Common Medical Acronyms

We've prepared a list of commonly-used medical and health-related acronyms.

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

Medical Acronyms Starting with 'A'

AAA: Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
AB: Abortion
ABG: Arterial Blood Gases
ABX: Antibiotics
AC: Anterior Cephalic vein
ACE: Angiotensin Converting Enzyme
ACL: Anterior Cruciate Ligament
ACS: Acute Coronary Syndrome
ACTH: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
ADA: American Diabetes Association
ADH: Antidiuretic Hormone
ADL: Activities of Daily Living
AED: Automated External Defibrillator
AF: Atrial fibrillation
AFA: Advanced First Aid
AFB: Acid-Fast Bacilli
AFP: Alpha-Fetoprotein
AGA: Appropriate for Gestational Age
AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
AKA: Above Knee Amputation
AKF: Acute Kidney Failure
ALP: Alkaline Phosphatase
ALS: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's Disease)
ALT: Alanine Transaminase, Alanine Aminotransferase
AMA: Against Medical Advice
AMI: Acute Myocardial Infarction
AODM: Adult Onset Diabetes Mellitus
AOG: Age of Gestation
AP: Apical Pulse
APE: Acute Pulmonary Edema / Acute Pulmonary Embolism
APO: Acute Pulmonary Oedema
APSGN: Acute Poststreptococcal Glomerulonephritis
ARDS: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
ARF: Acute Renal Failure
AS: Auricle Sinistrus (Left Ear)
ASAD: Arthroscopic Subacromial Decompression
ASCUS: Atypical Squamous Cells of Unknown Significance
ASD: Atrial Septal Defect
ASHD: Arteriosclerotic Heart Disease
AST: Aspartate Aminotransferase
ATN: Acute Tubular Necrosis
AU: Both Ears
AV: Atrio-Ventricular (cardiac)
AVB: Atrio-Ventricular Block
AVI: Arteriovenous Insufficiency

Medical Acronyms Starting with 'B'

B/K: Below Knee
BA: Breathing Apparatus
BAC: Blood Alcohol Content
BAIAE: Bronchial Asthma in acute exacerbation
BBP: Blood-Borne Pathogen
BBS: Bilateral Breath Sounds
BE: Barium Enema
BG: Blood Glucose
BGL: Blood Glucose Level
BI: Brain Injury
BIAD: Blind insertion Airway Device
BID: Twice a Day
Bilat: Bilateral
BM: Bowel Movement or Breast Milk
BMI: Body Mass Index
BP: Blood Pressure
BPH: Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy
BPP: biophysical profile
BPPV: Benign positional paroxysmal vertigo
BPV: Benign Positional Vertigo, Bovine Papilloma Virus
BRM: Biologic Response Modifiers
BRP: Bathroom Privileges
BRT: Body Restorative Therapy
BS: Bowel Sounds
BSA: Body Surface Area
BSE: Breast Self Examination
BSI: Bodily Substance Isolation
BSL: Blood Sugar Level
BT: Bowel Tones
BUN: Blood Urea Nitrogen
BZD: BenZoDiazepine

Medical Acronyms Starting with 'C'

C&S: Culture and Sensitivity
C/O: Complains Of
Ca: Calcium, Cancer, Carcinoma
CABA: Complaints Of
CABG: Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
CAD: Coronary Artery Disease
CAG: Coronary Angiogram
CAO: Conscious, Alert, and Oriented
CAP: Community Acquired Pneumonia
CAPD: Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis
CAT: Computerized Tomography Scan
CBC: Complete Blood Count
CBD: Common Bile Duct
CBE: Clinical Breast Examination
CBG: Capillary Blood Glucose
CBI: Continuous Bladder Irrigation
CBS: Capillary Blood Sugar
CC: Chief Complaint
CCK: Cholecystokinin
CCPD: Continuous Cyclic Peritoneal Dialysis
CEA: Cultured Epithelial Autograft
CFT: Complement-Fixation Test
CHD: coronary heart disease
CHF: Congestive Heart Failure
CI: Critical Illness
CID: Cervical Immobilization Device
CIN: Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasm
CL: Cleft Lip
CMS: Circulation, Motion, Sensation
CNS: Central Nervous System
CO: Cardiac Output
COAD: Chronic Obstructive Airways Disease
COPD: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
CP: Chest Pain, Cleft Palate
CPAP: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
CPD: Cephalo-Pelvic Disproportion
CPP: Cerebral Perfusion Pressure
CPPD: Chest Percussion and Post Drainage
CPR: Chronic Obstructive Airway Disease
CRF: Chronic Renal Failure
CRRT: Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy
CRT: Capillary Refill Time
CSF: Cerebrospinal Fluid, Colony Stimulating Factors
CT: Chest Tube, Computed Tomography (Computed Axial Tomography Scan)
CTD: Close To Death
CVA: Cerebral Vascular Accident, Costovertebral Angle
CVP: Central Venous Pressure
CVS: Chorionic Villus Sampling
Cx: Cervix 50 CXR Chest X-Ray
CXR: Chest X-Ray

Medical Acronyms Starting with 'D'

D5W: Dextrose 5% in Water (IV)
DAA: Denitrogenation Absorption Atelectasis
DAT: Diet As Tolerated
DC: (dc) Discontinue
DCCT: Diabetes Control and Complication Trials
DEX: (DXT) Blood Sugar
DIA: Digital Image Analysis
DIC: Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation
DKA: Diabetic Ketoacidosis
DM: Diabetic Mellitus
DNA: Deoxyribonucleic Acid
DNR: Do Not Resuscitate
DOA: Dead On Arrival
DP: Direct Pressure
DTR: Deep Tendon Reflex
DVT: Deep Vein Thrombosis
Dx: Diagnosis

Medical Acronyms Starting with 'E'

EBV: Epstein-Barr Virus
ECF: Extracellular Fluid, Extended Care Facility
ECG: Electro CardioGram
EEG: ElectroEncephaloGram
EENT: Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat
EHOB: elevated head of bed
EMC: Ensephalomyocarditis
EMG: Electromyogram
EOA: Esophageal Obturator Airway
ER: Emergency Room
ERCP: Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography
ESRD: End Stage Renal Disease
ET: Endotracheal Tube
ETCO2: End tidal carbon dioxide

Medical Acronyms Starting with 'F'

F&R: Force and Rhythm
FA: Fatty Acid
FAS: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
FB: Foreign Body
FBS: Fasting Blood Sugar
FD: Fatal Dose, Focal Distance
FDA: Food & Drug Administration
FHR: Foetal Heart Rate
FHT: Foetal Heart Tones
FMS: Fibromyalgia syndrome
FUO: Fever of Unknown Origin 12 FVD Fluid Volume Deficit 13 Fx Fracture

Medical Acronyms Starting with 'G'

GAD: Generalized Anxiety Disorder
GB: Gallbladder
GDM: Gestational Diabetes Melitus
GDM: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
GERD: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
GFR: Glomerular Filtration Rate
GGT: Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase
GI: Gastro-Intestinal
GLP: Good Laboratory Practice
GOT: Glutamic Oxalic Transaminase
GU: Genito-Urinary
GVHD: Graft-Versus-Host-Disease

Medical Acronyms Starting with 'H'

HA: Headache
HASHD: Hypertensive ArterioSclerotic Heart Disease
Hb: Hemoglobin
HCG: Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
HCO3: Bicarbonate
HCT: Hematocrit
HD: Hemodialysis
HDL: High Density Lipoprotein
HEENT: Head, Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat
HGSIL: High Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion
HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus
HPV: Human Papiloma Virus
HR: Heart Rate
HRT: Hormone Replacement Therapy
HS: Bedtime
HTN: Hypertension
Hx: History

Medical Acronyms Starting with 'I'

I:E: Inspiratory to Expiratory ratio
IABP: Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump
IBC: Iron Binding Capacity
IBD: Inflammatory Bowel Disease
IBS: Irritable Bowel Syndrome
IBW: Ideal Body Weight
ICCE: Intracapsular Cataract Extraction
ICF: Intermediate Care Facility
ICP: Intracranial Pressure
ICS: Intercostal Space
ICT: Inflammation of Connective Tissue
ICU: Intensive Care Unit
IDDM: Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus
IDM: Infant of Diabetic Mother
IE: Inspiratory Exerciser
IH: Infectious Hepatitis
IHD: Ischemic Heart Disease
IIP: Implantable Insulin Pump
IM: Intramuscular
IMV: Intermittent Mandatory Ventilation
INR: International Normalization Ratio
IOF: International Operation Forces
IPAP: Inspiratory Positive Airway Pressure
IPD: Intermittent Peritoneal Dialysis
IPPB: Intermittent Positive Pressure Breathing
IPPV: Intermittent Positive Pressure Ventilation
ITP: Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura
IUD: IntraUterine Device
IV: Intravenous
IVDA: IV Drug Abuse/Abuser
IVDP: Intervertebral Disc Prolapase
IVF: In Vitro Fertilization
IVH: Intraventricular hemorrhage
IVIG: Intravenous Immunoglobulin
IVP: Intravenous Pyelography
JVD: Jugular Vein Distention
JVP: Jugular Venous Pressure

Medical Acronyms Starting with 'K'

K: Potassium
KCl: Potassium Chloride
KI: Potassium Iodide
KUB: Kidney, Ureter, Bladder 5 KVO Keep Vein Open

Medical Acronyms Starting with 'L'

L&A: Light and Accommodation
LAD: Left Anterior Descending (artery)
LB: Large Bowel
LBBB: Left Bundle Branch Block
LDL: Low Density Lipoprotein
LE: Lupus Erythematosus
LE: Lower Extremities
LEEP: Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure
LFTs: Liver Function Test
LIJ: Left Internal Jugular
LLQ: Left Lower Quadrant
LMA: Laryngeal Mask Airway
LMP: Last Menstrual Period
LOC: loss of conciousness
LOX: Liquid Oxygen
LP: Lumbar Puncture
LSC: Left Subclavian
LSIL: Low Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion
LT: Left
LUQ: Left Upper Quadrant
LVEF: Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction
LVF: Left Ventricular Failure, heart condition
LVH: Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

Medical Acronyms Starting with 'M'

M.D.: Doctorate of Medicine
MAI: Medical Access Insurance
MAP: Mean Arterial Pressure
MAR: Medication Administration Record
MCL: Modified Chest Lead
MD: Doctor of Medicine
MDD: Major Depressive Disorder
MDI: Multiple Daily Vitamin
MDS: Myleodyplastic Syndrome
MI: Myocardial Infarction
MICU: Medical Intesnive Care Unit
MLC: Midline Catheter
MM: Mucous Membrane
MoAbs: Monoclonal Antibodies
MOM: Milk of Magnesia
MRDD: Mental Retarded/Developmentally Disabled
MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging
MRM: Modified Radical Mastectomy
MS: Multiple Sclerosis, Morphine Sulfate
MSO4: Morphine Sulfate
MTP: Medically termination of pregnancy
MVA: Motor Vehicle Accident (I see this one quite a bit on ER reports)
MVP: Mitral Valve Prolapse
MVV: Maximum Voluntary Ventilation

Medical Acronyms Starting with 'N'

N/T: No Tenderness/Not Tender
Na: Sodium
NaCl: Sodium Chloride
NAD: No Acute Distress
NC: Nasal Cannula
NED: No Evidence of Disease
NG: NasoGastric
NIBP: Non Invasive Blood pressure
NICU: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
NIDDM: Noninsulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus
NKA: No Known Allergies
NKDA: Non-Ketotic Diabetic Acidosis
NKDA: No Known Drug Allergies
NKHC: Non-Ketotic Hyperglycemic Coma
NKHHC: NonKetonic Hyperglycemic-Hyperosmolar Coma
NKMA: No Known Medcation Allergies
NOS: Not Otherwise Specified
NPA: Nasopharyngeal Airway
NPD: Nightly Peritoneal Dialysis
NPO: Nothing by Mouth
NPQ: Not Physically Qualified
NS: Normal Saline (IV)
NSAID: Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug
NSR: Normal Sinus Rythym (cardiac)
NT: NasoTracheal
NTD: Neural Tube Defect
NV: Nausea & Vomiting
NWB: Non-weight Bearing
NYD: Not Yet Diagnosed

Medical Acronyms Starting with 'O'

O2: Oxygen
OD: Overdose
OD: Right Eye
OGTT: Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
OPA: Oropharyngeal Airway
ORIF: Open Reduction Internal Fixation
OS: Left Eye
OU: Both Eyes

Medical Acronyms Starting with 'P'

P.A.R.P: Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase
PABA: Para-Aminobenzoic Acid
PAD: Peripheral Arterial Disease
PCA: Patient Controlled Analgesia, Posterior Communicating Artery
PCN: Penicillin, Primary Care Nurse
PCV: Packed Cell Volume
PD: Peritoneal Dialysis
PDA: Patent Ductus Arteriosus, Posterior Descending Artery
PDD: Pervasive Development Disorder
PDR: Physician's Desk Reference
PE: Pleural Effusion
PE: Pulmonary Edema / Embolism
PEG: Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy
PEJ: Percutaneous Endoscopic Jejunostomy
PERL: Pupils Equal, React to Light
PERRLA: Pupils Equal, Round, React to Light, Accommodation
PET: Positron Emission Tomography
PFT: Pulmonary Function Test
PG: Prostaglandin
PH: Past History
pH: concentration of hydrogen ions
PH.D.: Doctorate of Philosophy
PI: Present Illness
PICC: Peripherally Inserted Central Venous Catheter
PID: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
PIH: Pregnancy Induced Hypertension
PM: ParaMedic
PMHx: Prior/Previous Medical History
PMI: Point of Maximal Impulse
PML: Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy
PMR: polymyalgia rheumatica
PMS: Pre Menstrual Syndrome
PMS: Peripheral Motor (nervous) System
PNB: Pulseless Not Breathing
PND: Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea
PNDT: Pre natal diagnostic tests
PNH: Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria
PNS: Peripheral Nervous System
PO: by mouth / Per Oral
PO2: Partial pressure of O2
POTS: Postural Orthostatic TachycardiA Syndrome
PPM: permanent pacemaker
PPV: Positive Pressure Ventilation
PR: per rectum 45 PRBC Packed Red Blood Cells
PRN: (pro re nata) AS NEEDED
PS: Pyloric Stenosis
PSA: Prostate Specific Antigen
PSA: Prostate check
PSVT: Paroxysmal Supra-Ventricular Tachycardia
PT: Prothrombin Time
PTCA: Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty
PTT: Partial Thromboplastin Time
PUD: Peptic Ulcer Disease
PUD: Pelvic Uterine Disease
PVD: Peripheral Vascular Disease
PWB: PARTIAL WEIGHT BEARING
Px: Pneumothorax

Medical Acronyms Starting with 'Q'

QD: Everyday
QID: Four Times a Day
qns: Quantity Not Sufficient
QOD: Every Other Day
qs: Quantity Sufficient, Quantity Required

Medical Acronyms Starting with 'R'

RA: Rheumatoid Arthritis
RAD: Reactive Airway Disease
RAI: Radioactive Iodine
RAIU: Radioactive Iodine Uptake
RBBB: Right Bundle Branch Block
RBC: Red blood cells
RCA: Right Coronary Artery
RDW: Red Cell Distribution Width
REEDA: Redness, Edema, Ecchymosis, Drainage, Approximation
RHD: Rheumatic Heart Disease, Relative Hepatic Dullness
RIJ: Right Internal Jugular
RLQ: Right Lower Quadrant
RM: Respiratory Movement
ROM: Range Of Motion
ROS: Review Of Systems
RSC: Right Subclavian
RSR: Regular Sinus Rhythym
RSV: Respiratory Syncitial Virus
RT: Right
RUQ: Right Upper Quadrant
Rx: Prescription, Pharmacy

Medical Acronyms Starting with 'S'

S/S: Signs & Symptoms
SAB: Spontaneous Abortion
SABA: Supplied Air Breathing Apparatus
SAED: SemiAutomatic External Defibrillator
SAST: Serum Aspartate Aminotransferase
SB: Spina Bifida
SBO: Small Bowel Obstruction
SC: Subcutaneous
SCBU: Special Care Baby Unit
SDFI: Secure Digital forensic Imaging
SGOT: Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase
SGPT: Serum Glutamic-Pyruvic Transaminase
SLE: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
SLUD: Salivation, Lacrimation, Urination, Defecation
SMO: Standing Medical Orders
SNF: Skilled Nursing Facility
SOB: Short(ness) of Breath
SPO2: Saturation of Peripheral Oxygen
SR: Sedimentation Rate
SS: Social Services
SSS: Sick Sinus Syndrome
SSS: Subclavian Steal Syndrome
ST: Sinus Tachycardia (cardiac)
STD: Sexually Transmitted Disease
STH: Somatotropic Hormone
STM: Short Term Memory
SUI: Stress Urinary Incontinence
SVCAD: single vessel coronary artery disease
SVR: Systemic Vascular Resistance
SVT: Supra-Ventricular Tachycardia
Sx: Surgery
Sx: Symptoms
Sz: Seizure

Medical Acronyms Starting with 'T'

T3: Triiodothyronine
T4: Thyroxine
TB: Tuberculosis/Trouble Breathing
TBF: Total Body Failure
TBI: Traumatic Brain Injury
TBI: Traumatic Brain Injury
TBSA: Total Body Surface Area
TCDB: Turn, Cough, Deep Breathe
TED: (hose) Thrombo-Embolism Deterrent
TEF: Tracheo-Esophageal Fistula
TEP: Transesophageal Puncture
THR: Total Hip Replacement
TIA: Transient Ischemic Attack
TIBC: Total Iron Binding Capacity
TID: Three Times a Day
TIL: Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes
TKR: Total Knee Replacement
TM: Tympanic Membrane
TNF: Tumor Necrosis Factor
TNM: Tumor, Node, Metastases
TNTC: Too Numerous To Mention
TOF: Tetralogy of falot
TP: Tuberculin Precipitation
tPA: Tissue plasminogen activator
TPN: Total Parenteral Nutrition
TPR: Temperature, Pulse, Respirations
TTN: Transient Tachypnea of the Newborn
TTO: Trans Tracheal Oxygen
TTP: Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia Purpura
TUPR: Trans-Urethral Prostatic Resection
TUR: (or TURP) Trans-Urethral Resection of the Prostate
TWB: Touch Weight Bear
TWE: Tap Water Enema
Tx: Treatment, Traction

Medical Acronyms Starting with 'U'

UA: Urinalysis
UAO: Upper Airway Obstruction
UBW: Usual Body Weight
UGI: Upper Gastrointestinal
UPJ: Ureteropelvic Junction
URI: Upper Respiratory Infection
URI: URinary Incontinence
US: Ultrasonic
UTI: Urinary Tract Infection
UVJ: Ureterovesical Junction

Medical Acronyms Starting with 'V'

VA: Visual Acuity
VBAC: Vaginal Birth After Caeserean
VF/Vfib: Ventricular Fibrillation
VLDL: Very Low Density Lipoprotein
VMA: Vanillylmandelic Acid
VNS: Vagus Nerve Stimulation
VPB: Ventricular Premature Beat
VPC: Ventricular Premature Contraction
VSA: Vital Signs Absent
VSD: Ventricular Septal Defect
VT/Vtach: Ventricular Tachycardia
VW: Vessel Wall

Medical Acronyms Starting with 'W'

W/C: Wheelchair
WBC: White Blood Cell
WD: Well Developed
WDI: Warm, Dry, Intact Skin assessment
WHO: World Health Organization
WMA: World Medical Association
WN: Well Nourished
WNL: Within Normal Limits

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