Abbreviations

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N
O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #

---A---
a: artery
AAA: abdominal aortic aneurysm
ACE: angiotensin converting enzyme
ACEi: ACE inhibitor
aka: also known as
APH: antepartum hemorrhage
APKD: adult polycystic kidney dz
ant: anterior
ARF: acute renal failure
AR: aortic regurgitation
AS: aortic stenosis
AnS: ankylosing spondylitis
ASD: atrial septal defect
ASIS: anterior superior iliac spine
ATN: acute tubular necrosis
AXR: abdominal x-ray

---B---
BCC: basal cell carcinoma
BCG:
Mycobacterium bovis vaccine
BP: blood pressure
BPH: benign prostatic hypertrophy

---C---
CA: cancer
CABG: coronary artery bypass graft
CAD: cardiovascular artery dz
CDH: congenital dislocation of hip
CF: cystic fibrosis
CHF: congestive heart failure
CMV: cytomegalovirus
CN: cranial nerve
CO: carbon monoxide
COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary dz
CTR: cardiothoracic ratio
CVP: central venous pressure
CXR: chest x-ray

---D---
D&C: dilatation and curettage.
Dx: diagnosis
DDx: differential diagnosis
DI: diabetes insipidus
DIC: disseminated intravascular coagulation
DIP: distal interphalangeal joint
DLE: discoid lupus erythematosus
DM: diabetes mellitus
Dr: doctor
DTP: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis vaccine
DVT: deep vein thrombosis
dz: disease

---E---
EEG: electroencephalogram
ECG: electrocardiogram
EPO: erythropoetin
esp: especially
ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate
ext: external

---F---
FAS: fetal alcohol syndrome
FBC: full blood count
FET: forced expiration time

---G---
G6P: glucose-6-phosphate
GERD: gastro-esophageal reflux dz
GI: gastrointestinal
GIT: gastrointestinal tract

---H---
HiB: Haemophilus influenza B
HRT: hormone replacement therapy
HSV: Herpes simplex virus
HTN: hypertension
Hx: history

---I---
IBD: inflammatory bowel dz
ICP: intracranial pressure
IE: infective endocarditis
IHD: ischemic heart dz
inf: inferior
int: internal
IPPA: inspect, palpate, percuss, auscultate
IVC: inferior vena cava

---J---

---K---

---L---
L: left
LFT: liver function tests
LHF: left-sided heart failure
LLQ: left lower quadrant
LMN: lower motor neuron
LMNL: lower motor neuron lesion
LMP: last menstrual period
LUQ: left upper quadrant
LVF: left ventricular failure

---M---
MCP: metacarpophalangeal joint
min: minute
MMR: measles, mumps, rubella vaccine
MSU: midstream urine
MVP: mitral valve prolapse
MR: mitral regurgitation.

---N---
N2: nitrogen
NG tube: nasogastric tube
NSAID: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug

---O---
OA: osteoarthritis
OCP: oral contraceptive pill
OD: overdose
op: operation
OT/PT: occupational therapy, physiotherapy

---P---
PA: posterio-anterior
PAN: polyarterititis nodosa
PCOS: polycystic ovary syndrome
PCP: pneumocystis carinii
PDA: patent ductus arteriosus
PE: pulmonary embolism
PET: preeclamptic toxemia
pec: pectoralis
PEG: percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy
PET: positron emission tomography
PIP: proximal interphalangeal joint
PMH: past medical history
PMS: pre-menstrual syndrome
post: posterior
PR: per rectum: examination, administration
PROM: premature rupture of membrane
PS: pulmonary stenosis
PSA: prostate-specific antigen
pt: patient

---Q---

---R---
R: right
RA: rheumatoid arthritis
RBBB: right bundle branch block
RBC: red blood cell
RCC: renal cell carcinoma
RHF: right-sided heart failure
RLQ: right lower quadrant
RMSF: rocky mountain spotted fever
ROS: review of systems
RTI: respiratory tract infection
RUQ: right upper quadrant
RVF: right ventricular failure
Rx: treatment

---S---
S1: first heart sound
S2: second heart sound
S3: third heart sound
S4: fouth heart sound
SAH: subarachnoid hemorrhage
SBE: subacute bacterial endocarditis
SCC: squamous cell carcinoma
SCM: sternocleiodomastoid
s/e: side effect
SIJ: sacroiliac joint
SLE: systemic lupus erythematosus
SR: systems review
strep: Streptococcus

---T---
TB: tuberculosis
temp: temperature
TFT: thyroid function tests
TMJ: temporomandibular joint
TURP: trans-urethral resection of prostate

---U---
UC: ulcerative colitis
U&E: urea and electrolytes
UMN: upper motor neuron
UMNL: upper motor neuron lesion
usu: usually
UTI: urinary tract infection

---V---

---W---
WBC: white blood cell

---X---

---Y---

yo: year-old

---Z---

---#---
1°: primary
2°: secondary