Medical Abbreviations and Acronyms

Abbreviation

Stands for

More information

ABG

Arterial blood gases

You may have an ABG test to detect lung diseases.

ACE

Angiotensin converting enzyme

Drugs called ACE inhibitors are used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure, diabetes and kidney diseases.

ACL

Anterior cruciate ligament

Commonly injured part of the knee

ADHD

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

A behavior disorder

AFIB

Atrial fibrillation

A disturbance of the rhythm of the heart

AIDS

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Infection caused by human immunodeficiency virus

ALP

Alkaline phosphatase

You may have a blood test for ALP to detect liver or bone disease.

ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease

ALT

Alanine aminotransferase

You may have a blood test for ALP to detect liver disease.

AMD

Age-related macular degeneration

An eye problem

AMI

Acute myocardial infarction

Heart attack

AODM

Adult onset diabetes mellitus

Type 2 diabetes

AST

Aspartate aminotransferase

You may have a blood test for ALP to detect liver disease.

AVM

Arteriovenous malformation

A defect in the circulatory system.

BID

Twice a day

Your doctor may write this on your prescription.

BMI

Body mass index

A measure of how much you should weigh based on your height

BP

Blood pressure

The force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries

BPH

Benign prostatic hypertrophy

Enlargement of the prostate gland

BRCA

Breast Cancer Gene

People with the gene may be at increased risk for breast or ovarian cancer.

BUN

Blood urea nitrogen

You may have a blood test for BUN to detect kidney disease problems.

CA

Cancer OR Calcium

 

CA-125

Cancer antigen 125

You may have a blood test for CA-125 A to measure cancer activity.

CABG

Coronary artery bypass graft

A type of heart surgery

CAD

Coronary artery disease

A common type of heart disease

CAT

Computerized axial tomography

A type of x-ray

CBC

Complete blood count

A blood test that measures many properties of the cells in your blood

CHD

Congenital heart disease

Heart disease you were born with

CHF

Congestive heart failure

Also called heart failure. A condition in which the heart can’t pump enough blood throughout the body.

CMV

Cytomegalovirus

A common virus

CNS

Central nervous system

The brain and spinal cord

COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

A lung disease that makes it hard to breathe

CPK

Creatine phosphokinase

You may have a blood test for CPK to see if you’ve had a heart attack.

CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

An emergency procedure whose heart has stopper or is no longer breathing

CRF

Chronic renal failure

Failure of the kidneys

CRP

C-reactive protein

You may have a blood test for CRP to see if you have   inflammation or heart problems.

CSF

Cerebrospinal fluid

A fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord

CVA

Cerebrovascular accident

A stroke or "brain attack"

CXR

Chest x-ray

A diagnostic test that uses radiation to make images of your lungs

D&C

Dilatation and curettage

A surgical procedure on the uterus (womb)

DJD

Degenerative joint disease

Another name for arthritis

DM

Diabetes mellitus

 

DTP

Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis

A vaccine for three diseases

DVT

Deep-vein thrombosis

A blood clot

DX

Diagnosis

 

ECG, EKG

Electrocardiogram

A test that measures electrical impulses of the heart

ECHO

Echocardiogram

A test that uses sound waves to look at the heart

EEG

Electroencephalogram

A test that measures electrical impulses of the brain

EMG

Electromyography

A test that measures electrical impulses of muscles

ENT

Ear, nose and throat

 

ERCP

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

A way to diagnose problems in the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts and pancreas

ESR

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate

A blood test for inflammation

ESRD

End-stage renal (kidney) disease

 

FSH

Follicle stimulating hormone

If you are a woman, you may have a blood test for FSH to evaluate fertility.

GERD

Gastroesophageal reflux disease

A problem that happens when stomach contents leak back into your gullet

GI

Gastrointestinal

Another term for your digestive system

GFR

Glomerular filtration rate

A test of kidney damage

GU

Genitourinary

The urinary and sex organs

HAV

Hepatitis A virus

A virus that causes one type of liver disease

HBV

Hepatitis B virus

A virus that causes one type of liver disease

HCT

Hematocrit

A blood test measurement

HCV

Hepatitis C virus

A virus that causes one type of liver disease

HDL

High density lipoprotein

A type of cholesterol, also known as "good" cholesterol

HGB

Hemoglobin

A blood test measurement

HIV

Human immunodeficiency virus

The virus that causes AIDS

HPV

Human papilloma virus

A virus that causes cervical cancer

HRT

Hormone replacement therapy

Hormones supplements that women may take

HTN

Hypertension

High blood pressure

IBD

Inflammatory bowel disease

A name for two digestive disorders-- ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease

IBS

Irritable bowel syndrome

A problem with the large intestine

ICD

Implantable cardioverter defibrillator

A device that monitors heart rhythm problems

ICU

Intensive care unit

Special hospital unit

IDDM

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Type 1 diabetes

IM

Intramuscular

A type of injection

IUD

Intrauterine device

A type of birth control for women

IV

Intravenous

A type of injection

IVP

Intravenous pyelogram

An x-ray test of the  urinary system

LDL

Low density lipoprotein

A type of cholesterol, also known as "bad" cholesterol

LFT

Liver function tests

 

MI

Myocardial infarction

Heart attack

MMR

Measles, mumps, and rubella

A vaccine for three diseases

MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging

A  type of imaging test

MRSA

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

A type of infection

MS

Multiple sclerosis

A disease of the nervous system

NG

Nasogastric

You may need an NG tube to empty the contents of your stomach.

NIDDM

Non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

Type 2 diabetes

NKDA

No known drug allergies

 

NSAID

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug

Drugs like ibuprofen

OCD

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

A type of anxiety disorder

PAD

Peripheral arterial disease

Diseases of the arteries outside the heart

PAP

Papanicolau

You may need a PAP test to detect cervical cancer.

PAT

Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia

A disturbance of the rhythm of the heart

PET

Positron emission tomography

A type of x-ray test

PFT

Pulmonary function test

You may need PFTs to find out how your lungs are working.

PID

Pelvic inflammatory disease

Infection and inflammation of the female reproductive organs

PMS

Premenstrual syndrome

A group of symptoms that may happen before a woman’s period

PPD

Purified protein derivative

You may have a PPD skin test for tuberculosis.

PRN

As needed

Your doctor may write this on your prescription.

PSA

Prostate specific antigen

You may have a blood test for PSA to detect prostate disease.

PT

Prothrombin time

A measure of blood clotting

PTH

Parathyroid hormone

You may have a blood test for PTH to detect    parathyroid disease.

PTSD

Post-traumatic stress syndrome

An illness caused by traumatic events

PTT

Partial thromboplastin time

A measure of blood clotting

PUD

Peptic ulcer disease

A disease of the stomach

PVC

Premature ventricular contraction

A disturbance of the rhythm of the heart

QID

Four times a day

Your doctor may write this on your prescription.

RA

Rheumatoid arthritis

A type of joint disease

RBC

Red blood cell

A type of blood cell

RSV

Respiratory syncytial virus

A virus that causes infections in children

Rx

Treatment

 

SAD

Seasonal affective disorder

Depression during seasons with little light

SIDS

Sudden infant death syndrome

 

SLE

Systemic lupus erythematosus

Lupus for short

SOB

Shortness of Breath

 

STD

Sexually transmitted disease

 

T3

Triiodothyronine

You may have a blood test for T3 to detect thyroid disease.

T4

Thyroxine

You may have a blood test for T4 to detect thyroid disease.

TB

Tuberculosis

An infection of the lungs

TAH

Total abdominal hysterectomy

Surgery to remove a woman's uterus (womb)

TIA

Transient ischemic attack

A  small stroke

TIBC

Total iron binding capacity

A test that measures the amount of iron in your blood

TID

Three times a day

Your doctor may write this on your prescription.

TMJ

Temporomandibular joint

The joint that connects your jaw to the side of your head

TORCH

Stands for a group of infections that may cause birth defects

 A newborn will have this test to check for infections. Sometimes the mother also needs the test.

TSH

Thyroid stimulating hormone

You may have a blood test for TSH to detect thyroid disease.

TURP

Transurethral resection of prostate gland

An operation to remove parts of the prostate gland

URI

Upper respiratory infection

Another name for the common cold

UTI

Urinary tract infection

Infection of the bladder and kidneys

XRT

Radiotherapy

Therapy that uses radiation, usually for cancer

WBC

White blood cell

A type of blood cell

General Information