Common Medical Abbreviation

General, # abbreviation, medical,

Common Medical Abbreviation

ms – multiple sclerosis
ida – iron deficiency anemia
po – by mouth (per os)
mi – myocardial infarction
ams – altered mental status
od – right eye (oculus dexter)
ac – before meals (ante cibum)
tia – transient ischemic attack
cpap – continuous positive airway pressure
psa – prostate-specific antigen
app – appetite
ad – right ear (auris dextra)
ac – before meals (ante cibum)
ad lib – as desired
age – advanced glycation end-product
ax – axillary (armpit)
as – left ear (auris sinistra)
asa – aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid)
abd – abdomen
aa – of each (ana partes aequales)
a term – at term (pregnancy)
acdf – anterior cervical discectomy and fusion
adl – activities of daily living
adhd – attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
add – attention deficit disorder
amd – age-related macular degeneration
bid – twice a day (bis in die)
bd – twice a day (bis die)
bph – benign prostatic hyperplasia.
b – bilateral
bid – twice daily (bis in die)
bph – benign prostatic hyperplasia
bka – below knee amputation
bppv – benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
bpd – bronchopulmonary dysplasia
bs – blood sugar
bnp – brain natriuretic peptide
bx – biopsy
btl – bilateral tubal ligation
cl liq – clear liquid
ch – cholesterol
cd – compact disc
cm – centimeter
c/o – complains of
cabg – coronary artery bypass graft
col – colonoscopy
c – with (cum)
cll – chronic lymphocytic leukemia
c/f – case finding
c/o – complains of
ca – cancer
cms – Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
cva – cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
die – daily (once a day)
d – day
do – doctor of osteopathic medicine
doe – dyspnea on exertion
dka – diabetic ketoacidosis
dld – diffuse lung disease.
dcis – ductal carcinoma in situ
ddd – degenerative disc disease
djd – degenerative joint disease
dme – durable medical equipment
des – diethylstilbestrol
en francais – in French
eye – examination of the eyes
ear – examination of the ears
esu – electrosurgical unit
egg – electroencephalogram
eta – estimated time of arrival
ed – emergency department
etoh – ethanol (alcohol)
ed – erectile dysfunction
etoh – ethanol (alcohol)
egd – esophagogastroduodenoscopy
ercp – endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
er – emergency room
esbl – extended-spectrum beta-lactamase
evar – endovascular aneurysm repair
erm – erythromycin
emg – electromyogram
fit – frequency of seizures in patients with epilepsy
os – left eye (oculus sinister)
hs – at bedtime (hora somni)
prn – as needed (pro re nata)
cap – capsule
gm – gram.
gr – grain
gait – the manner or style of walking
gtt – drops (guttae)
gcs – Glasgow Coma Scale
gbs – Guillain-Barré syndrome
gt – granule
ga – gestational age
gdmt – guideline-directed medical therapy
g – gravida (number of pregnancies)
gi – gastrointestinal
gad – generalized anxiety disorder
gsw – gun shot wound
glf – ground-level fall
gib – gastrointestinal bleeding
gerd – gastroesophageal reflux disease
gist – gastrointestinal stromal tumor
gbs – Group B Streptococcus
gcs – Global Catalog Service
ha – headache
h/o – history of
hs – at bedtime (hora somni)
hcc – hepatocellular carcinoma
hld – hyperlipidemia
hcc – hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
hcm – hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
hlp – hyperlipoproteinemia
ha – hemolytic anemia
hl – hearing loss.
hld – hyperlipidemia
hsv – herpes simplex virus
hcv – hepatitis C virus
hm – heart murmur
id – intradermal
ich – intracerebral hemorrhage
is – intracranial stenosis
inr – international normalized ratio
icd – implantable cardioverter-defibrillator
iol – intraocular lens
imn – intramedullary nail
im – intramuscular
iph – intraparenchymal hemorrhage
ir – insulin resistance
i – iodine
id – infectious disease
im – infectious mononucleosis
itp – immune thrombocytopenic purpura
ild – interstitial lung disease
ica – internal carotid artery
ibs – irritable bowel syndrome
ich – ischemic cerebrovascular disease
icd – ischemic heart disease
jvd – jugular venous distension
jvp – jugular venous pressure
joint – examination of the joints
jp – Jackson-Pratt drain
jra – juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
jd – Juvenile dermatomyositis.
jet – joint evaluation test
jvd – jugular venous distention
jia – juvenile idiopathic arthritis
jra – juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
jp – Jackson-Pratt drain
jvp – jugular venous pressure
j – joule
peg-j – percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy-jejunostomy
j tube – jejunostomy tube
double j – double J stent
k – potassium
kg – kilogram
kub – kidney, ureter, bladder
k/c/o – known or suspected
kvo – keep vein open
k/c – known case
ki – potassium iodide
ko – keep open
kcs – keratoconjunctivitis sicca
kp – keratosis pilaris
k/o – knock out
k/h/o – known history of
t/k – to come
la – left atrium
lb – pound
lad – left anterior descending (coronary artery)
loa – left occipito-anterior (fetal position)
lad – leukocyte adhesion deficiency
loc – loss of consciousness
lr – lactated Ringer’s solution
lbp – low back pain
lvh – left ventricular hypertrophy
luts – lower urinary tract symptoms
lhc – low hemoglobin count
lle – left lower extremity
lvef – left ventricular ejection fraction
mouth – by mouth
mac – mycobacterium avium complex
ms – mitral stenosis
mg – milligram
mi – myocardial infarction
mcv – mean corpuscular volume
md – muscular dystrophy
mm – millimeter
mva – mitral valve area
mds – myelodysplastic syndrome
mva – motor vehicle accident
mgus – monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance
mdd – major depressive disorder
mbd – minimal brain dysfunction
mca – middle cerebral artery
mr – mitral regurgitation
prn – as needed
nad – no acute distress
nash – non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
nsvt – non-sustained ventricular tachycardia
nagma – normal anion gap metabolic acidosis
nicm – non-ischemic cardiomyopathy
nsclc – non-small cell lung cancer
nsr – normal sinus rhythm
nkda – no known drug allergies
nph – neutral protamine Hagedorn (insulin)
od – right eye (oculus dexter)
os – left eye (oculus sinister)
ou – both eyes (oculi uterque)
o – oxygen
osa – obstructive sleep apnea
ou – each eye (oculus uterque)
oa – osteoarthritis
ocd – obsessive-compulsive disorder
oab – overactive bladder
orif – open reduction and internal fixation
om – otitis media
pdf – probability density function
post-op – postoperative
pr – per rectum
po – by mouth (per os)
par – post-anesthesia recovery
pain – pallor, diaphoresis, and nausea
pna – pneumonia
pc: after meals (post cibum)
pcp: Pneumocystis pneumonia
pe: pulmonary embolism
ppm: parts per million
pci: percutaneous coronary intervention
quiz: questioning to assess knowledge or understanding
qd: once a day (quaque die)
qhs: every night before bed (quaque hora somni)
qid: four times a day (quater in die)
qs: quantity sufficient
qhs: every night before bed (quaque hora somni)
qd: once a day (quaque die)
qam: every morning (quaque die ante meridiem)
qid: four times a day (quater in die)
qhs: every night before bed (quaque hora somni)
qtc: QT interval corrected for heart rate
qam: every morning (quaque die ante meridiem)
qw: every week (quaque hebdomada)
qt: every shift (quaque turno)
qrs: a wave complex on an electrocardiogram (ECG)
rbc: red blood cell
rpm: revolutions per minute
rx: treatment or prescription
ros: review of systems
r/t: related to
ra: rheumatoid arthritis
r/o: rule out
rom: range of motion
R/O: rule out
RA: rheumatoid arthritis
RVR: rapid ventricular rate
RCA: right coronary artery
RAD: right axis deviation
RLS: restless legs syndrome
SOL: space-occupying lesion
SAP: serum alkaline phosphatase
SPM: suprapubic pain and mass
SIB: selective intestinal decontamination
SBO: small bowel obstruction
SLE: systemic lupus erythematosus
SSS: sick sinus syndrome
SVT: supraventricular tachycardia
SDH: subdural hematoma
SFA: superficial femoral artery
Sx: symptoms
Tx: treatment
TOP: termination of pregnancy
TAP: transabdominal puncture
TAB: therapeutic abortion
TTP: thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
TD: tetanus and diphtheria
TBI: traumatic brain injury
TKA: total knee arthroplasty
TMA: thrombotic microangiopathy
THA: total hip arthroplasty
TTE: transthoracic echocardiogram
TURP: transurethral resection of the prostate
UTI: Urinary Tract Infection
Urea: A waste product formed in the liver and excreted by the kidneys
Ung: Ointment
UA: Urinalysis
UTD: Up To Date
UK: Unknown
UDS: Urine Drug Screen
UIP: Usual Interstitial Pneumonia
URI: Upper Respiratory Infection
UDS: Urodynamics Study
UTD: Ultrasound Transmitted Doppler
UC: Ulcerative Colitis
UIP: Unexplained Ipsilateral Pleural Effusion
UGIB: Upper Gastrointestinal Bleed
UTI: Urinary Tract Infection
US: Ultrasound
VIS: Vaccine Information Statement
VAS: Visual Analog Scale
VS: Vital Signs
VE: Venous Eczema
VA: Visual Acuity
VTE: Venous Thromboembolism
VRE: Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus
VC: Vital Capacity
VS: Vital Signs
VHD: Valvular Heart Disease
VTE: Venous Thromboembolism
VA: Ventricular Assist
VT: Ventricular Tachycardia
VSD: Ventricular Septal Defect
VATS: Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery
VF: Ventricular Fibrillation
VDRF: Vaccine-Driven Immune Response Failure
With: As indicated by context
WNL: Within Normal Limits
WNL: Within Normal Limits
WCC: White Cell Count
WPW: Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome
WBAT: Weight Bearing As Tolerated
WOB: Work of Breathing
WWE: Wet-to-Dry Dressing Changes
X-ray: Radiography using X-rays
XRT: Radiotherapy
XR: X-Ray
XL: Extra Large
XT: Exotropia
XA: External Auditory
XI: Xerostomia Induced
X: Times (e.g. “take medication x3 a day”)
XRT: Radiation Therapy
XR: X-Ray
X-term: External Terminal
R/X: Prescription
X-ray: Radiograph
S/X: Soft X-Ray
H/X: Hard X-Ray
C/X: Chest X-Ray
YO: Years Old
YOF: Year Old Female
YAG: Yttrium Aluminum Garnet
YS: Yellow Streak
Y: Yes
YAG: Yttrium Aluminum Garnet
D/Y: Diarrhea and Vomiting
Y/O: Year Old
R/Y: Right Eye
Y/N: Yes or No
Y-GT: Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (liver enzyme)
z: zero or no (in medical context)
z n: zero nasal (referring to the absence of nasal discharge)
o.d: right eye (oculus dexter)
o/e: examination of the eyes
o/w: normal saline (solution of sodium chloride in water)
o.u: both eyes (oculus uterque)
o/n: at night (nocturnal)
o/p: outpatient (a patient who receives medical treatment without being admitted to a hospital)
o/c: on call (available to work when called)
r/0: clear (referring to a negative result)
c/0: complaining of
pod 0: post-operative day 0 (immediately after a surgery)
h/0: history of
1-0-0: once a day (referring to a medication schedule)
0/0: no change (referring to a medical condition)
ecog 0: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0 (a measure of a patient’s performance status in cancer treatment)
0/e: no evidence of (referring to a medical condition)
2^0: secondary (referring to a second disease or condition)
d/0: dry (referring to the absence of moisture)
1/52: once a week
1/7: once a week
10/7: ten days (referring to a time interval)
1x: once (referring to a medication schedule)
1 cc im: one cubic centimeter intramuscular (referring to a dose of medication administered by injection)
12 lead: a 12-lead electrocardiogram (a diagnostic test for heart conditions)
s 1 quizlet: not a medical abbreviation
adhd icd 10: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (a diagnostic classification system used by the World Health Organization)
1/52 – once a week
1/12 – once a month
1/7 – once a week
1/24 – once every 24 hours (daily)
pod 1 – post-operative day 1
1/1 – every day (daily)
1 po qd – once a day by mouth (daily oral dose)
1 bd – twice a day (two times daily)
2 times a day – two times a day (twice daily)
2 degree – second degree
2/7 – twice a week
2/52 – every two weeks
2 weeks – 14 days
2ww – two-week wait (waiting period in fertility treatment)
24/7 – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
2ry – secondary
22 – catch-22 situation (difficult circumstance with no solution)
2d – two-dimensional
2/2 – twice a week for two weeks
t 1/2 – half-life of a drug (time it takes for the concentration to decrease by half)
m 2 – morphine sulfate 2mg (a medication)
2/52 meaning – twice a week
2/7 meaning – twice a week
2/24 meaning – every two hours
2/12 meaning – twice a month
dm 2 – type 2 diabetes mellitus
pod 2 – post-operative day 2
3/7 – three times a week
3/12 – every three months
3 dots – three times daily
3 – third (e.g., in a list of diagnoses)
3vc – forced vital capacity (the amount of air that can be forcibly exhaled from the lungs after taking a deep breath)
gcs 3 – Glasgow Coma Scale score of 3 (indicating severe brain injury)
3/7 – three times a week
3/52 – every three weeks
3/12 – every three months
pod 3 – post-operative day 3
ckd 3 – Chronic Kidney Disease stage 3 (moderate reduction in kidney function)
gcs 3 – Glasgow Coma Scale score of 3 (indicating severe brain injury)
asa 3 – American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification System score of 3 (indicating severe systemic disease)
cin 3 – Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia stage 3 (pre-cancerous cells in the cervix)
aki 3 – Acute Kidney Injury stage 3 (severe reduction in kidney function)
iv – intravenous (administration of medication or fluids into a vein)
4 – fourth (e.g., in a list of diagnoses)
4/52 – every four weeks
4/24 – every four hours
4/7 – four times a week
pod 4 – post-operative day 4
4/12 – every four months
5150 – California legal code for involuntary psychiatric hold
5/7 – five times a week
6/52 – every six weeks
5/52 – every five weeks
pod 5 – post-operative day 5
5/12 – every five months
dsm 5 – Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition
5-ht – serotonin (a neurotransmitter)
5-fu – 5-fluorouracil (a chemotherapy medication)
2/5 – two out of five (e.g., in reference to muscle strength on an exam)
5/5 – full strength (e.g., in reference to muscle strength on an exam)
6/12 – every six months
lvef 60 – Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction of 60% (a measure of heart function)
gcs 6 – Glasgow Coma Scale score of 6 (indicating moderate brain injury)
q.6h – every 6 hours
6/12 – every six months
6/24 – every six hours
pod 6 – post-operative day 6
6/7 – six times a week
cfs 6 – Chronic Fatigue Syndrome score of 6 (on a scale of 0-10 indicating severity of symptoms)
q 6 – every 6 hours
3/7 – three times a week
7/7 – every day (daily)
10/7 – ten days
7/52 – every seven weeks
14/7 – fourteen days
chem 7 – a blood test panel measuring seven basic metabolic markers: sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and glucose
s 8 – sacral dermatome level 8 (sensory region of skin innervated by a specific spinal nerve)
gcs 8 – Glasgow Coma Scale score of 8 (indicating moderate to severe brain injury)
80 hd – 80-hour workweek limit for medical residents (maximum number of hours worked per week)
8 hourly – every 8 hours
8/52 – every 8 weeks
8/24 – every 8 hours
asa 81 – American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification System score of 81 (indicating a patient with severe systemic disease that is a constant threat to life)
gcs 8 – Glasgow Coma Scale score of 8 (indicating moderate to severe brain injury)
8/12 – every 8 months
pod 8 – post-operative day 8
8/7 – eight times a week
chem 8 – a blood test panel measuring eight metabolic markers, including the seven in chem 7 plus calcium
ix – medical shorthand for “investigations” (tests or procedures ordered to diagnose or monitor a medical condition)
pod 9 – post-operative day 9
gcs 9 – Glasgow Coma Scale score of 9 (indicating moderate brain injury)
phq 9 – Patient Health Questionnaire score of 9 (indicating mild to moderate depression)
ca 19-9 – a tumor marker blood test used to detect certain types of cancer, particularly pancreatic cancer
9/18 – every 9 months
icd 9 – International Classification of Diseases, 9th edition (a medical classification system for coding diagnoses and procedures)
99 ra – Rheumatoid Arthritis severity score of 99 (on a scale of 0-100)
9/7 – nine times a week
sbp 90 – Systolic Blood Pressure of 90 mmHg (the top number in a blood pressure reading)
9 hs – at 9pm (hs stands for “hora somni,” Latin for “at bedtime”)
9/12 – every 9 months