Common Medical Abbreviations and Their Meaning

by Pharmapproach | November 22, 2023 in Clinical Pharmacy 2

Medical abbreviations and acronyms represent “acceptable” terms used by physicians and other health care professionals commonly as a reference to rapidly search and accurately record information about, and give instructions to their patients. They are commonly used due to the tremendous gains in efficiency and the ability to cover numerous medically related concepts with minimal space.

In order to avoid ambiguity which may likely to lead to an error, it is best to understand the context in which the abbreviation is used as there is no standard or approved list used by health care professionals to search for medical acronyms or abbreviations. Also, individual medical facilities may provide their own list of acceptable terms and abbreviations that may not be used elsewhere.

This article, therefore, contains a comprehensive list of common medical abbreviations and their meaning. These are by no means exhaustive.

A – Medical abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning
A & E	Accident and Emergency
A & P	Auscultation and percussion
A & W	Alive and well
AAROM	Active assistive range of motion
Ab	Antibody
AB/ab	Abortion
ABC	Aspiration, biopsy, cytology
abd	Abdomen
ABG	Arterial blood gas
ACTH	Adrenocorticotrophic hormone
AD	Alzheimer’s disease
ADD	Attention-deficit disorder
ADH	Antidiuretic hormone
ADHD	Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
ADL	Activities of daily living
AI	Accidental injury
AID	Artificial insemination donor
AIDS	Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
AJ	Ankle jerk
AKA	Above the knee amputation
ALS	Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
AMA	Against medical advice
AMI	Acute myocardial infarction
AN	Anorexia nervosa/antenatal
ANA	Antinuclear antibodies
ANS	Autonomic nervous system
APH	Antepartum haemorrhage
APM	Anterior poliomyelitis
ARF	Acute renal failure
ARM	Artificial rupture of membranes
AS	Left ear
AST	Aspartate transaminase formerly called SGOT
AU	Both ears

B – Medical abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning
Ba E	Barium enema
Ba M	Barium meal
BBT	Basal body temperature
BCC	Basal cell carcinoma
BCG	Bacille-Calmette-Guerin (vaccine for TB)
BI	bony injury/bodily injury
BID	Brought in dead
BM	Bowel movement
BMI	Body mass index
BMR	Basal metabolic rate
BNO	Bladder neck obstruction
BO	Bowels open/body odour
BOA	Born on arrival
BP, B/P	Blood pressure
BPH	Benign prostatic hyperplasia
bpm	Beats per minute
BRP	Bathroom privileges
BS	Bowel sounds
BSE	Breast self-examination
BSR	Basal sedimentation rate
BUN	Blood urea nitrogen
BW	Birth weight
Bx/ bx	Biopsy

C – Medical abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning
C & S, C+S	Culture and sensitivity (testing)
C	Celsius/centigrade; carbon
C/O, c/o	Complaints of
Ca	Calcium; cancer
CABG	Coronary artery bypass graft
CAD	Coronary artery disease
CAO	Chronic airways obstruction
cath	Catheter
CBC	Complete blood count
CBD	Common bile duct
CC	Cardiac catheterization, chief complaint, clean catch urine specimen
CD	Controlled drugs/cadaver donor
CDH	Congenital dislocation of the hip
CF	Cardiac failure
CHD	Congenital heart disease; coronary heart disease
CHF	Congestive heart failure
CIS	Carcinoma in situ
CNS	Central nervous system
CO₂	Carbon dixoxide
COPD	Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CP	Cerebral palsy; cleft palate
CPR	Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
CS, C-section	Cesarean section
CSD	Congenital septal defect
CSF	Cerebrospinal fluid
CT	Calcitonin, computerized tomography
CT scan	Computed tomography scan
CTA	Clear to auscultation
CTS	Carpal tunnel syndrome
CV	Cardiovascular; closing volume
CVA	Cerebrovasular accident; costovertebral angle
CVD	Cerebrovascular disease
CVS	Chorionic villus sampling
Cx	Cervix
CXR	Chest x-ray

D – Medical abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning
D & C	Dilatation and curettage (uterine)
D & V	Diarrhoea and vomiting
d/c, DISC	Discontinue
D5W	Dextrose 5% in water
DAT	Differential agglutination test
DC, disc	discontinue
DI	Diabetes insipidus; diagnostic imaging
DIC	Disseminated intravascular coagulation
DJD	Degenerative joint disease
DKA	Diabetes ketoacidosis
DLE	Disseminated lupus erythematous
DM	Diabetes mellitus; diastolic murmur
DNA	Did not attend; deoxyribonucleic acid
DNR	Do not resuscitate
DOA	Dead on arrival
DOB	Date of birth
DOE	Dyspnea on exertion
DPT, DTP	Diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus injection
DRE	Digital rectal exam
DS	Disseminated sclerosis
DSA	Digital subtraction angiogram
DT	Delirium tremens
DTR	Deep tendon reflex
DU	Duodenal ulcer; diagnosis undetermined
DVT	Deep vein thrombosis
Dx	Diagnosis
DXRT	Deep X-ray therapy

E – Medical abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning
ECG	Electrocardiography
ECHO	Echocardiogram
ECT	Electroconvulsive therapy
EDC	Expected date of confinement
EDD	Expected date of delivery
EEG	Electroencephalography
EENT	Eyes, ears, nose, throat
ELISA	Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
EMG	Electromyogram
ENT	Ear, nose and throat
EOM	Extraocular movement
ER	Emergency room; estrogen receptor
ERCP	Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
ESN	Educationally subnormal
ESR, SR, sed rate	Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
ESRD	End-stage renal disease
ETOH	Ethyl alcohol (ethanol)
ETT	Exercise tolerance test; endotracheal tube
EUA	Examination under anaesthetic
EUS	External urethral sphincter

F – Medical abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning
F	Fahrenheit; failure
F/U, f/u	Follow-up
FB	Foreign body
FBC	Full blood count
FBS	Fasting blood sugar
FDG-PET	Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (nuclear medicine test)
FDIU	Fetal death in utero
Fe	Iron
FEV	Forced expiratory volume
FH	Family history
FHH	Fetal heart heard
FHNH	Fetal heart not heard
FHR	Fetal heart rate
FHT	Fetal heart tone
Fl, fld	Fluid
FSH	Follicle stimulating hormone
FUO	Fever of unknown (undetermined) origin
Fx, FX	Fracture

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G – Medical abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning
GA	General anaesthetia; gallium
GB	Gallbladder X-ray
GC	Gonorrhea
GCFT	Gonorrhea complement fixation test
GERD	Gastroesophageal reflux disease
GFR	Glomerular filtration rate
GG/gamma gl	Gamma globulin
GH	Growth hormone
GHRH	Growth hormone release hormone
GI	Gastrointestinal
GOK	God only knows!
Grav. 1, 2, 3	Gravida – a woman who has had a first, second, or third pregnancy of any duration
GTT	Glucose tolerance test
GU	Gastric ulcer/genito-urinary
GYN/ gyn	Gynecology

H – Medical abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning
H & L	Heart and lungs
H & P	History and physical (examination)
h/o	History of
HA	Headache
HAART	Highly active antiretroviral therapy
Hb, hgb, Hgb	Haemoglobin
HbA1c	Glycosylated hemoglobin (measured to test for diabetes)
HbF	Fetal haemoglobin
HCG, hCG	Human chorionic gonadotrophin
HEENT	Head, ear, eye, nose, throat
HGG	Human gamma globulin
Hib	Haemophilus influenza type B
HIg	Human immunoglobulin
HIV	Human immunodeficiency virus
HPV	Human papillomavirus
HR	Heart rate
HRT	Hormone replacement therapy
HSV-1, HSV-2	Herpes simplex virus type 1, type 2
HTN	Hypertension
HV	Hallux valgus
HVS	High vaginal swab
Hx	History

I – Medical abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning
I & D	Incision and drainage
IBS	Irritable bowel syndrome
ICP	Intracranial pressure
ICU	Intensive care unit
IDDM	Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
IDK	Internal derangement of the knee joint
Ig	Immunoglobulin
IHD	Ischaemic heart disease
IM	Intramuscular
INR	International normalized ratio (system for reporting results of blood coagulation tests)
IOFP	Intraocular foreign body
IOL	Intraocular lens (implant)
IOP	Intra-ocular pressure
IQ	Intelligence quotient
IRV	Inspiratory reserve volume
IUD	Intrauterine device
IV	Intravenous
IVF	in vitro fertilization
IVP	Intravenous push

J – Medical abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning
JRA	Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
JV	Jugular vein
JVP	Jugular vein pulse/jugular venous pressure

K – Medical abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning
KJ	Knee jerk
KUB	Kidneys, ureters and bladder
KVO	Keep vein open

L – Medical abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning
LA	Local anesthesia
LASER	Light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation
LB	Loose body
LBW	Low birth weight
LE	Lupus erythematosus; local excision
LFD	Large for dates (fetus)
LFT	Liver function tests
LG	Lymph gland
LH	Luteinizing hormone
LIF	Left iliac fossa
LIH	Left inguinal hernia
LLL	Left lower lobe
LLQ	Left lower quadrant
LMP	Last menstrual period
LOA	Left occipito-anterior
LOC	Level; loss of consciousness
LOL	Left occipito-lateral
LOP	Left occipito-posterior
LP	Lumbar puncture
LR	Lactated ringer’s
LRD	Living related donor
LRTI	Lower respiratory tract infection
LSCS	Lower segment caesarian section
LUE	Left upper extremity
LUL	Left upper lobe
LUQ	Left upper quadrant
LVF	Left ventricular failure

M – Medical abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning
MAC	Monitored anesthesia care
MAO	Maximum acid output (gastric); monoamine oxidase
MAOI	Monoamine oxidase inhibitor
MCH	Mean corpuscular haemoglobin
MCHC	Mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration
MCV	Mean corpuscular volume
MH	Marital history; mental health
MI	Myocardial infarction; mitral incompetence
MMR	measles, mumps and rubella (immunizations)
MPV	Mean platelet volume
MR	Mitral regurgitation
MRA	Magnetic resonance angiography
MRI	Magnetic resonance imaging
MRSA	Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
MS	Multiple sclerosis; mitral stenosis
MSH	Melanocyte-stimulating hormone
MSSU, MSU	Midstream specimen of urine
MTD	Maximum tolerated dose
MTF	Male to female
MUA	Manipulation under anesthesia
MVD	Mitral valve disease
MVP	Mitral valve prolapse
Mx	Mastectomy

N – Medical abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning
N & V, N + V, N/V	Nausea and vomiting
N/A	Not applicable
NAD	No abnormality demonstrated
NAI	Non-accidental injury
NED	No evidence of disease
NFS	No fracture seen/shown
NG	New growth; nasogastric (tube)
NGU	Non-gonococcal urethritis
NHL	Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
NICU	Neonatal intensive care unit
NIDDM	Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
NKA	No known allergies
NKDA	No known drug allergies
NMR	Nuclear magnetic resonance
NND	Neonatal death
NNMR	Neonatal mortality rate
NPO, n.p.o	Nothing by mouth (nil per os)
NPU	Not passed urine
NSAIDS	Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs
NSR	Normal sinus rhythm
NSU	Non-specific urethritis
NSV	Non-specific vaginitis
NT	Not tender (to touch)
NTP	Normal temperature and pressure
NYD	Not yet diagnosed

O – Medical abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning
O & G	Obstetrics and gynaecology
O.D.	Doctor of optometry
O₂	Oxygen
OA	Osteoarthritis
OB	Obstetrics
OC	Oral contraceptive
OCD	Obsessive-compulsive disorder
OD	Right eye
OGTT	Oral glucose tolerance test
OM	Otitis media
OOB	Out of bed
OP	Out-patient
OPD	Out-patient department
OPV	Oral poliomyelitis vaccine
OR	Operating room
OS	Left eye
OSA	Obstructive sleep apnea
OT	Occupational therapy
OTC	Over-the-counter
OU	Both eyes

P – Medical abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning
PA	Pernicious anaemia
PAC	Premature atrial contraction
PBI	Protein bound iodine
PBU	Premature baby unit
PCI	Percutaneous coronary intervention
PCP	Pneumocystis pneumonia
PCV	Packed cell volume
PE	Physical examination; pulmonary embolus; plasma exchange
PEEP	Positive end-expiratory pressure
PEFR	Peak expiratory flow rate
PFT	Pulmonary function test
PG, pg	Prostaglandins; pregnant
PI	Present illness
PID	Prolapsed intervertebral disc; pelvic inflammatory disease
PIFR	Peak inspiratory flow rate
PKU	Phenylketonuria
PM	Afternoon (post meridiem); postmortem; pacemaker
PMA	Progressive muscular atrophy
PMB	Post-menopausal bleeding
PMH	Past medical history; post-menopausal haemorrhage
PMS	Premenstrual syndrome
PMT	Pre-menstrual tension
PND	Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea; postnasal drip
PNM	Perinatal mortality
PO, p.o.	Per os (by mouth)
POP	Plaster of paris
PPH	Post-partum haemorrhage
PR/pr	Per rectum
PROM	Premature rupture of membranes
PSA	Prostate-specific antigen
PTCA	Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty
PTH	Parathyroid hormone
PTR	Patient to return
PTSD	Posttraumatic stress disorder
PTT	Partial thromboplastin time
PU	Peptic ulcer; passed urine
PUD	Peptic ulcer disease
PUO	Pyrexia of unknown origin
PVC	Premature ventricular contraction
PVD	Peripheral vascular disease
PVT	Paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia
PWB	Partial weight bearing
Px	Prognosis

Q – Medical abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning
q	Every (quaque)
q.d.	Each (every) day (quaque die); better to write out “each day,” because can be misread as q.i.d.
q.h.	each (every) hour (quaque hora)
q2h	each (every) two hours (quaque secunda hora)
q.i.d.	four times a day (quater in die)
q.n.	each (every) night (quaque nox)
q.n.s.	quantity not sufficient (quantum non sufficit)
q.s.	quantity sufficient (quantum sufficit)

R – Medical abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning
R/O	Rule out
R/T	Related to
RA	Rheumatoid arthritis
RAO	Right anterior oblique
RB	Recurrent bleed
RBC, rbc	Red blood cells
RDS	Respiratory distress syndrome
RDS	Respiratory distress syndrome
RE	Rectal examination
Rh	Rhesus factor
RIF	Right iliac fossa
RIH	Right inguinal hernia
RL	Shunt right-left shunt
RLE	Right lower extremity
RLL	Right lower lobe
RLQ	Right lower quadrant
RML	Right middle lobe of lung
RNA	Ribonucleic acid
ROA	Right occipito-anterior
ROM	Range of movements; range of motion; rupture of membranes
ROP	Right occipito-posterior
ROS	Review of systems
ROT	Right occipito-transverse
RP	Retrograde pyelography (urography)
RPR	Rapid plasma reagin
RR	Recovery room; respiratory rate
RRR	Regular rate and rhythm (of the heart)
RS	Respiratory system
RT	Radiation therapy; reading test; respiratory therapy
RTA	Road traffic accident
RU	Rodent ulcer
RUE	Right upper extremity
RUL	Right upper lobe
RUQ	Right upper quadrant
RV	Residual volume
Rx	Treatment; therapy; prescription (recipe, “to take”)

S – Medical abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning
s/s	Signs & symptoms
S₁, S₂, S₃, S₄	1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th heart sounds
SAB	Systolic arterial blood pressure
SAD	Seasonal affective disorder
SARS	Severe acute respiratory syndrome
SB	Stillbirth; stanford-binet (intelligence) tests
SCAN	Suspected child abuse or neglect
SCBU	Special care baby unit
SCC	Squamous cell carcinoma
SCI	Spinal cord injury
SCIDS	Severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome
SDAT	Senile dementia alzheimer’s type
SERM	Selective estrogen receptor modulator (tamoxifen is an example)
SIDS	Sudden infant death syndrome
sig.	“Let it be labeled” (directions or medical instructions)
SIRS	Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (severe bacteremia)
SLE	Systemic lupus erythematosus
SMR	Submucous resection of nasal septum
SOAP	Subjective (symptoms perceived by the patient) data, objective (exam findings) data, assessment (evaluation of condition), plan (goals for treatment)
SOB	Shortness of breath
SOL	Space occupying lesion
SPAM	Scanning photo-acoustic microscopy
STD	Sexually transmitted disease
STI	Sexually transmitted infection
STOP	Suction termination of pregnancy
STYCAR	Sheridan tests for young children and retards
Sub Q	Subcutaneous injection
SUD	Sudden unexpected death
Sx	Symptoms
Sym	Symmetrical
Sz	Seizure

T – Medical abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning
T & A	Tonsils and adenoids
T1, T2, etc.	First thoracic vertebra, second thoracic vertebra, etc.
T₃	Triiodothyronine
T₄	Thyroxine
TAB	Typhoid a and b (vaccines)
TAH	Total abdominal hysterectomy
TAH-BSO	Total abdominal hysterectomy-bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy
TB	Tubercle bacillus
TCA	Tricyclic antidepressant/to come again
TCI	To come in
TFT	Thyroid function tests
THA	Total hip arthroplasty
THR	Total hip replacement
TJR	Total joint replacement
TKA	Total knee arthroplasty
TKR	Total knee replacement
TL	Tubal ligation
TLC	Tender loving care; total lung capacity
TLE	Temporal lobe epilepsy
TMJ	Temporomandibular joint
TNM	Tumor, nodes, metastases
TOP	Termination of pregnancy
TPHA	Treponema pallidum haemoglutination
TPN	Total parenteral nutrition
TPR	Temperature, pulse and respiration
TSH	Thyroid-stimulating hormone
TSS	Toxic shock syndrome
TSSU	Theatre sterile supply unit
TSSU	Transurethral resection (of prostate)
TUR	Transplant
TX	Treatment
Tx	Total parenteral nutrition

U – Medical abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning
U/A, UA	Urinalysis
U/O	Urine output
UC	Ulcerative colitis; urine culture, uterine contractions
UE	Upper extremity
UG	Urogenital
UGI	Upper gastrointestinal
URI	Upper respiratory infection
URTI	Upper respiratory tract infection
US	Ultrasound
UTI	Urinary tract infection
UV	Ultraviolet
UVR	Ultraviolet rays

V – Medical abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning
V.S.; v.s.	Vital signs
VA	Visual acuity
VATS	Video-assisted thoracoscopy
VC	Vital capacity (of lungs)
VCUG	Voiding cystourethrography
VD	Venereal disease
VDRL	Venereal disease reference laboratory
VE	Vaginal examination
VEGF	Vascular endothelial growth factor
VF	Visual field; ventricular fibrillation
Vfib	Ventricular fibrillation
VO	Verbal order
VSD	Ventricular septal defect
VSS	Vital signs stable
VT	Ventricular tachycardia
VV	Varicose veins
Vx	Vertex (of fetus)

W – Medical abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning
WBC	White blood cells
WR	Wassermann reaction
WDWN	Well-developed and well-nourished
WNL	Within normal limits

X – Medical abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning
XR	X-ray
XRT	Radiation therapy

Y – Medical abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning
y, yr	Year
y/o	Years old

Z – Medical abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning
Z; oz	Ounce

References

Chabner, D. (2018). Medical Terminology: A Short Course (8th ed.). Canada: Elsevier, Inc.
Fremgen, B. and Frucht, S. (2016). Medical Terminology: A Living Language (6th ed.). United States: Pearson Education, Inc.
Nath, J. and Lindsley, K. (2019). A Short Course in Medical Terminology (4th ed.). China: Wolters Kluwer.
Robbins, M. and Wetherfield, J. (1994). Terminology for Medical Administrators. New York: Radcliffe Medical Press Inc.
Steiner, S. and Capps, N. (2003). Quick Medical Terminology: A Self-Teaching Guide (5th ed.). New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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Comments2

Pharmaceutical industry in Switzerland says:

2 years ago

Hello, I love your website! I really agree with this as I am currently employed as a pharmacy and insurance liaison for an outsourcing company.

Reply
- Pharmapproach says:
  
  1 year ago
  
  Thanks
  
  Reply