A&P
anatomy and physiology; auscultation and percussion
A, B, AB, O
blood types in ABO blood group
AAA
abdominal aortic aneurysm
AB, Ab, ab
Antibody; abortion
ABG
arterial blood gas
a.c.*
Before Meals
ACL
anterior cruciate ligament
ACTH
adrenocorticotropic hormone
ad lib.
as desired
AD*
Right Ear
ADH
antidiuretic hormone
ADHD
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
AE
Above elbow
AED
automated external defibrillator
AF
atrial fibrillation
AGN
Acute glomerulonephritis
AI
artificial insemination
AICD
automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator
AIDS
acquired immune deficiency syndrome
AK
Above knee
ALL
acute lymphocytic leukemia
ALS
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
ALT
alanine aminotransferase
AM, a.m.
In the morning, before noon
AML
acute myelogenous leukemia
ANS
autonomic nervous system
AOM
acute otitis media
AP
anteroposterior
ARDS
acute respiratory distress syndrome
ARF
acute renal failure
ARMD, AMD
age-related macular degeneration
AS
aortic stenosis
AS*
Left ear
ASD
arterial septal defect
ASHD
arteriosclerotic heart disease
AST
angiotensin sensitivity test
Ast
astigmatism
AU*
both ears
AV
atrioventricular; arteriovenous
Ba
Barium
BBB
bundle branch block
BC
bone conduction
BCC
basal cell carcinoma
BE
barium enema; below the elbow
BG
blood glucose
b.i.d
twice a day
BK
below knee
BKA
below knee amputation
BM
bowel movement
BMI
body mass index
BMR
basal metabolic rate
BNO
bladder neck obstruction
BP, B/P
Blood Pressure
BPH
benign prostatic hyperplasia; benign prostatic hypertrophy
BS
Blood sugar
BSE
breast self-examination
BSO
bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy
BUN
blood urea nitrogen
Bx, bx
biopsy
C1, C2 (and so on)
first cervical vertebra, second cervical vertebra, and so on
CA
cancer; chronological age; cardiac arrest
Ca
calcium, cancer
CABG
coronary artery bypass graft
CAD
coronary artery disease
CAH
chronic active hepatitis; congenital adrenal hyperplasia
CAT
computerized axial tomography
Cath
catheterization, catheter
CBC
complete blood count
CC
chief complaint; cardiac catheterization
cc*
cubic centimeter (same as milliliters; 1/1000 of a liter)
CCU
coronary care unit
CDH
congenital dislocation of the hip
CF
cystic fibrosis
CHD
coronary heart disease
chemo
chemotherapy
CHF
congestive heart failure
Chol
cholesterol
CK
creatine kinase (cardiac enzyme); conductive keratoplasty
CKD
chronic kidney disease
CLL
chronic lymphocytic leukemia
cm
centimeter
CML
chronic myelogenous leukemia
CNS
central nervous system
c/o
complains of, complaints
CO
cardiac output
Co2
carbon dioxide
COPD
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CP
cerebral palsy
CPAP
continuous positive airway pressure
CPD
cephalopelvic disproportion
CPR
cardiopulmonary resuscitation
CRF
chronic renal failure
C&S
culture and sensitivity
CS
C-section, cesarean section
CSF
cerebrospinal fluid
CT
computed tomography
CTS
carpal tunnel syndrome
CV
cardiovascular
CVA
cerebrovascular accident; costovertebral angle
CVD
cardiovascular disease
CVR
chorionic villus sampling
CXR
chest x-ray, chest radiograph
cysto
cystoscopy
dc, DC, D/C*
discharge, discontinue
D&C
dilation and curettage
Decub.
decubitus (lying down)
derm
dermatology
DES
diffuse esophageal spasm; drug-eluting stent
DEXA, DXA
dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry
DI
diabetes insipidus; diagnostic imaging
diff
differential count (white blood cells)
DJD
degenerative joint disease
DKA
diabetic ketoacidosis
DM
diabetes mellitus
DMARDs
disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs
DNA
deoxyribonucleic acid
D.O., DO
doctor of osteopathy
DOE
dyspnea on exertion
DPI
dry powder inhaler
D.P.M
Doctor of Podiatric Medicine
DPT
diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus
DRE
digital rectal examination
DVT
deep vein thrombosis, deep venous thrombosis
Dx
diagnosis
EBV
Epstein-Barr virus
ECCE
Extracapsular cataract extraction
ECG, EKG
electrocardiogram, electrocardiography
ECHO
echocardiogram, echocardiography; echoencephalogram, echoencephalography
ED
emergency department, erectile dysfunction
EEG
electroencephalogram, electroencephalography
EENT
eyes, ears, nose, throat
EF
ejection fraction
EGD
esophagogastroduodenoscopy
ELT
endovenous laser ablation; endoluminal laser ablation
EMG
electromyogram, electromyography
ENT
ear, nose, throat
EOM
extraocular movement
ERCP
endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
ESRD
end-stage renal disease
ESWL
extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy
FBS
fasting blood sugar
FECG
fetal electrocardiogram
FH
family history
FS
frozen section
FSH
follicle-stimulating hormone
FTND
full-term normal delivery
FVC
forced vital capacity
fx
fracture
G
Gravida (Pregnant)
g, gm
gram
GB
gallbladder
GBS
gallbladder series
GC
gonococcus
GER
gastroesophageal reflux
GERD
gastroesophageal reflux disease
GH
growth hormone
GI
gastrointestinal
GTT
glucose tolerance test
GU
genitourinary
GVHD
graft-versus-host disease
GVHR
graft-versus-host reaction
GYN
gynecology
H2O
Water
HAV
hepatitis A virus
Hb, Hgb, hgb
hemoglobin
HBA
hepatitis B virus
hCG, HCG
human chorionic gonadotropin
HCl
hydrochloric acid
HCT, Hct
hematocrit
HCV
hepatitis C virus
HD
hemodialysis; hip disarticulation; hearing distance
HDL
high-density lipoprotein
HDN
hemolytic disease of the newborn
HDV
hepatitis D virus
HEV
hepatitis E virus
HF
Heart Failure
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus
HMD
hyaline membrane disease
HNP
herniated nucleus pulposus (herniated disk)
HPV
human papillomavirus
HRT
hormone replacement therapy
hs*
half strength
h.s.*
at bedtime
HSG
hysterosalpingography; hysterosalpingogram
HSV
herpes simplex virus
HTN
hypertension
Hx
history
IAS
interatrial septum
IBD
inflammatory bowel disease
IBS
irritable bowel syndrome
ICD
implantable cardioverter-defibrillator
ICP
intracranial pressure
ICU
intensive care unit
I&D
incision and drainage; irrigation and debridement
ID
intradermal
IDDM
insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
Ig
immunoglobulin
IM
intramuscular; infectious mononucleosis
IMP
impression (synonymous with diagnosis)
IOL
intraocular lens
IOP
intraocular pressure
IPPB
intermittent positive pressure breathing
IRDS
infant respiratory distress syndrome
IT
inhalation therapy; intensive therapy
IUD
intrauterine device
IV
intravenous
IVC
intravenous cholangiography, intravenous cholangiogram
IVF
in vitro fertilization
IVF-ET
in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer
IVP
intravenous pyelogram; intravenous pyelography
IVU
intravenous urogram; intravenous urography