Medical Abbreviations

The following is a list of some abbreviations and symbols which may be encountered in medical evidence. It is recognized that this list is far from being exhaustive. Further, since medical abbreviations are not standardized, each may have more than one meaning. Therefore, any interpretation of a particular abbreviation must be made according to its context.
________

A

a… accommodation, artery, anterior, arteriosclerosis
a…before
aa, AA…of each
AAL…anterior axillary line
A2…aortic second sound
ab…abortion, abnormal
Ab.I @ 2 mos…one abortion in second month
abd…abdominal
ac, AC…acute, before meals, anterior chamber, air conduction
ACTH…adrenocorticotrophic hormone
AD…admitting diagnosis
AF…‑acid fast, atrial fibrillation, auricular fibrillation
AFB…acid-fast bacillus
A/G…albumin/globulin ratio
AI…aortic insufficiency
AJ…ankle jerk
AK…above knee
AKA…above knee amputation
alb…albumin, white
AMA…against medical advice
Anes, Anesth…anesthesiology
ANS…autonomic nervous system
ante…before
A & P…auscultation and percussion, anterior and  posterior
APC…aspirin, phenacetin and caffeine; atrial premature contraction
A-P diam…anterior-posterior diameter
aq…water
AS…ankylosing spondylitis, aortic stenosis, arterioslerosis
ASA…aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid)
ASCVD…arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease
ASD…atrial septal defect
ASHD…arteriosclerotic heart disease
A.S.S…anterior superior spine
as tol…as tolerated
AU…both ears
aur, fib…auricular fibrillation
AV…arteriovenous, atrioventricular, average
A:V…ratio of diameter of arteries to veins in the retina
A & W…alive and well

B

Ba…barium
bas…basophil(s)
BBB…bundle branch block
BC…bone condition
BE…barium enema, below elbow (amputation)
BFR…blood flow rate
BID, bid…twice daily
bilat…bilateral
bili…bilirubin
bis…twice
BJ…biceps jerk
B & J…bones and joints
BK…below knee (amputation)
bl, BL…blood, bleeding
BM…bone marrow, bowel movement
BMR…basal metabolic rate
BP…blood pressure
BPH…benign prostatic hypertrophy
BRP…bathroom privileges
BS…blood sugar, bowel sounds, breath sounds
BT…brain tumor
BTPS…body temperature and pressure, saturated with water vapor
BUN…blood urea nitrogen
BV…blood volume, blood vessel
BX…biopsy

C

c…about (circa), with (cum)
c…with
C…carbohydrate (diet), centigrade
C1, C2, etc…first cervical vertebra, second cervical vertebra, etc.
Ca, CA…calcium, cancer, carcinoma, chronological age
cal…calorie
cap…capsule
caps…capsule
CAT…computerized axial tomography
cath…catheterize, cathartic, catheter
CBC…complete blood count
cc…cubic centimeter
CC…chief complaint, clinical course, clean caught (urine)
CCF…cephalin-cholesterol flocculation
CF…count fingers
CHF…congestive heart failure
CHO…carbohydrate
chol…cholesterol
chr…chronic
CLT…clotted, clotlysis time
cm…centimeter
CM…costal margin
CNS…central nervous system
CNVA/CNSVA…central nervous system vascular accident
CO…cardiac output, corneal opacity, carbon monoxide
C/O…complains of, complaints
CO₂…carbon dioxide
CO60…radiocobalt
COMP…complaint, complication, compound
conj…conjunctiva
COPD…chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CP…cerebral palsy, closing pressure (of CSF tap), cor pulmonale
CPK…creatine phosphokinase
CR…cardiorespiratory, clot retraction
CRD…chronic respiratory disease, chronic renal disease
CRF…chronic renal failure
CSF…cerebrospinal fluid
CST…convulsive shock therapy
CT…carpal tunnel, cerebral thrombosis, clotting time, computerized tomography
CTR, CT ratio…cardiothoracic ratio
cu…cubic
CV…cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, cell volume, color vision
CVA…cerebrovascular accident
cva…costovertebral angle
CVI…cerebrovascular insufficiency
CVP…central venous pressure
CX…cervix, circumflex coronary artery

D

d, D…day
D1 (D2, etc.)…first dorsal (thoracic) vertebra, second dorsal, etc.
DAP test…draw-a-person test

db…decibel
DC, D/C…discontinue
D & C…dilation and curettage
DD…differential diagnosis
Derm…dermatology
DFR…dialysis flow rate
diag…diagnosis
diam, dia…diameter
diff…differential leukocyte count, differential blood count
DIP…distal interphalangeal joint
disc…discontinue
disch…discharge
disp…dispense
div…divide
DJD…degenerative joint disease
DLE…disseminated lupus erythematosus, discoid lupus erythematosus
DM…diabetes mellitus
DOE…dyspnea on exertion
DP…diastolic pressure, dorsalis pedis
DR…diabetic retinopathy
DRN…drawn
DT…delirium tremens, distance test
DTR…deep tendon reflex(es)
Dx…diagnosis

E

E.A…educational age
ECCE…extracapsular cataract extraction
ECF…extracellular fluid
ECG, EKG…electrocardiogram (graph)
ECS…electroconvulsive shock
ECT…electroconvulsive therapy
EEG…electroencephalogram (graph)
EENT…eyes, ears, nose and throat
el, elix…elixir
EMG…electromyogram
ENT…ears, nose, and throat
EOM…extraocular movements, extraocular muscle
eos…eosinophils
ERV…expiratory reserve volume
ESR…erythrocyte sedimentation rate
EST…electroshock therapy
etiol…etiology
ETOH…ethanol (alcohol ingestion)
exam…examination
expan…expansion
ext…external, extract

F

F…Fahrenheit, fat (diet), female, field of vision
FA…far advanced, fatty acid
FB…finger breath, foreign body
FBS…fasting blood sugar
FEV₁…1 second forced expiratory volume
FH…family history
filt…filter
fl, fld…fluid
flocc…flocculation
FP…flat plate, false-positive, fronto-parietal
FR BB…fracture both bones
FRC…‑functional reserve capacity, frozen red cells
FROM…full range of motion
FT…full term
FTND…full term normal delivery
FU…followup
FUO…fever of undetermined (unknown) origin
FWD…fairly well developed
fx…fracture, frozen section

G

GA…gastric analysis
GB…gallbladder, Guillain-Barre syndrome
GBS…gallbladder series (X-ray)
GC…gonorrhea
GI…gastrointestinal
GIS…gastrointestinal series (X-ray), GI system
gl…glaucoma
gm, GM…gram
GM…gastric mucosa, general medical
GP…general paresis, general practice
gr…grain, grains
Grav…pregnancy
GSW…gunshot wound
gtt…drops
GTT…glucose tolerance test
GU…genitourinary
Gyn…gynecology

H

H…height
HA…hospital admission
HB…heart block, housebound
HB, Hgb…hemoglobin
HBP…high blood pressure
HCT, H’crit…hematocrit
HCVD…hypertensive cardiovascular disease
HD…hearing distance, at bedtime (hora decubitus), heart disease
HEENT…head, ears, eyes, nose and throat
HF…heart failure, hay fever
Hg…mercury
HHD…hypertensive heart disease
HL…hearing loss, hearing level
H & L…heart and lungs
HM…hand movements (motion)
HMCT…hematocrit
HNP…herniated nucleus pulposus
H/O…history of
H & P…history and physical
HPI…history of present illness
hr…hour
HRST…heat, reddening, swelling or tenderness
hs…at bed time
HS…heart sounds
ht…height
Hx…history
Hy, HYS…hysteria
hyperres…hyperresonance (of lungs)

I

I¹³¹…radioactive iodine uptake
IA…infectious arthritis, internal auditory, intra-arterial
IASD…interatrial septal defect
IC…intercostal, intermittent claudication, intracerebral, inspiratory capacity
ICCE…intracapsular cataract extraction
ICF…intracellular fluid, intensive care facility
ICS…intercostal space
ICT…inflammation of connective tissue, insulin coma therapy
ICU…intensive care unit
ID…the same, inside diameter, intra-dermal
I & D…incision and drainage
IF…interstitial fluid
IFR…inspiratory flow rate
IM…intramuscular
Imp…impression, improved, important
inf…inferior, infection
in situ…in natural or normal position
int med…internal medicine
IO…inferior oblique (eye muscle), internal os, intestinal obstruction, intraocular
I & O…intake and output
IOP…intraocular pressure
IP…intraperitoneal, interphalangeal
IPD…inflammatory pelvic disease
IPH…interphalangeal
IPPB…intermittent positive pressure breathing
IQ…intelligence quotient
IR…inferior rectus (eye muscle)
IRV…inspiratory reserve volume
IS…intercostal space, in situ, interspace
IU…international unit
IV…intravenous, intervertebral
IVC…inferior vena cava
IVP…intravenous pyelogram
IVSD…interventricular septal defect
IWMI…inferior wall myocardial infarction

J

J…joint
jct…junction
JJ…jaw jerk (reflex)
JV…jugular vein

K

K…potassium
K-ABC…Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children
kg…kilogram
KJ…knee jerk (reflex)
KK…knee kick (reflex)
KLS…kidney,liver, spleen
KUB…kidney, ureter, bladder

L

L…left, lymphocyte, lumbar, lower, liter
L1 (L2, etc.)…first lumbar vertebra (second, etc.)
LA…left arm, left atrium, local anesthesia
L & A…light and accommodation
lab…laboratory
LAD…left axis deviation (on EKG)
LAS…left arm sitting (blood pressure measured in)
lat…lateral
lb…pound
LBBB…left bundle branch block (on EKG)
LBP…low back pain, low blood pressure
LCB…left cardiac border
LDH…lactic dehydrogenase
LE…left eye, lower extremity, lower lobe
LFT…latex fixation test, liver function test
LH…luteinizing hormone, lower half
LICS…left intercostal space
LIF…left iliac fossa
LKS…liver, kidneys, spleen
LL…left leg, left lung, left lower, lower lobe
LLE…left lower extremity
LLL…left lower lid, left lower lobe
LLQ…left lower quadrant
LMD…local medical doctor
LML…left middle lobe
LMP…last menstrual period
LOA…leave of absence
LOM…limitation of motion
lot…lotion
LP…light perception, lumbar puncture, low pressure
LR…lateral rectus, light reflex
LRQ…lower right quadrant
LS…lumbosacral, left side, lymphosarcoma, liver and spleen
LSB…left sternal border
LSK…liver, spleen, kidney
LT…left, long-term, left thigh
LUE…left upper extremity
Lues I…primary syphilis
LUL…left upper lid, left upper lobe
LUQ…left upper quadrant
LV…left ventricle
LVH…left ventricular hypertrophy
L/W, L & W…living and well

M

m…meter, minim, minute
M…male, murmur, muscle, myopia
ma…milliampere
MA…mental age, menstrual age, moderately advanced
MBC…maximum breathing capacity
mc…millicurie
mcg…microgram
MCH…mean corpuscular hemoglobin
MCHC…mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration
MCL…midclavicular line
MCV…mean corpuscular volume
MD…medical doctor, mentally deficient, mitral disease, muscular dystrophy
ME…middle ear
Med, MED…medical, minimal effective dose, medicine
Menarche ‑13 q 28-30 X5…began menstruation at age 13, period every 28-30 days, last 5 days
mEq…milliequivalents
MFT…muscle function test
MFW…multiple fragment wounds
mg.    mgm…milligram
MH…marital history, medical history, mental history
MHB…maximum hospital benefit
MI…mitral insufficiency, medical improvement, mental impairment, myocardial infarction.
min…minute, minim, minimal
mixt…mixture
ml…milliliter
ML…middle lobe, midline
MLD…minimal lethal dose
mm…millimeter
MM…mucous membrane, muscles
mm³…cubic millimeter
MMPI…Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory
mo…month
Mo.   mon, mono…monocyte
mod…moderate
mono…mononucleosis
MR…medial rectus (eye muscle), mental retardation, mitral regurgitation, muscle  relaxant
MS…mitral stenosis, multiple sclerosis, musculoskeletal, mental status
MSL…midsternal line
MV…minute volume, mitral valve
MVV…maximum voluntary ventilation

N

N…nasal, negative, nerve, normal
NA…no applicable
NaCl…sodium chloride (salt)
NBM…nothing by mouth
NC, N/C…no change, no complaints, not cultured, no charge
ND…no data, normal delivery, not done
NEG…negative
NF…not found
NG…nasogastric
NI…not identified, no information
NIA…no information available
NLP…no light perception
NM…neuromuscular, not measured, not mentioned
noct…night
non rep…do not repeat or refill
NP…neuropsychiatry, not performed, nasopharynx
NPH…neutral protein Hagedorn (insulin)
NPO…nothing by mouth
NR…nonreactive
NS…nervous system
NSA…no significant abnormality
NSC…no significant change
NSR…normal sinus rhythm
NT…nasotracheal, not tested
Nv…naked vision
N & V…nausea and vomiting
N & W…normal and well
NYD…not yet diagnosed

O

O…eye (oculus), none, oral
O₂…oxygen
O₂ sat…oxygen saturation
OA…osteoarthritis
OB…obstetrics
OB-GYN…obstetrics-gynecology
OD…right eye (oculus dexter), overdose, optical density, outside diameter, once a day
OH…occupational history
ON…optic nerve
OP…outpatient, operative procedure, operation, opening pressure
Ophth…ophthalmology
OR…operating room
Orth…orthopedics
OS…left eye (oculus sinister), mouth, oral surgery
OT…occupational therapy, old tuberculin
OTO…otology
OU…both eyes (oculus unitas)
OV…office visit
Oz…ounce

P

p…post (after)
P…positive, posterior, pressure, pupil, phosphorus (diet), protein (diet), pulse
P2…second pulmonic heart sound
PA…posterior-anterior (chest measurement), pernicious anemia, pulmonary artery, paralysis agitans, pathology
P & A…percussion and auscultation
PAC…premature auricular contraction
Para…formula designating: P-number of pregnancies; a-number of abortions or miscarriages, ra- number of living children
PAT…paroxysmal auricular (atrial) tachycardia
Path…pathology
PBI…protein-bound iodine
P.C….after meals (post cibos)
PaCO₂…arterial carbon dioxide tension
PDR…Physicians’ Desk Reference
PE…physical examination, pulmonary embolus, pulmonary edema
PED…pediatrics
PERLA…pupils equal, reactive to light and accommodation
PFS…pulmonary function study
PH…past history, personal history, pulmonary hypertension, pH (acidity-alkalinity scale)
PI…present illness, pulmonary infarction
PID…pelvic inflammatory disease
pip…proximal interphalangeal joint
pl…plasma cell
PM…postmortem, night, physical medicine
PMI…point of maximum impulse
PMP…previous menstrual period
PN…poorly nourished, psychiatry-neurology, pneumonia, percussion note, positional nystagmus
PND…paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, postnasal drainage
PO…postoperative, by mouth, posterior
PaO₂…arterial oxygen tension
post op…postoperative
post tib…posterior tibial
pp…near point
PP…postprandial, partial pressure, pulse pressure
PPD…purified protein derivative
PR…partial remission, pulse rate
pre-op, PRE-OP…preoperative
prep…prepare, preparation
prev.hx…previous history
PRN, prn…as circumstances may require
prog…prognosis
PS…pulmonary stenosis, pyloric stenosis
PSC…posterior subcapsular cataract
PSS…progressive systemic sclerosis
Psy, Psych…psychiatry, psychology
pt…patient, pint
PT…physical therapy, prothrombin time, part, point
P.T.A…prior to admission
pulv…powder
PV…plasma volume, peripheral vascular, polycythemia vera
PVC…premature ventricular contraction, packed volume of cells (hematocrit)
px, Px, PX…past history, prognosis, physical examination, pneumothorax

Q

q.6 hrs…every 6 hours around the clock
q.A.M….once each morning
q.d…once each day
q.e…each eye separately
q.h…once each hour around the clock
QID, qid…four times daily
q.n…once each night
q.n.s…quantity not sufficient
q.o.d…once every other day
q.s…a sufficient quantity
qt…quart
q.v…which see, as much as you like

R

R…rad (unit of radiation), respiration, right, response
RA…rheumatoid arthritis, right atrium, renal artery, right arm
RAD…right axis deviation
RAI…radioactive iodine
RAR…right arm recumbent (reference to blood pressure measurement)
RAS…right arm sitting (reference to blood pressure measurement)
RBBB…right bundle branch block
r.b.c., R.B.C…red blood cell
RCM…right costal margin, red cell mass
RD…respiratory disease, retinal detachment
RE…right eye
RER…respiratory exchange rate
RESP…respiratory
RF…rheumatoid factor, rheumatic fever, radiofrequency
RFC…residual functional capacity
RHD…rheumatic heart disease, relative hepatic dullness
RhF…rheumatoid factor
RHF…right heart failure
RI…respiratory illness, regional ileitis
RICM…right intercostal margin
RIF…Right iliac fossa
RL…right leg, right lung
RLL…right lower lobe, right lower lid
RLQ…right lower quadrant
RM…respiratory movement, radical mastectomy
ro, RO, R/O…rule out
ROM…range of motion
ROS…review of systems
RP…resting pressure, reactive protein
RPM…right paramedian
Rpt…report
RR…respiratory rate, response rate, regular rhythm
RRE…round, regular, and equal
RRR…regular rate and rhythm; round, reactive, and regular (pupils)
RS…review of symptoms
RSR…regular sinus rhythm
rt…right
RUE…right upper extremity
RUL…right upper lid, right upper lobe
RUQ…right upper quadrant
RV…residual volume, right ventricle
RVH…right ventricular hypertrophy
Rx…prescription to take, treatment, therapy

S

s…without
S…half, left (sinister), sacral, stimulus, sensitive
S1, (S2, etc.)…first sacral vertebra (second, etc.)
sat…saturated
SB…Stanford-Binet test, sternal border
s.c…sickle cell
SC…subcutaneous, self-care, service connected
SCL…scleroderma
SCPK…serum creatine phosphokinase
SCU…special care unit
SD…septal defect, sudden death
Sec…second, secondary, section
Septum R…right deviation of nasal septum
SF…synovial fluid, spinal fluid, shrapnel fragment, scarlet fever
SGOT…serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase
SGPT…serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase
SH…social history, serum hepatitis, shoulder, surgical history
SI…saturation index, self-inflicted, seriously ill
sibs…siblings
Sig…directions (on a prescription)
SLD…serum lactic acid dehydrogenase
SLE…slit lamp examination, systemic lupus erythematosus
SM…synovial membrane, systolic murmur, streptomycin, symptoms
SMA-12…sequential multiple analysis test usually includes SGOT, LDH, uric acid, calcium, phosphorus, blood urea nitrogen [BUN], glucose, alkaline phosphatase, cholesterol, total protein, albumin, bilirubin
SO…superior oblique (eye muscle), salpingo-oophorectomy
SOB…shortness of breath
sol…solution
SOS…if necessary
S/P…status post
SP…spinal, shunt procedure, space, systolic pressure
spec…specimen, specific
sp.gr…specific gravity
spir…spirometry, spirit, spiral
sq…squamous, square, subcutaneous
SR…sedimentation rate, sinus rhythm, superior rectus (eye muscle), system review, stimulus- response
ss…one-half
Staph…staphylococcus
stat…immediately
std…standard
Stereo…stereogram
STP…standard (normal) temperature and pulse, standard temperature and pressure
subcu, sub-q…subcutaneous
Surg…surgical
SVC…superior vena cava
sx…symptoms, signs
sy…synovial
syr…syrup
sys…systolic

T

T…temperature, thoracic
T1, (T2, etc.)…first thoracic vertebra (second, etc.)
T & A…tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy, tonsils and adenoids
tab…tablet
tachy…tachycardia
TAT…Thematic Apperception Test
TB…tuberculosis, total body, tracheobronchitis
TBC…tuberculosis, tubercle bacillus
temp elev…temperature elevation
TF…tactile fremitus, tuberculin filtrate
TH…thoracic, thorax
tid, TID…three times daily
TIS…tumor in situ
TLC…total lung capacity
TM…tympanic membrane, transmetatarsal
TN…normal intraocular tension
TNTC…too numerous to count (usually in reference to urinalysis)
TP…temperature and pressure, true positive
TPR…temperature, pulse, respiration
TPR w.a…temperature, pulse, respiration when awake
TR…tincture, trace, total response
TU..tuberculin units
TUR…transurethral resection
TV…tidal volume, total volume, trial visit
TVC…timed vital capacity, total vital capacity
Tx…treatment, traction

U

U…unit, micron, upper, unknown, urology
UC…unchanged, urea clearance, ulcerative colitis
UCD, UCHD…usual childhood diseases
UDC…usual diseases of childhood
UG, UGM…microgram
UH…upper half
UK…unknown
UL…upper lobe
UNG…ointment
URD…upper respiratory disease
URI…upper respiratory infection
UROL…urology
URTI…upper respiratory tract infection
UTI…urinary tract infection

V

V…see (vide), vein, volume
VA…visual acuity, vertebral artery
VC…vital capacity, vocal cord, vena cava, ventilatory capacity, color vision
VD…venereal disease
VDG…veneral disease—gonorrhea
VDH…valvular disease of heart
VDRL…Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (V.D. diagnostic test for syphilis)
VDS…venereal disease—syphilis, vasodilator substance
VF…visual field, ventricular fibrillation, vocal fremitus, left leg (electrode)
VFS…ventilatory function studies
VI…volume index
VL…vision—left
VOD…vision right eye
VOS…vision left eye
VP…venous pressure, volume-pressure
VPC…volume percent, ventricular premature contraction
VPRC…volume of packed red cells (hematocrit)
VR…ventilatory reserve, right arm (electrode), valve replacement, venous return, vision right
VRI…viral respiratory infection
VS…vital signs, without glasses, verbal scale (IQ)
VSD…ventricular septal defect
VW…vessel wall

W

W…water, weight, week
WAIS…Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale
WB…whole blood, weight bearing, whole body
w.b.c., WBC…white blood cells, white blood count, wheel chair, white cell, whooping cough, work capacity
WD, W/D…well-developed, with disease, well-differentiated
WDWN…well-developed, well-nourished
W/in…within
WISC…Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children
wk…week
WNL…within normal limits
WP…weakly positive
WPPSI…Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scales of Intelligence
WR…weakly reactive, wrist
wt…weight, white
WV…whispered voice

X

X…removal of, times, cross
XM…crossmatch
XR…X-ray

Y

Y…year
y.o., y/o…year old

Z

Z…zero