Medical Terminology

Glossary 4
Abbreviations

A B C D E F G H IJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

By
Nader S. Smadi & Mohammad S. Kadwa
2009
ABG arterial blood gases
ACE angiotensin converting enzyme
ACL anterior cruciate ligament
ACTH adrenocorticotropic hormone
ADA American Diabetes Association
ADH antidiuretic hormone
ADL activities of daily living
AFB acid-fast bacilli
AFP alpha-fetoprotein
AGA appropriate for gestational age
AIDS acquired immune deficiency syndrome
AKA above knee amputation
ALP alkaline phosphatase
ALT alanine transaminase, alanine aminotransferase
AMA against medical advice
AMI acute myocardial infarction
AODM adult onset diabetes mellitus
AP apical pulse
APSGN acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis
ARF acute renal failure
ASD atrial septal defect
AST aspartate aminotransferase
ATN acute tubular necrosis
AU both ears
AVB atrio-ventricular block
A.A. Associate of Arts
A.A.S. Associate in Applied Science
A.D. Associate Degree
A.D.N. Associate Degree in Nursing
A.S. Associate of Science
BBS bilateral breath sounds
BE barium enema
BG blood glucose
BI brain injury
BID twice a day
BILAT bilateral
B/K below knee
BLS basic life support
BM bowel movement or breast milk
BP blood pressure
BPH benign prostatic hypertrophy
BRM biologic response modifiers
BRP bathroom privileges
BS bowel sounds
BSA body surface area
BSE breast self examination
BT bowel tones
BUN blood urea nitrogen
B.A. Bachelor of Arts
B.S. Bachelor of Science
B.S.N. Bachelor of Science in Nursing
C&S culture and sensitivity
CA calcium, cancer, carcinoma
CABG coronary artery bypass graft
CAD coronary artery disease
CAPD continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis
CAT computerized tomography scan
CBC complete blood count
CBD common bile duct
CBE clinical breast examination
CBG capillary blood glucose
CBI continuous bladder irrigation
CBS capillary blood sugar
CC chief complaint
CCK cholecystokinin
CCPD continuous cyclic peritoneal dialysis
CEA cultured epithelial autograft
CFT complement-fixation test
CIN cervical intraepithelial neoplasm
CL cleft lip
CMS circulation, motion, sensation
CO cardiac output
COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CP chest pain, cleft palate
CPAP continuous positive airway pressure
CPD cephalo-pelvic disproportion
CPP cerebral perfusion pressure
CPPD chest percussion and post drainage
CRF chronic renal failure
CRRT continuous renal replacement therapy
CRT capillary refill time
CSF cerebrospinal fluid
CT chest tube, computed tomography
CVA cerebral vascular accident
CVP central venous pressure
CX cancel, cervix
CXR chest x-ray
CDA Certified Dental Assistant
CLS Clinical Laboratory Scientist
CLT Clinical Laboratory Technician
CMA Certified Medical Assistant
CNMT Certified Nuclear Medical Technologist
COTA Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
CRTT Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician
DAT diet as tolerated
DC (dc) discontinue
DCCT Diabetes Control and Complication Trials
DEX (DXT) blood sugar
DIC disseminated intravascular coagulation
DKA diabetic ketoacidosis
DNA deoxyribonucleic acid
DNR do not resuscitate
DTR deep tendon reflex
DVT deep vein thrombosis
DX diagnosis
D.M.D Doctor of Dental Medicine
DDS Doctor of Dental Surgery
DVM Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
EBV Epstein-Barr Virus
ECF extracellular fluid, extended care facility
ECG electrocardiogram
EENT eye, ear, nose and throat
EMC encephalomyocarditis
EMG electromyogram
ERCP endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
ESRD end stage renal disease
ET endotracheal tube
EMT-B Emergency Medical Technician-Basic
EMT-I Emergency Medical Technician Intermediate
EMT-P Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic
F&R force and rhythm
FA fatty acid
FBS fasting blood sugar
FD fatal dose, focal distance, falling down
FDA Food & Drug Administration
FX fracture
FUO fever of unknown origin
FVD fluid volume deficit
FVE fluid volume excess
FNP Family Nurse Practitioner
GB gallbladder
GERD gastroesophageal reflux disease
GFR glomerular filtration rate
GGT gamma-glutamyl transferase
GI gastrointestinal
GIT gastrointestinal tract
GOT glutamic oxalic transaminase
GU genitourinary
GVHD graft-versus-host-disease
HA headache
HB hemoglobin
HCG human chorionic gonadotropin
HCO3 bicarbonate
HCT hematocrit
HD hemodialysis
HDL high density lipoprotein
HEENT head, eye, ear, nose and throat
HGB hemoglobin
HIV human immunodeficiency virus
HRT hormone replacement therapy
HS bedtime
HX history
IBC iron binding capacity
IBD inflammatory bowel disease
IBS irritable bowel syndrome
IBW ideal body weight
ICCE intracapsular cataract extraction
ICF imtermediate care facility
ICP intracranial pressure
ICS intercostal space
ICT inflammation of connective tissue
ICU intensive care unit
IDM infant of diabetic mother
IDDM insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
IE inspiratory exerciser
IH infectious hepatitis
IHD ischemic heart disease
IIP implantable insulin pump
IM intramuscular
IMV intermittent mandatory ventilation
INR international normalization ratio
IPD intermittent peritoneal dialysis
IPPB intermittent positive pressure breathing
ITP idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
IV intravenous
IVF in vitro fertilization
IVP intravenous pyelography
JAMA Journal of the American Medical
Association
JVP jugular venous pressure
K potassium
KCl potassium chloride
KI potassium iodide
KUB kidney, ureter, bladder
KVO keep vein open
L&A light and accommodation
LAD left anterior descending artery
LB large bowel
LDL low density lipoprotein
LE lupus erythematosus
LFTs liver function tests
LIJ left internal jugular
LLQ left lower quadrant
LMP last menstrual period
LP lumbar puncture
LSC left subclavian
LUQ left upper quadrant
LPN Licensed Practical Nurse
MAP mean arterial pressure
MAR medication administration record
MCL modified chest lead
MDI multiple daily vitamin
MI myocardial infarction
MLC midline catheter
MM mucous membrane
MOABS monoclonal antibodies
MOM Milk of Magnesia
MRDD mental retarded/developmentally disabled
MRI magnetic resonance imaging
MRM modified radical mastectomy
MS multiple sclerosis, morphine sulfate
M.B.A. Master of Business
M.D. Doctor of Medicine
M.H.E. Master of Health Education
M.N. Master of Nursing
M.P.A. Master of Public Administration
M.P.H. Master of Public Health
M.P.T. Master of Physical Therapy
M.S. Master of Science
M.S.N. Master of Science in Nursing
M.S.W. Master of Social Work
MD Medical Doctor
MLT Medical Laboratory Technician
MT Medical Technologist
NA sodium, not available
NACL sodium chloride
NED no evidence of disease
NICU neonatal intensive care unit
NIDDM noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus
NKA no known allergies
NKDA non-ketotic diabetic acidosis
NKMA no known medication allergies
NPD nightly peritoneal dialysis
NPO none per oral (nothing by mouth)
NSAID nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
NTD neural tube defect
NV nausea & vomiting
NYD not yet diagnosed
OD right eye
OGTT oral glucose tolerance test
ORIF open reduction internal fixation
OS left eye
OU both eyes
OTR Occupational Therapist-Registered
PABA para-aminobenzoic acid
PC after meals
PCA patient controlled analgesia, posterior
communicating artery
PCN penicillin, primary care nurse
PCV packed cell volume
PD peritoneal dialysis
PDA patent ductus arteriosus, posterior
descending artery
PDD pervasive development disorder
PDR physician's desk reference
PEG percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy
PEJ percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy
PERL pupils equal, react to light
PERL pupils equal, react to light
PERRLA pupils equal, round, react to light,
accommodation
PET positron emission tomography
PFT pulmonary function test
PG prostaglandin
PH past history
PI present illness
PICC peripherally inserted central venous catheter

PID pelvic inflammatory disease

PMI point of maximal impulse
PNH paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
PO per oral (by mouth)
PR per rectum
PS pyloric stenosis
PSA prostate specific antigen
PT prothrombin time
PTT partial thromboplastin time
PUD peptic ulcer disease
PVD peripheral vascular disease
PX pneumothorax
Ph.D. Doctor of Philosophy
Pharm.D. Doctor of Pharmacy
PT Physical Therapist
PTA Physical Therapy Assistant
Q every
QD everyday
QID four times a day
QNS quantity not sufficient
QOD every other day
QS quantity sufficient, quantity required
RA rheumatoid arthritis
RAD reactive airway disease
RAI radioactive iodine
RAIU radioactive iodine uptake
RCA right coronary artery
RDW red cell distribution width
REEDA redness, edema, ecchymosis, drainage,
approximation
RHD rheumatic heart disease, relative hepatic
dullness
RIJ right internal jugular
RLQ right lower quadrant
RM respiratory movement
ROM range of motion
ROS review of systems
RSC right subclavian
RUQ right upper quadrant
RX prescription, pharmacy
RD Registered Dietician
Registration Abbreviations
RHIA Registered Health Information
Administrator
RHIT Registered Health Information Technician
RN Registered Nurse
RRA Registered Record Administrator
RRT Registered Respiratory Therapist
RT Radiologic Technologist
RTN Registered Technician of Nuclear Medicine
S/S signs & symptoms
SAB spontaneous abortion
SAST serum aspartate aminotransferase
SB spina bifida
SBO small bowel obstruction
SGPT serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase
SLE systemic lupus erythematosus
SNF skilled nursing facility
SOB short of breath
SR sedimentation rate
SS social services
STD sexually transmitted disease
STH somatotropic hormone
STM short term memory
SUI stress urinary incontinence
SVR systemic vascular resistance
T3 triiodothyronine
T4 thyroxine
TBSA total body surface area
TCDB turn, cough, deep breathe
TED (hose) thrombo-embolism deterrent
TEP transesophageal puncture
THR total hip replacement
TIA transient ischemic attack
TIBC total iron binding capacity
TID three times a day
TIL tumor infiltrating lymphocytes
TKR total knee replacement
TNF tumor necrosis factor
TNM tumor, node, metastases
TNTC too numerous to mention
TP tuberculin precipitation
TPN total parenteral nutrition
TTN transient tachypnea of the newborn
TTP thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura
TUPR trans-urethral prostatic resection
TUR (or TURP) trans-urethral resection of the
prostate
TWB touch weight bear
TWE tap water enema
TX treatment, traction
UA urinalysis
UAO upper airway obstruction
UBW usual body weight
UGI upper gastrointestinal
UPJ ureteropelvic junction
URI upper respiratory infection
US ultrasonic
UTI urinary tract infection
UVJ ureterovesical junction
VA visual acuity
VBAC vaginal birth after caeserean
VF ventricular fibrillation
VLDL very low density lipoprotein
VMA vanillylmandelic acid
VSD ventricular septal defect
VT ventricular tachycardia
VW vessel wall
W/C wheelchair
WBC white blood cell
WD well developed
WHO World Health Organization
WN well nourished
WNL within
XR x-ray
YO years old
Z zero