AAA

Abdominal aortic aneurysm

A&P

auscultation and percussion

A, B, AB, O

blood types in ABO blood group

AB, Ab, ab

antibody; abortion

ABC

Aspiration biopsy cytology

ABG

Arterial blood gas

AC

air conduction

a.c.

before meals

Acc

accommodation

ACE

angiotensin-converting enzyme (inhibitor)

ACL

anterior cruciate ligament

ACS

acute coronary syndrome

ACTH

adrenocorticotropic hormone

AD

Alzheimer disease

AD*

right ear

ADH

antidiuretic hormone (vasopressin)

ADHD

attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder

ad lib.

as desired

ADLs

activities of daily living

AE

above the elbow

AED

automatic external defibrillator

AF

atrial fibrillation

AFB

acid-fast bacillus (TB organism)

AGN

acute glomerulonephritis

AI

artificial insemination

AICD

automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator

AIDs

acquired immune deficiency syndrome

AK

Above the knee

alk phos

alkaline phosphatase

ALL

acute lymphocytic leukemia

ALS

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; also called Lou Gehrig disease

ALT

alanine aminotransferase

AM, a.m.

in the morning or before noon

AML

acute myelogenous leukemia

ANS

autonomic nervous system

ant

anterior

AOM

acute otitis media

AP 

anteroposterior

APC

antigen- presenting cell

APTT

activated partial thromboplastin time

ARDS

acute respiratory distress syndrome

ARF

acute renal failure

ARMD, AMD

age-related macular degeneration

AS

aortic stenosis

AS*

left ear

ASD

atrial septal defect

ASHD

arteriosclerotic heart disease

AST

angiotensin sensitivity test; aspartate aminotransferase

Ast

astigmatism

ATN

acute tubular necrosis

AU*

both ears

AV

atrioventricular; arteriovenous

Ba

barium

baso

basophil (type of white blood cell)

BBB

bundle branch block

BC

bone conduction

BCC

basal cell carcinoma

BE

barium enema; below the elbow

BEAM

brain electrical activity mapping

b.i.d.*

twice a day

BK

below the 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

BUN

blood urea nitrogen

Bx, bx

biopsy

 c‾

with

C&S

culture and sensitivity

c/o

complains of, complaints

C₁, C₂, and so on

cervical vertebra one, two, 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

computed axial tomography

Cath

catheterization; catheter

CBC

complete blood count

CC

cardiac catheterization; chief complaint

cc*

cubic centimeters; same a mL (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

CIS

carcinoma in situ

CK

creatine kinase (cardiac enzyme); conductive keratoplasty

CLL

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia

cm

centimeter (1/100 of a meter)

CML

chronic myelongenous leukemia

CNS

central nervous system

CO

coccygeal nerves

CO₂

carbon dioxide

COLD

Chromis Obstructive Lung Disease

COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder

CP

cerebral palsy

CPAP

continuous positive airway pressure

CPD

cephalopelvic disproportion

CPK

creatine phosphokinase (enzyme released in bloosdtream after heart attack)

CPR

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CRF

chronic renal failure

CRRT

continuous renal replacement therapy

CS, C-section

cesarean section

CSF

cerebral spinal fluid

CT

computed tomography

CTS

carpal tunnel syndrome

CV

cardiovascular

CVA

cardiovascular accident

CVD

cardiovascular disease

CVS

chorionic villus sampling

CWP

childbirth without pain

CXR

chest x-ray, chest radiograph

cysto

cystography

D

diopter (lens strength)

D&C

dilatation (dilation) and curettage

dc, DC, D/C*

discharge; discontinue

Decub.

decubitus (lying down)

D.O.

Doctor of Osteopathy

D.P.M.

Doctor of Podiatric Medicine

Derm

dermatology

DES

diffuse esophageal spasm; drug-eluting stent

DEXA,DXA

dual energy x-ray aborptiometry

DI

diabetes insipidus; diagnostic imaging

diff

differential count (white blood cells)

DJD

degenerative joint disease

DKA

diabetic ketoacidosis

DM

diabetes mellitus

DNA

deoxyribonucleic acid

DOE

dyspnea on exertion

DPI

dry powder inhaler

DPT

diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus

DO

Doctor of Osteopathy

DRE

digital rectal examination

DSA

digital subtraction angiography

DUB

dysfunctional uterine bleeding

DVT

deep vein thrombosis; deep venous thrombosis

Dx

diagnosis

EBR

external beam radiation

EBT 

external beam therapy

EBV

Epstein-Barr virus

ECCE

extracapsular cataract extraction

ECG, EKG

electrocardiogram, electrocardiography

ECHO

echocardiogram; echocardiography; echoencephalogram; echoencephalography

ECRB

extensor carpi radialis brevis

ED

erectile dysfunction; emergency department

EEG

electroencephalography

EENT

eyes, ears, nose, throat

EF

ejection fraction

EGD

esophagogastroduodenoscopy

ELISA

enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (test to detect anti-HIV antibodies)

ELT

endovenous laser ablation; endolumina laser ablation

Em

emmetropia

EMG

electromyography

ENT

ears, nose, and throat

EOM

extraocular movement

eos

eosinophil (type of white blood cell)

ERCP

endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

ESR 

erythrocyte sedimentation rate

ESRD

end-stage renal disease

ESWL

extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy

ETT

exercise tolerance test

ETT-MIBI

exercise tolerance test combined with a radioactive tracer (sestamibi) scan

EU

excretory urography

FBS

fasting blood sugar

FECG, FEKG

fetal electrocardiogram

FH

family history

FHR

fetal heart rate

FHT

fetal heart tone

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

GBP 

gastric bypass

GBS

gallbladder series (x-ray studies)

GC

gonococcus (Neisseria gonorrhoeae)

G-CSF

granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor

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

HAV

hepatitis A virus

Hb, Hgb

hemoglobin

HBV

hepatitis B virus

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)

HP

hemipelvectomy

HPV

human papillomavirus

HRT

hormone replacement therapy

hs*

half strength

h.s.*

at bedtime

HSG

hysterosalpingography

HSV

herpes simplex virus

HTN

hypertension

Hx

history

IAS

interatrial septum

IBD

irritable bowel disease

I&D

incision and drainage; irrigation and debridement

IBS 

irritable bowel syndrome

ICD

implantable cardioverter-defibrillator

ICP 

intracranial pressure

ICU

intensive care unit

ID

intradermal

IDDM

insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Igs

immunoglobulins

IM

intramuscular; infectious mononucleosis

IMP

impression (synonymous with diagnosis)

INR

international normalized ratio

IVP

instravenous pyelogram; intravenous pyelography

IOL

intraocular lens

IOP

intraocular pressure

IPPB

intermittent positive-pressure breathing

IRDS

infant respiratory distress syndrome