Symbol

Description

-

Minus, Negative

#

Number  (usually placed before a number)

#

Pound(s) (usually placed after a number)

&

And

(sn)

(sentinel node)

/

Comparison

@

At

^

Above

+

Plus, Positive

< 

Decrease, Less/Less than

=

Equal(s)

> 

Greater/Greater than

> 

Increase, More/More than

Abbreviations

Description

*

Context-apparent abbreviation:  Meaning of the abbreviation should be readily apparent from the context in which it is used.

A FIB

Atrial fibrillation

A FLUTTER

Atrial flutter

A&P

Auscultation & percussion

ABD

Abdomen (abdominal)

ABG

Arterial blood gases

ABN

Abnormal

ABS

Absent/Absence

ABST

Abstract/Abstracted

AC

Adrenal cortex

ACBE

Air contrast barium enema

ACH

Adrenal cortical hormone

ACID PHOS

Acid phosphatase

A-COLON

Ascending colon

ACTH

Adrenocorticotrophic hormone

ADENOCA

Adenocarcinoma

ADH *

Antidiuretic hormone

ADH *

Atypical ductal hyperplasia

ADJ

Adjacent

ADL

Activities of daily living

ADM

Admission/Admit

AFF

Affirmative

AFP

Alpha-fetoprotein

AG

Antigen

AGL

Acute granulocytic leukemia

AI

Atrial stenosis/insufficiency/incompetence

AIDS

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

AIHA

Autoimmune hemolytic Anemia

AIN I-III

Anal intraepithelial neoplasia, Grade I-III

AK(A) *

Above knee (amputation)

AKA    *

Also known As

ALB

Albumin

ALK PHOS

Alkaline phosphatase

ALL

Acute lymphocytic leukemia

ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

AM

Before noon

AMA

Against medical advice

AMB

Ambulatory

AMI

Acute myocardial infarction

AML

Acute myelogenous leukemia

AMP

Amputation

AMT

Amount

ANAP

Anaplastic

ANGIO

Angiography/Angiogram

ANS

Autonomic nervous system

ANT

Anterior

AODM

Adult-onset Diabetes Mellitus

AP *

Abdominal perineal

AP *

Anteroposterior

APC

Atrial premature complexes

APP

Appendix

APPL‘Y

Apparently

APPROX

Approximately

ARC

AIDS-related condition (complex)

ARD

AIDS-related disease

ARDS

Acute Respiratory Distress (Disease) Syndrome

ARF

Acute renal failure

ARRHY

Arrhythmia

ART

Artery (ial)

AS

Arteriosclerosis/Arteriosclerotic

ASA

Aspirin, Acetylsalicylic Acid

ASAP

As soon As possible

ASCVD

Arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease

ASHD

Arteriosclerotic heart disease

ASP

Aspiration

ASPVD

Arteriosclerotic Peripheral Vascular Disease

A-STEN

Aortic stenosis

ATN

Acute tubular necrosis

ATP

Adenosine triphosphate

ATR

Achilles tendon reflex

AUT

Autopsy

AV

Arteriovenous

AVG

Average

AVM

Arteriovenous malformation

AX

Axilla(ry)

B/F

Black female

B/M

Black male

BA

Barium

BAD

Bipolar affective disorder

BCC

Basal cell carcinoma

BCG

Bacillus Calmette-Guerin

BD

Bile duct

BE

Barium enema

BID

Twice a day (daily)

BIL

Bilateral

BK(A)

Below knee (amputation)

BM *

Bone marrow

BM *

Bowel movement

BMBx

Bone marrow biopsy

BMT

Bone marrow transplant

BP

Blood pressure

BPH

Benign prostatic hypertrophy/hyperplasia

BRB (PR)

Bright Red Blood (per Rectum)

BRCA 1 or 2

Breast cancer type 1 or 2 susceptibility protein

BRM

Biological response modifier

BRO

Brother

BS

Bowel Sounds

BRS

Breath Sounds

BSE

Breast self-examination

BSO

Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy

BT

Bladder tumor

BUN

Blood urea nitrogen

BUS

Bartholin‘s, Urethral & Skene‘s

BV

Blood volume

BX

Biopsy

C/O

Complaint (-ning) of

C/W

Consistent with

C1-C7

Cervical vertebrae

CA *

Calcium

CA *

Carcinoma

CA-125

Carbohydrate antigen 125

CABG

Coronary artery bypass graft

CAD

Coronary artery disease

CAP *

College of American Pathology

CAP(S) *

Capsule (s)

CBC

Complete blood Count

CC

Cubic Centimeter

CCU

Coronary Care unit

CEA

Carcinoembryonic antigen

CF

Cystic fibrosis

CGL

Chronic granulocytic leukemia

cGy

Centigray

CHD

Congenital heart disease

CHEMO/CTX

Chemotherapy

CHF

Congestive heart failure

CHG

Change

CHR

Chronic

CIG

Cigarettes

CIN I-III

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, Grade l-III

CIS

Carcinoma in situ

CISH

Chromogenic in situ hybridization

c-KIT

CD117

CLL

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia

CLR

Clear

CM

Centimeter

CML

Chronic myeloid (myelocytic) leukemia

CNS

Central nervous system

CO 60

Cobalt 60

COLD

Chronic obstructive lung disease

CONT

Continue/continuous

CONTRA

Contralateral

COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CR

Complete remission

CRF

Chronic renal failure

CRM

Circumferential resection margin

CS

Collaborative stage

CSF

Cerebrospinal fluid

C-SF

Colony-stimulating factor

C-SPINE

Cervical spine

CT

CAT/CT scan/Computerized axial tomography

CUC

Chronic ulcerative Colitis

CVA

Cerebrovascular accident

CVD

Cardiovascular disease

CXR

Chest X-ray

CYSTO

Cystoscopy

CYTO

Cytology

D&C

Dilatation and curettage

DC

Discontinue(d)

DCIS

Ductal carcinoma in situ

D-COLON

Descending colon

DECR

Decrease(d)

DERM

Dermatology

DES

Diethylstilbestrol

DIAM

Diameter

DIC

Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy

DIEP

Deep inferior epigastric perforator

DIFF

Differentiated/differential

DIN 3

Ductal Intraepithelial Neoplasia 3

DIS, DZ

Disease

DISCH

Discharge

DM

Diabetes mellitus

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid

DOA

Dead on arrival

DOB

Date of birth

DOD

Date of Death

DOE

Dyspnea on exertion

DR, MD

Medical Doctor

DRE

Digital rectal examination

DTR

Deep tendon reflex

DVT

Deep vein thrombosis

DX

Diagnosis

E.G.

For example

ECF

Extended Care Facility

ECG/EKG

Electrocardiogram

ECS/ECE

Extracapsular spread/extension

EEG

Electroencephalogram

EENT

Eyes, Ears, Nose and Throat

EGD

Esophagogastro-duodenoscopy

EGJ

Esophagogastric junction

EMG

Electromyogram

ENLGD

Enlarged

ENT

Ears, nose, and throat

ER *

Emergency room

ER *, ERA

Estrogen receptor (assay)

ERCP

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

ESRD

End stage renal disease

ET

Essential thrombocytopenia

ETOH

Alcohol

EUA

Examination under Anesthesia

EVAL

Evaluation

EXAM

Examination

EXC(D)

Excision/excised

EXP

Expired

EXPL

Exploratory

EXPL LAP

Exploratory laparotomy

EXT *

Extend/extension

EXT *

External

EXT *

Extremity

FA

Father

F(M)H

Family (Medical) History

FB

Fingerbreadth

FIGO

International Federation of Gynecology & Obstetrics

FISH

Fluorescence in situ hybridization

FL

Fluid

FLIPI

Follicular lymphoma international prognostic index

FLURO

Fluoroscopy

FNA

Fine needle aspiration

FNAB

Fine needle aspiration biopsy

FOM

Floor of mouth

FREQ

Frequent/Frequency

FS

Frozen section

FTSG

Full thickness skin graft

FU

Follow-up

FUO

Fever of unknown origin

FX

Fracture

GB

Gallbladder

GE *

Gastroenterostomy

GE *

Gastroesophageal

GEN

General/Generalized

GERD

Gastroesophageal reflux disease

GF, GGF

Grandfather, Great grandfather

GG

Gleason grade

GI

Gastrointestinal

GIST

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor

GM *

Gram

GM *, GGM

Grandmothe, Great grandmother

GR

Grade

GS

Gleason score

GU

Genitourinary

Gy

Gray, unit of absorbed radiation

GYN

Gynecology

FUS

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound

H&E

Hematoxylin & eosin stain

H&P

History and physical

HAV

Hepatitis A (virus)

HBV

Hepatitis B (virus)

HCG

Human chorionic gonadotropin

HCT

Hematocrit

HCV

Hepatitis C (virus)

HCVD

Hypertensive cardiovascular disease

HDR

High dose rate

HDV

Hepatitis D (virus)

HEENT

Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, Throat

HER2/neu

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2

HG

High grade

HGB

Hemoglobin

HIFU

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound

HIFUS

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound

HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virus

HO, H/O

History of

HORM

Hormone

HOSP

Hospital

HPF

High power field

HPI

History of Present Illness

HPV

Human Papilloma Virus

HR(S)

Hour/Hours

HSM

Hepatosplenomegaly

HTLV-III

Human T-Lymphotrophic Virus Type III

HTN

Hypertension

HVD

Hypertensive vascular disease

HX

History

HYST

Hysterectomy

I

Iodine

I&D

Incision & drainage

I-131

Iodine-131

IBD

Inflammatory bowel disease

ICM

Intercostal margin

ICS

Intercostal space

ICU

Intensive care unit

IDDM

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

IMF

Idiopathic myelofibrosis

IG

Immunoglobulin

IHC

Immunohistochemical

IHSS

Idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis

ILD

Interstitial lung disease

IM

Intramuscular

IMA

Internal Mammary Artery

IMP

Impression

IMRT

Intensity modulated radiation therapy

INCL

Includes/Including

INCR

Increase(d)

INF

Inferior

INFILT

Infiltrating

INR

International normalized ratio

INT

Internal

INV

Invade(s)/invading/invasion

INVL

Involve(s)/involvement/involving

IP

Inpatient

IPI

Internal Prognostic Index

IPPB

Intermittent positive pressure breathing

IPSI

Ipsilateral

IRREG

Irregular

ISUP

International Society of Urological Pathology

IT

Intrathecal

ITCs

Isolated tumor cells

ITP

Idiopathic thrombocytopenia

IV

Intravenous

IVC

Inferior vena cava

IVCA

Intravenous cholangiogram

IVP

Intravenous pyelogram

JAK 1 or 2

Janus activated kinase 1 or 2

JRA

Juvenile rheumatic arthritis

JVD

Jugular venous distention

KG

Kilogram

KRAS

V-ki-RAS 2

KS

Kaposi sarcoma

KUB

Kidneys, ureters, bladder

KV

Kilovolt

L *

Liter

L *, LT

Left

L1-L5

Lumbar vertebra

LAB

Laboratory

LAD/LAN

Lymphadenopathy

LAP

Laparotomy

LAT

Lateral

LAV

Lymphadenopathy-associated virus

LB(S)

Pound(s)

LBBB

Left bundle branch block

LCDD

Light chain deposition disease

LCIS

Lobular Carcinoma In Situ

LCM

Left costal margin

LDH

Lactic dehydrogenase

LDR

Low dose rate

LE

Lower extremity

LG

Low grade

LIN

Laryngeal Intraepithelial Neoplasia

LINAC

Linear accelerator

LIQ

Lower inner quadrant

LKS(B)

Liver, Kidney, Spleen (Bladder)

LLE

Left lower extremity

LLL

Left lower lobe

LLQ

Left lower quadrant

LMP

Last menstrual period

LN(S)

Lymph node(s)

LND

Lymph node dissection

LOH

Loss of heterozygosity (18q)

LOQ

Lower outer quadrant

LP

Lumbar Puncture

LPN

Licensed practical nurse

LRG

Large

LS

Lumbosacral

LS SCAN

Liver/spleen scan

LSO

Left salpingo-oophorectomy

L-SPINE

Lumbar spine

LUE

Left upper extremity

LUL

Left upper lobe

LUOQ

Left upper outer quadrant

LUP ERYTH

Lupus erythematosus

LUQ

Left upper quadrant

LVI

Lymphvascular invasion

Mab

Monoclonal antibodies

MALIG

Malignant

MAND

Mandible/mandibular

MAT

Multifocal arterial tachycardia

MAX *

Maxilla(ry)

MAX *

Maximum

MC *

Medical center

MC *(H)

Millicurie (hours)

MCC

Merkel cell carcinoma

MCG

Microgram

MCID

Mixed combined immunodeficiency

MCL

Midclavicular Line

M-CSF

Macrophage colony-stimulating factor

MCTD

Mixed connective tissue disease

MD, MOD DIFF

Moderately differentiated

MED

Medication

MET, METS

Metastatic, Metastases/Metastasis

MG

Myasthenia gravis

MG(H)

Milligram (hours)

MGMT

Methylguanine methyltransferase enzyme

MGUS

Monclonal gammopathy of unknown significance

MI

Myocardial infarction

MICRO

Microscopic

MIN *

Minimum

MIN *

Minute

MIS

Microsatellite instability

ML *

Middle lobe

ML *

Milliliter

MLN

Mean diameter nucleoli

MM *

Millimeter

MM *

Multiple Myeloma

MO

Mother

MOD

Moderate (ly)

MPVC

Multifocal premature ventricular contraction

MRCP

Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography

MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging

MRM

Modified radical Mastectomy

MRSA

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

MS

Multiple sclerosis

MSB

Main stem bronchus

MUGA

Multiple gated acquisition scan

MULT

Multiple

MV, MEV

Million (electron) volts

MVD

Microvascular density

MVP

Mitral valve prolapse

N&V

Nausea and Vomiting

NA

Not applicable

NED

No evidence of disease

NEG

Negative

NEOPL

Neoplasm

NEURO

Neurology

NH

Nursing home

NHL

Non-Hodgkins lymphoma

NL

Normal

NOS

Not otherwise specified

NR

Not recorded

NSCCA

Non small cell carcinoma

NSF

No significant findings

NVD

Neck vein distention

OB

Obstetrics

OBS

Organic brain syndrome

OBST

Obstructed (-ing, -ion)

OP *

Operation

OP *

Outpatient

OR

Operating room

ORTHO

Orthopedics

OTO

Otology

OZ

Ounce

P&A

Percussion and Ausculation

P32

Phosphorus 32

PA *

Posteroanterior

PA *

Pulmonary Artery

PAC

Premature atrial contraction

PALP

Palpated (-able)

PAM

Primary acquired melanosis

PanIN III

Pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia, Grade III

PAP *

Papanicolaou smear

PAP *

Papillary

PATH

Pathology

PCP

Primary care physician

pCR

Pathologic complete remission

PD, POOR DIFF

Poorly differentiated

PE

Physical examination

PEDS

Pediatrics

PERC

Percutaneous

PET

Positron emission tomography

PI

Present Illness

PID

Pelvic inflammatory disease

PIN III

Prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, Grade III

PLT

Platelets

PMD, DR, MD

Doctor

PMH

Past/personal (medical) history

POD

Postoperative Day

POS

Positive

POSS

Possible

POST

Posterior

POST OP

Postoperative (-ly)

PPD

Packs Per day

PR, PRA

Progesterone receptor (assay)

PRE OP

Preoperative (-ly)

PREV

Previous

PROB

Probable (-ly)

PROCTO

Proctoscopy

PSA

Prostatic specific antigen

PT *

Patient

PT *

Physiotherapy/Physical therapy

PTA

Prior to admission

PTC

Percutaneous transhepatic cholecystogram

PUD

Peptic ulcer disease

PULM

Pulmonary

PUNLMP

Papillary Urothelial Neoplasm of Low Malignant Potential

PV

Polycythemia vera

PVD

Peripheral vascular disease

Q

Every

QD

Every day

QUAD

Quadrant

R, RT

Right

RA

Radium

RA

Rheumatoid arthritis

RAD *

Radiation

RAD *

Radiation absorbed dose

RAD *

Radical

RBBB

Right bundle branch block

RBC

Red blood cells (count)

RCM

Right costal margin

RE

Regarding

REC‘D

Received

REG

Regular

RESEC

Resection (ed)

RESPIR

Respiratory

RHD

Rheumatic heart disease

RIA

Radioimmunoassay

RIQ

Right inner quadrant

RLE

Right lower extremity

RLL

Right lower lobe

RLQ

Right lower quadrant

RMC

Regional medical center

RML

Right middle lobe

RO, R/O

Rule Out

ROF

Review of outside films

ROQ

Right outer quadrant

ROS *

Review of outside slides

ROS *

Review of Systems

OP RPT

Operative Report

RSO

Right salpingo-oophorectomy

RSR

Regular sinus Rhythm

RT

Radiation therapy

RUE

Right upper extremity

RUL

Right upper lobe

RUQ

Right upper quadrant

RX *

Prescription

RX *, TX

Treatment

S/P

Status post

S1-S5

Sacral vertebra

SATIS

Satisfactory

SB, SML BWL

Small Bowel

SBO

Small bowel obstruction

SCC

Squamous cell carcinoma

SCID

Severe combined immunodeficiency Syndrome

SGOT

Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase

SGPT

Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase

SIADH

Syndrome of inappropriate ADH

SIG COLON

Sigmoid colon

SIS

Sister

SLE

Systemic lupus erythematosus

SM, SML

Small

SMA

Sequential Multiple Analysis (Biochem Profile)

SNF

Skilled Nursing Facility

SO

Salpingo-oophorectomy

SOB

Short(ness) of breath

SPEC

Specimen

SQ

Squamous

SQUAM

Squamous

SRS

Stereotactic radiosurgery

SS

Summary Stage

S-SPINE

Sacral Spine

SSS

Sick Sinus Syndrome

STSG

Split thickness Skin graft

SUBCU, SUBQ

Subcutaneous

SURG

Surgery/Surgical

SUSP

Suspicious/suspected

SVC

Superior vena cava

SX

Symptoms

T

Thoracic

T1-T12

Thoracic Vertebra

TAH

Total abdominal hysterectomy

TAH-BSO

Total abdominal hysterectomy-bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy

TB

Tuberculosis

TBI

Total body irradiation

TCC

Transitional cell carcinoma

TIA

Transient ischemic attack

TPN

Total parenteral nutrition

TRAM

Transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous

TRANS-COLON

Transverse colon

TS

Tumor Size

T-SPINE

Thoracic spine

TTP

Thromboticthrombocytopenia purpura

TUR

Transurethral resection

TURB

Transurethral resection bladder

TURB(T)

Transurethral Resection Bladder (Tumor)

TURP

Transurethral resection prostate

TVC

True vocal cord

TVH

Total vaginal hysterectomy

UE

Upper extremity

UGI

Upper gastrointestinal (series)

UIQ

Upper inner quadrant

UNDIFF

Undifferentiated

UNK

Unknown

UOQ

Upper outer quadrant

URI

Upper respiratory infection

US

Ultrasound

UTI

Urinary tract infection

VAG

Vagina/Vaginal

VAG HYST

Vaginal hysterectomy

VAIN I-III

Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia, Grade I-III

VASC

Vascular

VIN I-III

Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia, Grade I-III

VPI

Visceral pleural invasion

W/ or C

With

W/F

White female

W/M

White male

W/O

Without

W/U

Work-up

WBC

White blood cells (count)

WELL DIFF

Well differentiated WD,

WHO

World Health Organization

WNL

Within normal limits

WPW

Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

X

Times

XR

Xray

YR

Year