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Medical Abbreviations & Acronyms
In the US, patients now have full access to their electronic medical record (EMR) as of October 6, 2022 under federal regulations. However, the medical record is written by physicians to communicate with other physicians. As such, it often contains acronyms that have no meaning to the rest of us. Here are some common acronyms and abbreviations that you may come across and what they (possibly) stand for.
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Disclaimer: This is not meant to be comprehensive and your doctor may use an acronym/abbreviation differently. You should always seek professional medical advice, or consult with your physician if you have any question and/or concern with regards to your record.
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Common Medical Abbreviation & Acronym
Abbr | Description (Lab, Disease, Diagnosis, etc.) | Specialty | Additional Specialty |
|---|---|---|---|
ABG | Arterial blood gases | General | CCU/ICU (Critical/Intensive Care) |
ACEi | Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor | General | - |
ADHD | Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder | Psychiatry | - |
AIDS | Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome | ID (Infectious Disease) | - |
ALS | Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Lou Gehrig's Disease | Neurology (Nervous System) | - |
ALT | Alanine aminotransferase | General | - |
AMD | Age-related macular degeneration | Ophthalmology (Eye) | - |
AODM | Adult onset diabetes mellitus | Endocrinology (Hormone) | - |
AST | Aspartate aminotransferase | General | - |
AVM | Arteriovenous malformation | General | - |
BCC | Basal Cell Carcinoma | Oncology (Cancer) | Dermatology (Skin) |
BID | Twice a day | Medication Dosing (Pharmacology) | - |
BMI | Body mass index | General | - |
BP | Blood pressure | General | - |
BPH | Benign prostatic hypertrophy | Urology (Urinary System, Surgical) | - |
BUN | Blood urea nitrogen | General | - |
CA | Cancer OR Calcium | General | - |
CABG | Coronary artery bypass graft | Cardiology (Heart) | - |
CAD | Coronary artery disease | Cardiology (Heart) | - |
CAT | Computerized axial tomography | General | - |
CBC | Complete blood count | General | - |
CHF | Congestive heart failure | Cardiology (Heart) | - |
CMO | Comfort measures only | General | - |
CMP | Complete Metabolic Panel (BMP + LFT) | General | - |
CMV | Cytomegalovirus | ID (Infectious Disease) | - |
COPD | Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | Pulmonology (Lung) | - |
CRP | C-reactive protein | General | - |
CSF | Cerebrospinal fluid | General | - |
CVA | Cerebrovascular accident | Neurology (Nervous System) | - |
CVC | Central venous catheter | CCU/ICU (Critical/Intensive Care) | - |
CXR | Chest x-ray | General | - |
D&C | Dilatation and curettage | Ob/Gyn (Obstetrician/Gynecologist) | - |
DJD | Degenerative joint disease | General | - |
DM | Diabetes mellitus | Endocrinology (Hormone) | - |
DVT | Deep-vein thrombosis | Hematology (Blood Disorder or Cancer) | - |
DX | Diagnosis | General | - |
ECHO | Echocardiogram | Cardiology (Heart) | - |
EEG | Electroencephalogram | Neurology (Nervous System) | - |
EMG | Electromyography | Neurology (Nervous System) | - |
ENT | Ear, nose and throat | Otolaryngology (ENT) | - |
ERCP | Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography | Gastroenterology (GI, Digestive System) | - |
ESR | Erythrocyte sedimentation rate | General | - |
ESRD | End-stage renal (kidney) disease | Nephrology (Kidney) | - |
FSH | Follicle stimulating hormone | General | - |
GERD | Gastroesophageal reflux disease | Gastroenterology (GI, Digestive System) | - |
GFR | Glomerular filtration rate | Nephrology (Kidney) | - |
GI | Gastrointestinal, Gastroenterology | General | - |
GU | Genitourinary | General | - |
HAV | Hepatitis A virus | ID (Infectious Disease) | - |
HBV | Hepatitis B virus | ID (Infectious Disease) | - |
HCV | Hepatitis C virus | ID (Infectious Disease) | - |
HDL | High density lipoprotein | General | - |
HGB | Hemoglobin | General | - |
HIV | Human Immunodeficiency virus | General | ID (Infectious Disease) |
HPV | Human papillomavirus | ID (Infectious Disease) | - |
HRT | Hormone replacement therapy | Endocrinology (Hormone) | - |
HTN | Hypertension | General | - |
IBD | Inflammatory bowel disease (Ulcerative Colitis &/or Crohn's Disease) | Gastroenterology (GI, Digestive System) | - |
IBS | Irritable bowel syndrome | Gastroenterology (GI, Digestive System) | - |
ICD | Implantable cardioverter defibrillator | Cardiology (Heart) | - |
ICU | Intensive care unit | CCU/ICU (Critical/Intensive Care) | - |
IDDM | Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus | Endocrinology (Hormone) | - |
IM | Intramuscular | Medication Dosing (Pharmacology) | - |
IUD | Intrauterine device | Ob/Gyn (Obstetrician/Gynecologist) | - |
IV | Intravenous | Medication Dosing (Pharmacology) | - |
LDL | Low density lipoprotein | General | - |
LFT | Liver function tests | General | - |
MI | Myocardial infarction | Cardiology (Heart) | - |
MMR | Measles, mumps, and rubella | General | - |
MRI | Magnetic resonance imaging | General | - |
MRSA | Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus | ID (Infectious Disease) | - |
MS | Multiple sclerosis | Neurology (Nervous System) | - |
NG | Nasogastric | Medication Dosing (Pharmacology) | - |
NIDDM | Non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus | Endocrinology (Hormone) | - |
NKDA | No known drug allergies | General | - |
NSAID | Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (e.g. Aspirin, Ibuprofen) | General | - |
OCD | Obsessive-compulsive disorder | Psychiatry | - |
PAD | Peripheral arterial disease | General | - |
PAP | Papanicolau smear | Ob/Gyn (Obstetrician/Gynecologist) | - |
PET | Positron emission tomography | General | Oncology (Cancer) |
PFT | Pulmonary function test | Pulmonology (Lung) | - |
PID | Pelvic inflammatory disease | Ob/Gyn (Obstetrician/Gynecologist) | ID (Infectious Disease) |
PMS | Premenstrual syndrome | Ob/Gyn (Obstetrician/Gynecologist) | - |
PPD | Purified protein derivative (TB skin test) | General | ID (Infectious Disease) |
PRN | As needed | Medication Dosing (Pharmacology) | - |
PSA | Prostate specific antigen | General | Urology (Urinary System, Surgical) |
PT | Physical Therapy | General | - |
PTSD | Post-traumatic stress syndrome | Psychiatry | - |
PTT | Partial thromboplastin time | General | - |
PUD | Peptic ulcer disease | Gastroenterology (GI, Digestive System) | - |
PVC | Premature ventricular contraction | Cardiology (Heart) | - |
QID | Four times a day | Medication Dosing (Pharmacology) | - |
RA | Rheumatoid arthritis | Rheumatology (Autoimmune) | - |
RBC | Red blood cell | General | - |
RSV | Respiratory syncytial virus | ID (Infectious Disease) | - |
Rx | Prescription | Medication Dosing (Pharmacology) | - |
SIDS | Sudden infant death syndrome | Pediatric | - |
SLE | Systemic lupus erythematosus | Rheumatology (Autoimmune) | - |
SOB | Shortness of Breath | General | - |
STD | Sexually transmitted disease | General | - |
T3 | Triiodothyronine | General | Endocrinology (Hormone) |
T4 | Thyroxine | General | Endocrinology (Hormone) |
TAH | Total abdominal hysterectomy | Ob/Gyn (Obstetrician/Gynecologist) | - |
TB | Tuberculosis | ID (Infectious Disease) | - |
TIA | Transient ischemic attack | Neurology (Nervous System) | - |
TIBC | Total iron binding capacity | General | - |
TID | Three times a day | Medication Dosing (Pharmacology) | - |
TMJ | Temporomandibular joint | General | - |
TORCH | Stands for a group of infections that may cause birth defects | Pediatric | ID (Infectious Disease) |
TSH | Thyroid stimulating hormone | General | Endocrinology (Hormone) |
TURP | Transurethral resection of prostate gland | Urology (Urinary System, Surgical) | - |
URI | Upper respiratory infection | General | - |
UTI | Urinary tract infection | General | ID (Infectious Disease) |
WBC | White blood cell | General | - |
XRT | Radiotherapy / Radiation Therapy | Radiation Oncology | - |
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