH

ICP ICS ICU ICCU ID I&D IDA IDC IDDM IDL IDP IF IFG Ig IgA IgD IgE IgG IgM IGT IHC IHD IHSS IM IMA IMB IMI IMN IMT IMV Inc

Intracranial pressure Intercostal space Intensive care unit

Intensive cardiac care unit

Infectious disease Identifying data Incision and drainage (how to treat an abscess} Iron deficiency anemia Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy Indwelling catheter Infiltrating ductal carcinoma Insulin dependent diabetes mellitus Intermediate density lipoprotein Infectious Disease Precautions/ Process Immunofluorescence Impaired fasting glycaemia Immunoglobulin Immunoglobulin A Immunoglobulin D Immunoglobulin E Immunoglobulin G Immunoglobulin M Impaired glucose tolerance Immunohistochemistry e Ischaemic heart disease

Ideopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis - Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Intramuscular Inferior mesenteric artery

Intermenstrual Bleed (bleeding between periods)

Intramuscular injection Infectious Mononucleosis Intima-media thickness

Intermittent mandatory ventilation - Mechanical ventilation Incomplete

INF(-/-/Interferons -/-/- ) INH Inj INR Int

Isoniazid Injection International normalized ratio

Internal

IO I&O IOL IOP IP IPF IPS IPPB IPPV IQ IR IRDS ISA ISDN ISH ISMN ISQ IT ITP ITU IUCD IU IUD IUFD IUGR IUI IUP IUS IV IVC IV-DSA IVDU IVF IVP

Intraosseous infusion

Inputs and Outputs Intake and Outputs

Induction of labor Intraocular lens Intraocular pressure Interphalangeal joint Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Intra-Peritoneal Sounds
Intermittent positive pressure ventilation Intermittent positive pressure ventilation Intelligence Quotient Insulin resistance Infant respiratory distress syndrome Intrinsic Sympathomimetic Activity Isosorbide dinitrate Isolated systolic hypertension Isosorbide mononitrate

No change (from Latin, in status quo)

Intrathecal Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

Immune mediated thrombocytopenic purpura

Intensive Treatment Unit (or Intensive Therapy Unit) intrauterine contraceptive device International units Intrauterine Death - sometimes confused with intrauterine contraceptive device.

Use FDIU or IUFD

Intrauterine device - sometimes confused with intrauterine death. We now use IUCD - Intrauterine contraceptive device IntraUterine Foetal Demise Intrauterine growth retardation Intrauterine insemination

Intrauterine pregnancy
IntraUterine System Intravenous Inferior vena cava Intravenous digital subtraction angiography Intravenous drug user In vitro fertilization; Intravenous fluids Intravenous pyelogram

IVPB IVU IVUS

Intravenous Piggyback (i.v. short term infusion) Intravenous urogram Intravascular ultrasound

J
Abbrev. JCV JEV JIA JMS JODM JRA JVD JVP
John Cunningham virus

Meaning Japanese encephalitis virus

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Junior medical student, aka MS-3 Juvenile-onset diabetes mellitus Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (now called juvenile idiopathic arthritis)
Jugular vein distension Jugular venous pressure

K
Abbrev. K KA Kcal KCCT kg KIV KLS KS KSHV KUB KVO
Potassium Ketoacidosis Kilocalorie, calorie

Meaning

Kaolin cephalin clotting time

Kilogram

Keep in view Kidney, liver, spleen

Kaposi's sarcoma Kartagener Syndrome Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus Kidneys, ureters, and bladder (x-ray)

Keep vein open (with slow infusion)

L
Abbrev. L LA Lab
Leukocytes Lumbar vertebrae Lymphadenopathy Left atrium

Meaning

Laboratory

LABBB LAD LAE LAH LAHB Lam LAP Lap LAR LARP LAS Lat lb; LB LBBB LBO LBP LBW LCA LCIS LCM LCMV LCV LCX L&D LDH LDL LDL-C LEC LEEP LES LE leu LFT

Left anterior bundle branch block Left Anterior Descending - Coronary artery Leukocyte adhesion deficiency Left Axis Deviation - Electrocardiogram Lymphadenopathy Left atrial enlargement Left anterior hemiblock Left anterior hemiblock Laminectomy Leukocyte alkaline phosphatase Laparotomy Low Anterior Resection

Left anterior, right posterior (path of the vagi as they wander from thorax to abdomen)
Lymphadenopathy syndrome Lateral Pound (mass) Left bundle branch block Large bowel obstruction Low back pain

Low birth weight

Left coronary artery

Lobular carcinoma in situ

Lymphocytic meningitis Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus

Leukocytoclastic vasculitis
Left circumflex artery

Labor and delivery - Childbirth

Lactate dehydrogenase Low density lipoprotein Low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol

L-DOPA Levo-DihydrOxyPhenylAlanine Lupus erythematosus cell

Loop electrical excision procedure Lower esophageal sphincter Lupus erythematosus systemicus Lupus erythematosus (in German Lupus erythematodes) Lower extremity - Human leg Leukocytes Liver function test

LGA LGL LGM LGSIL LGV LH Lig LIH LLE LLETZ LLL LLQ LM LMA LMCA LMD LMP LN LOA LOC LOL LOP LORTA LOS Lot Lp LP LPH LPL LR LRTI LT LTAC LSB LSIL LUL

Large for gestational age, see birth weight

Lown-Ganong-Levine syndrome Lymphogranulomatosis maligna Low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion Lymphogranuloma venereum Luteinizing hormone Ligament

Left inguinal hernia Left lower extremity

Large loop excision of the transformation zone

Left lower lobe

Left lower quadrant

Left Main left mentoanterior - Fetal position

Left main coronary artery

Local medical doctor

Last Menstrual Period - first day of the menstrual period prior to conceiving, used to

calculated Expected Date of Delivery.

Lymph node

Left occipitoanterior - Fetal position Loss of consciousness - Unconsciousness Level of consciousness (e.g. "altered LOC from head trauma") Little old lady ... often LOL in NAD (see House of God) Left occipitoposterior - Fetal position Loss Of Resistance To Air (in anesthesiology; when placing epidural, LORTA indicates entrance of needle to epidural space)
Length of stay Lotion Lipoprotein Lumbar puncture

Left posterior hemiblock - Heart block

Lipoprotein lipase Lactated Ringer's solution Lower respiratory tract infection

Heat labile Long-term acute care Left sternal border

Low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion

Left upper lobe - Lung

LUQ LV LVAD LVEDP LVEF LVF LVH LVOT Ly lytes

Left upper quadrant Left ventricle

Left ventricular assist device

Left ventricular end diastolic pressure Left ventricular ejection fraction Left ventricular failure Left ventricular hypertrophy Left Ventricular Outflow Track Lymphocytes Electrolytes

Lc of ch Laxative of choice

M
Abbrev. M MAE MAHA MAL MALT MAO-I M MAP MARSA MAS MAT MC MCP MCHC MCH MC&S MCV MDD MDE MDS M/E Murmur (heart murmur) Moves all extremities
Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia Midaxillary line Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue Monoamine oxidase inhibitor Macrophage Mean arterial pressure Methicillin- and aminoglycoside-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Morgagni-Adams-Stokes syndrome Multifocal atrial tachycardia

Meaning

Microscopic agglutination test

Metacarpal bone Metacarpophalangeal joint Mean cell hemoglobin concentration Mean cell hemoglobin; Mean corpuscular hemoglobin

Microscopy, culture, and sensitivity (the investigation steps in processing microbiology samples)
Mean cell volume Major depressive disorder Major depressive episode Myelodysplastic syndrome

Microscopic examination

MEDLINE Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online

MEN MeSH MET met Mg MgSO4 MGUS MI MIC MICA MICU MLC MLE MM M&M MMPI mod MODY Mo MOM
MOPP

Multiple endocrine neoplasia Medical Subject Headings Metabolic equivalent Metastasis (pronounced like the word met; plural mets) Magnesium Magnesium sulfate Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (unknown oruncertain may be

substituted for undetermined)

Myocardial infarction Minimum inhibitory concentration

Mental illness and chemical abuse; mentally ill chemical abuser Mobile Intensive Care Unit Mixed lymphocyte culture Midline episiotomy
Myeloid metaplasia Morbidity & Mortality Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory Moderate; Modified Maturity onset diabetes of the young Monocytes Milk of magnesia Mechlorethamine, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone in combination (older treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma) Myeloproliferative disease(s) Mean platelet volume Mitral regurgitation Modified release

MPD(s) MPV MR MRA MRCP MRG MRI MRSA MS MSE

Medical representative
Mental retardation Magnetic resonance angiography Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography

Murmurs, rubs, and gallops (see heart sounds)

Magnetic resonance imaging Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Mitral stenosis Multiple sclerosis Medical student MS-1, MS-2, MS-3, MS-4 respectively Mental status - Mental status examination Mental status examination

MSH MSO4 MSU MSUD MT MTBI MTP MTX MVA MVC MVP MVPS MVR

Melanocyte-stimulating hormone Morphine or morphine sulfate

Midstream urine sample (used in testing for presence of urinary tract infections)
Maple syrup urine disease Metatarsal bone

Mild traumatic brain injury

Metatarsalphalangeal joint Methotrexate Motor vehicle accident Motor vehicle crash Mitral valve prolapse Mitral valve prolapse syndrome Mitral valve replacement

N
Abbrev. Na NABS NAD NAS NB NBN NBTE NC NCC NCS NCT NCV ND NE Ne NEC Neg Neo
Sodium (from Latin natrium)

Meaning Normoactive bowel sounds No abnormality detected no apparent distress (and many variations of the above) No added salt Newborn (infant) Note well (please pay attention) (from Latin nota bene) Newborn nursery
Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis

Nerve action potential

Nasal cannula Noncompaction cardiomyopathy Nerve conduction study

Nerve conduction test, aka nerve conduction study Nerve conduction velocity (see nerve conduction study) (Examination) not done
Norepinephrine Neutrophil granulocytes

Not elsewhere classified Neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis Negative

Neoplasm

NES NFR NGT NG tube NGU NHL NICU NIDDM NK NK cells NKA NKDA Nl NLP NM NMR NNH NNT NO No. NOF Non rep. NOS NPH Npl NPO NPTAC NRB NRBC NREM n.s. NS NSA NSAID NSCC NSCLC NSD NSE

Not elsewhere specified

Not for resuscitation

Nasogastric tube (see intubation)

Non-gonococcal urethritis Non-Hodgkin lymphoma Neonatal intensive care unit Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus Natural killer cells

No known allergies No known drug allergies Normal No light perception (highest degree of blindness)
Nuclear medicine Nuclear magnetic resonance Number needed to harm Number needed to treat Nitric oxide

Number Neck of femur fracture (refers to hip fracture) Do not repeat

Nitric oxide synthase;

Not otherwise specified

Normal pressure hydrocephalus Neoplasm Nil per os (nothing by mouth)

No previous tracing available for comparison

Non-rebreather mask

Nucleated red blood cells

Non-rapid eye movement

Not significant
Normal saline

No significant abnormality
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug

Non-squamous-cell carcinoma
Non-small cell lung cancer

Normal spontaneous delivery (see childbirth)

Neurospecific enolase

NSR NST NSTEMI NSU NT NTG NTT N&V n/v NVD NVDC

Normal sinus rhythm

Non-stress test (see cardiotocograph) Non-ST elevation myocardial infarction

Non-specific urethritis

Not tested
Nitroglycerin

Nasotracheal tube (see intubation)

Nausea and vomiting

Normal vaginal delivery (see childbirth); Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation

O
Abbrev. o O2 OA Obl OBS Occ OCD OCG OCNA OCP OCT OD od OE O/E OGTT OHL Oint OM om Nothing
Oxygen Osteoarthritis

Meaning

OB-GYN Obstetrics and Gynecology Oblique

Organic brain syndrome

Occasional
Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Oral cholecystogram Old chart not available - Medical history

Oral contraceptive pill

Optical Coherence Tomography Right eye from Latin, oculus dexter

Overdose Occupational disease

Every day, usually regarded as once daily, from the Latin, omni die. Generally written in lower case.
Otitis externa On examination Oral glucose tolerance test

Oral hairy leukoplakia

Ointment Otitis media

Every morning, from the Latin, omni mane. Generally written in lower case.

OME on OOB OP O&P OPD OPPT OPV OR ORIF ORSA ORT OS OS OSA OSH Osm Osteo OT OTC OTD OTPP OU oz

Otitis Media with Effusion - fluid in the inner ear without other symptoms.

Every night, from the Latin, omni nocte. Generally written in lower case. Out of bed
Outpatient department

Ova and parasites Outpatient department

Oriented to person place and time

Outpatient visit Operating room, operating theatre

Open reduction internal fixation

Oxacillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus Oral rehydration therapy Left eye from Latin, oculus sinister
Orthopedic surgery Obstructive sleep apnea

Outside hospital
Osmolarity Osteomyelitis Occupational therapy Over-the-counter drug

Out the Door (discharged)

Oriented to time place and person

Both eyes, from Latin, oculi uterque

Ounce

P
Abbrev. p P Meaning (p with a bar over it) after, from Latin, post
Parturition (total number of live births) Phosphorus Pulse

Post PA P&A PAC PAD PAF

Posterior-anterior, posteroanterior Pulmonary artery Physician Assistant Percussion and auscultation Premature atrial contraction Pulmonary artery catheter, Pulmonary artery catheterisation

Peripheral artery disease - Peripheral artery occlusive disease

Platelet activating factor

Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (meaning intermittent AF)

PAH PAI-1 PAL PALS PAN PAO PAOD PAP Pap PARA I PARA II PAT PBF p.c. PCA PCa PCD PCI PCL PCN PCNSL PCO PCOS PCP PCR PCS PCV PCWP PD PDA PDE

Pulmonary arterial hypertension

Phenylalanine hydroxylase
Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 Posterior axillary line Pediatric Advanced Life Support Polyarteritis nodosa Peak Acid Output Peripheral artery occlusive disease Papanicolaou stain Positive airway pressure Pulmonary artery pressure - Pulmonary hypertension Papanicolaou Test (pap smear)

Indicating a woman with one child (partus = birth) Indicating a woman with two children (partus = birth)
Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia

Peripheral blood film After food, from Latin, post cibum After meals
Patient-controlled analgesia Prostate cancer

Postconcussional disorder
Primary ciliary dyskinesia Percutaneous coronary intervention Posterior cruciate ligament Penicillin

Primary CNS (central nervous system) lymphoma Polycystic ovary - polycystic ovarian syndrome
Polycystic ovarian syndrome

(Formerly Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia) - Pneumocystis pneumonia Primary Care Physician/Primary Care Provider
Patient Care Report Polymerase chain reaction Post-concussion syndrome

Packed cell volume - Hematocrit

Polycythemia vera Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure Parkinson's disease Peritoneal dialysis

Physical diagnosis
Patent ductus arteriosus Phosphodiesterase

PDGF PDR PDT PE PEA PEEP PEF PEFR PEG pen PEP
PERRL PERLA PERRLA

Platelet derived growth factor

Physicians' Desk Reference Photodynamic Therapy Pulmonary embolism

[Pre-eclampsia]
Physical examination Pulseless electrical activity Positive end expiratory pressure Peak expiratory flow Peak expiratory flow rate Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy Penicillin (Best practice is to avoid drug name abbreviations) Post exposure prophylaxis

Pupils equal, round, reactive to light (e.g. "pupils PERRL") Pupils equal and reactive to light and accommodation Pupils equal, round, reactive to light and accommodation Per vaginam
Positron-emission tomography (cerebral metabolic scan) Patent foramen ovale

Per Vag PET PFO PFT PGCS PH PHx PHTLS PI PICC PID PIH PIP PKA PKD PKU PLAT PLT PM PMB PMH

Pulmonary function test - Spirometry

Paediatric Glasgow Coma Scale Pulmonary hypertension Past history - medical history

Past history - medical history Prehospital trauma life support Present illness
Peripherally inserted central catheter Pelvic inflammatory disease Prolapsed intervertibral disc Pregnancy induced hypertension Proximal interphalangeal joint Protein kinase A Polycystic kidney disease Phenylketonuria (PKU card - Guthrie test) Tissue plasminogen activator Platelets

Post meridiem In the afternoon

Post-menopausal bleeding (bleeding after menopause)

Past medical history

Perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage PMI PML PMP PMN PMR PM&R PND PNH PNM PO POD poly Post POX PP PPCS PPD
Point of maximal impulse or apical beat

Point of maximal intensity

Polyoma virus Pseudomyxoma peritonei Polymorphonuclear leukocytes, i.e., Neutrophils Percutaneous myocardial revascularisation Polymyalgia rheumatica Physical medicine and rehabilitation Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea Postnasal drip Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria Perinatal mortality By mouth (orally), from Latin, per os

postoperative days
Polymorphonuclear cells, ie Neutrophils

Posterior - anatomical terms of location

Peroxidase

Pulse pressure Postpartum - postnatal Prolonged post-concussion syndrome Packs per day (Cigarettes) Postpartum depression - Postnatal depression Purified protein derivative or Mantoux test, for tuberculosistesting
Postpartum haemorrhage Primary pulmonary hypertension Procedure for prolapse and hemorrhoids Proton pump inhibitor

PPH PPI PPROM PPS Ppt PPTCT PPTL PR p.r. PRA PRBC Preme Prep PRIND

Preterm premature rupture of membranes Post-polio syndrome

Precipitate

Precipitating Prevention of parent-to-child transmission (of HIV: Govt of India) Post-partum tubal ligation Prothrombin ratio Per rectum (as noun: rectal examination)
Plasma renin activity Packed red blood cells

Premature infant - premature birth Preparation

Prolonged reversible ischemic neurologic deficit

prn PRN Prog PROM PRP PRV PSA PSH PSP PSS PT Pt. PTA PTB PTC PTCA PTD PTH PTHC PTSD PTSS PTT PTx PUD PUO
PUVA

As necessary, from Latin, pro re nata (if used in chronic pain control disparagingly termed "pain relief nil") As needed Prognosis
Premature rupture of membranes

Panretinal photocoagulation Progressive rubella panencephalitis Polycythemia rubra vera - polycythemia vera
Prostatic specific antigen

Psychosocial history
Past medical history Phenylsulphtalein

Progressive systemic sclerosis - scleroderma

Prothrombin time Physical therapy (physiotherapy) Patient, from Latin patiens, meaning "one who endures" or "one who suffers" Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty Post-traumatic amnesia

Prior to admission Pulmonary tuberculosis

Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

Prior to discharge
Parathyroid hormone Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography Posttraumatic stress disorder

Posttraumatic stress syndrome - posttraumatic stress disorder

Partial thromboplastin time Pneumothorax Peptic ulcer disease Pyrexia of unknown origin

Psoralen UV A (photochemical ultraviolet light A waves) Per vagina (as noun: vaginal examination with manual examination and speculum inspection)
Premature ventricular contraction Peripheral vascular disease Post-viral fatigue syndrome Pulmonary vascular resistance Persistent vegetative state Pulmonary valve stenosis Plummer-Vinson syndrome

p.v. PVC (VPC) PVD PVFS PVR PVS

PWP Px px Px P-Y

Pulmonary Wedge Pressure Physical examination Prognosis

Pack-years (years of smoking one package of cigarettes per day)

Q
Abbrev. Q q q.a.d. QALY q.AM q.d. q.d.s. q.h. q.h.s. q.i.d. q.l. q.m.t. q.n. QNS q.n.s. q.o.d. QOF q.o.h. q.s. qt q.v. q.w.k.
Perfusion

Meaning Each, every (from Latin quaque) Every other day (from Latin quaque altera die)
Quality-adjusted life year

Every morning (from Latin quaque ante meridiem) Each day (from Latin quaque die) (deprecated; use "daily" instead. See the do-not-use list) Four times each day, (from Latin quater die sumendus) Each hour (from Latin quaque hora) Every bedtime (from Latin quaque hora somni) Four times each day (from Latin quater in die) (not deprecated, but consider using "four times a day" instead. See the do-not-use list) As much as you like (from Latin quantum libet) Every month Every night Quantity not sufficient Every other day (deprecated; use "every other day" instead. See the do-not-use list)
Quality and Outcomes Framework system for payment of GPs in the UK National

Health Service Every other hour As much as suffices (from Latin quantum satis or quantum sufficit)
Quart

Which see (from Latin quod vide); as much as you please (from Latin quantum vis) Weekly

R
Abbrev. Meaning

RA

Refractory anaemia Rheumatoid arthritis Right atrium Reflex anal dilatation Right Axis Deviation Reactive Airway Disease

RAD Rad hys RAI RAPD RAS RBBB RBC RBLM RCA RCM RCT RD RDS RDW REM RF RFLP RFT r/g/m Rh RHD RhF RIA RIBA RICE RIMA RIND RL RLE RLL RLN RLQ RML

Radical hysterectomy
Radioactive Iodine Relative afferent pupillary defect

Renal artery stenosis

Right bundle branch block Red blood cells, Red blood count Recurrent benign lymphocytic meningitis Right coronary artery Restrictive cardiomyopathy Right costal margin Randomized controlled trial Retinal detachment Respiratory distress syndrome - Infant respiratory distress syndrome

Red cell distribution width

Rapid eye movement Rheumatoid factor Rheumatic fever Restriction fragment length polymorphism Renal function test

Rubs/gallops/murmurs - heart sounds

Rhesus factor

Rheumatoid heart disease

Rheumatoid factor Radioimmunoassay Radioimmunoblotting assay Rest, ice, compression, and elevation (treatment for a soft tissue injury) Reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase A Reversible ischemic neurologic deficit

Ringer's lactate; lactated Ringer's solution Right lower extremity Right lower lobe - lung
Recurrent laryngeal nerve; Regional lymph node Right lower quadrant

Right middle lobe - lung

RNA RNP RNV ROM R/O ROA ROP ROS ROSC RPR RR RRR RS cell RSI RSV RT RT-PCR RTA RTC RTS RUE RUL RUQ RV RVAD RVF RVH RVSP RVT Rx or

Ribonucleic acid Ribonucleoprotein Radionuclear Ventriculography Range of motion

Rule Out Right occipital anterior - childbirth Right occipital posterior - childbirth Review of systems Return of spontaneous circulation
Rapid plasma reagin test Respiratory rate Blood pressure measured with a specific sphygmomanometer

Regular rate and rhythm - pulse

Reed-Sternberg cell Rapid sequence induction Respiratory sncytial virus Respiratory therapy Reverse transcriptase

Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction Renal tubal acidosis Return to clinic (appointment for outpatient for next medical examination)
Revised trauma score

Right upper extremity Right upper lobe (of the lung)

Right upper quadrant (see also Human abdomen#Regions of the abdomen) Residual volume Right ventricle

Right ventricular assist device

Right ventricular failure Right ventricular hypertrophy Right ventricular systolic pressure Renal vein thrombosis

or Rx (R with crossed tail)

medical prescription or Prescription drug

S
Abbrev. s S Meaning Without (s with a bar over it); from Middle English sans, borrowed from Old French sans, Latin sine
Sacrum

Sx S1 S2 SA SAB SAH SAN

SAPS II SAPS III

Symptoms

First heart sound Second heart sound

Sinoatrial node

Staphylococcal bacteremia Spontaneous abortion - Miscarriage

Subarachnoid hemorrhage Sinoatrial node

Simplified acute physiology score Simplified acute physiology score

Severe acute respiratory syndrome

SARS SB SBE SBO SBP s.c. SCC SCD SCLC SCID Scope s.d. SD SDH Sed Segs SEM SERT SFA SGA SGOT SGPT SH SHx SHBG SHx

Small bowel - small intestine Subacute bacterial endocarditis

Small bowel obstruction Systolic blood pressure Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis Subcutaneous from Latin, subcutis Squamous cell carcinoma

Sudden cardiac death

Small cell lung cancer Severe combined immunodeficiency Microscope or endoscope

Subdermal
Standard deviation Subdural hematoma

Sedimentation (rate) - Erythrocyte sedimentation rate

Segmented cells

Systolic ejection murmur - Heart murmur

Serotonin transporter Superficial femoral artery Serum folic acid Small for gestational age Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase

SG cath Swan-Ganz catheter - pulmonary artery catheter

Social history (personal habits, living situation, job)

Sex hormone-binding globulin Surgical history

SI SIADH SICS SIDS SIMV SIT SK sl SLE SLEV SLR SLL SM SMA SMA-6 SMA-7 SMS SMT SMV SN SNB SNP SNRI SNV SOAP SOB SOBOE SOL Sol SOOB SOS SP s/p Spec SPECT

International System of Units Suicidal ideation

Seriously ill
Sacroiliacal (joint) Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone

Surgical intensive care unit

Sudden infant death syndrome Synchronized intermittent mechanical ventilation

Stress inoculation training - posttraumatic stress disorder

Streptokinase Sublingual Systemic lupus erythematosus St. Louis virus Straight leg raise - Lasgue's sign

Small lymphocytic lymphoma

Multiple sclerosis from Latin, sclerosis multiplex Sequential multiple analysis; Superior mesenteric artery

Six-channel serum multiple analysis Serum metabolic assay Senior medical student
Spinal manipulative therapy Superior mesenteric vein

Student nurse Sentinel node biopsy (ductal carcinoma]]

Sodium nitroprusside; Single nucleotide polymorphism Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor

Sin nombre virus, most common type of hantavirus

Subjective, objective, assessment, plan (how Doctors notes are organized)

Shortness of breath - dyspnea

Short of breath on exercise

Space occupying lesion

Solution

Send out of bed

Save our souls, meaning "in case of emergency" [from Latin "si opus sit" having the

same meaning] Status post Specimen

Single photon emission computed tomography

SPEP SPET Sp. fl. Sp. gr. SQ sq SR SROM SS SSPE ssRNA SSRI SSSS SSS ST Staph. STD STAT STEC STEMI STH STI STNR STOP

Serum protein electrophoresis Single photon emission tomography

Spinal fluid - cerebrospinal fluid Specific gravity

Subcutaneous Slow release Spontaneous rupture of membranes Hemoglobin SS (HbSS) - in Sickle-cell disease = SS disease

Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis Single stranded RNA

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome Sick sinus syndrome

Heat stable
Staphylococcus Sexually transmitted disease

Shortest Turn Around Time. Immediately Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli, another name for enterohaemorrhagic E. coli ST elevation MI (Myocardial infarction)
Somatotropic hormone Sexually transmitted infection Soft tissue injury Symmetrical tonic neck reflex

Surgical termination of pregnancy (sometimes suction termination of pregnancy)

Strep. Streptococcus Strepto. STS Subq Supp SV SVC SVD SVI SVN SVR SVT Serological test for syphilis
Subcutaneous Suppository Seminal vesicle Stroke volume Superior vena cava

Spontaneous vaginal delivery Simple vertex delivery

Systemic viral infection

Small volume nebulizer

Systemic vascular resistance Supraventricular tachycardia

Sx SXA SXR Sz

Surgery Symptoms Single energy X-ray absorptiometer

Skull x-ray
Seizure

T
Abbrev. T Tx T&A T&C Tab TAB TAH TB TBC TBI TBLC TC TCC TCM TCN TCT Td TdP t.d.s. TEB TEE TEM Temp TENS TERN TF T/F
Thoracic vertebrae Transplatation Traction Tonsillectomy with adenoidectomy

Meaning

Type an cross-match - Blood transfusion

Tablet

Therapeutic abortion Total abdominal hysterectomy

Tuberculosis Tuberculosis

TAH-BSO Total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy

Total body crunch

Total body irradiation Traumatic brain injury

Term birth living child

Traffic crash Transitional cell carcinoma Traditional Chinese medicine Tetracycline Thrombin clotting time Tetanus and diphtheria Torsades de pointes

Three times a day, from Latin, ter die sumendus Thoracic electrical bioimpedance - impedance cardiography
Transesophageal echocardiogram Transmission electron microscopy

Temperature
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator

"Intern" Transfer Transfer

TFTs TGA TG Tg TGF TGV T&H THR TIA TIBC Tib-Fib t.i.d. TIPS TKO TKR TKVO TLC TLR TM TMB TME TNF TMJ TNG TNM TOA TOD TOE TOF TOP TP TPa TPN TPR TR Tr TRAM TRAP

Thyroid function tests Transposition of the great arteries Triglycerides Thyroglobulin Tumor growth factor Transposition of the great vessels

Type and hold - (stay ready for blood transfusion)

Total hip replacement Transient ischemic attack Total iron binding capacity Tibia and fibula

Three times a day, from Latin, ter in die

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt

To keep (vein) open for IV therapy

Total knee replacement

To keep vein open

Total lung capacity

Tender loving care

Tonic labyrinthine reflex Tympanic membrane

"Too Many Birthdays" Very frail elderly patient

Total mesorectal excision Tumor necrosis factors Temporomandibular joint Trinitroglycerin Tumor-nodes-metastases

Tuboovarian abscess Transoesophageal doppler

Transoesophageal echocardiogram Tetralogy of fallot Termination of pregnancy

Total protein]]
Tissue plasminogen activator Total parenteral nutrition Temperature, pulse, respiration Tricuspid regurgitation Tincture

Transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap (TRAM flap) Tartarate resistant acid phosphatase

TRF TRF'd TRH TS Tsp TSH T.S.T.H. TT TTE TTO TTP TTP TTR TTS TTTS Tu TUR TURBT TURP TVH Tx

Transfer (pronounced "turf") Transferred (Pronounced "turfed", as in "We just turfed Mrs Johnson OTD")
Thyrotropin releasing hormone Tricuspid stenosis Teaspoon (5 ml) Thyroid stimulating hormone

Too sick to send home

Thrombin time Transthoracic echocardiogram

To take out (medicines given to patient on discharge from hospital stay)

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura Tender to palpation Transthyretin Transdermal therapeutic system Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome Tumor Transurethral resection

Transurethral resection of bladder tumour

Transurethral resection of the prostate

Total vagina hysterectomy

Transplant

Treatment

U
Abbrev. UA UBT UC UCHD UD UDS UE U&E UIP UGI UOP Ung Unk
urinalysis urea breath test ulcerative colitis

Meaning

usual childhood diseases (see list of childhood diseases) as directed (from Latin ut dictum)
urine drug screening upper extremity urea and electrolytes (blood test) (for sodium and potassium, and often creatinine) Usual interstitial pneumonitis upper gastrointestinal Urinary Output ointment (from Latin unguentum)

unknown

UPJ URA URI URTI US USG USP USR USS UTI UVAL

ureteropelvic junction (see pyeloplasty) unilateral renal agenesis

upper respiratory infection upper respiratory tract infection ultrasonogram ultrasonogram United States Pharmacopeia

unheated serum reagin

ultrasound scan urinary tract infection ultraviolet argon laser

V
Abbrev. V VA VAD Vag VAMP VBAC VC VCTC vCJD VD VDRF VDRL VE VEE VEB VF V-fib VIP VLDL VMA VNPI
Ventilation visual acuity Ventricular assist device

Meaning

Vincristine adriblastine dexamethasone

Vaginal

Vincristine adriblastine methylprednisone

Vaginal birth after caesarean Vital capacity

Voluntary counselling and testing centers (for HIV: Govt Centres in India)
Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease Venereal disease

Vaginal delivery
Volume of distribution Ventilator dependent respiratory failure Venereal Diseases Research Laboratory (old test for syphilis)

Vaginal examination (manual examination)

Venezuelan equine encephalitis

Ventricular ectopic beat

Ventricular fibrillation Vasoactive intestinal peptide Very low density lipoprotein Vanillylmandelic acid

Violent mechanical asphyxia

VanNuys prognostic scoring index (ductal carcinoma)

VO VOD VPA VPAP VPB VPC (PVC) V/Q VRE VRSA VS VSD VSR VT VTE VTEC VZV

Verbal order
Volume of distribution Valproic acid

Variable positive airway pressure Ventricular premature beats - premature ventricular contraction
Ventricular premature contraction Ventilation/Perfusion scan Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus Vancomycin-resistant staphylococcus aureus Vital signs (VSS = vital signs stable) Ventricular septal defect

Ventricular septal rupture - myocardial rupture

Ventricular tachycardia

Verotoxin
Venous thromboembolism

Verotoxin producing Escherichia coli, also known as enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli

Varicella zoster virus

W
Abbrev. w/ WAP WAT WBC WC W/C WD WDL WH WDWN WEE WG WN WNL W/O w/o With Wandering atrial pacemaker (see multifocal atrial tachycardia)
White adipose tissue White blood cell

Meaning

White blood cell count

White cells Wheelchair

Well developed Within defined limits (as per hospital defined policy) Well hydrated (not dehydrated or hyperhydrated) Well developed and well nourished
Western equine encephalitis virus Wegener's granulomatosis

Well nourished Within normal limits (also: we never looked) Without

WPW

Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome Waardenburg syndrome; Warkany syndrome; Water-soluble; Werner syndrome; West syndrome; Williams syndrome; Wolfram syndrome Weight

WS

wt WWI

Walking while intoxicated (ethanol or other drugs);

World War I

X
Abbrev. x XR XRT (x with macron) except Extended release;
X-ray radiography Radiation therapy

Meaning

Y
Abbrev. y YO yo Year Years old Meaning

Z
Abbrev. ZD ZIFT
Zinc deficiency Zygote intrafallopian transfer

Meaning