common medical abbrevations & …rad.kau.edu.sa/files/142003/files/160024_drt_clinical...pocket...

Pocket Booklet: Common Medical Abbreviations & Terminology

Approved by: Dr. Jehad S. Felemban, Chairman, Diagnostic Radiography Technology Department

COMMON MEDICAL

ABBREVATIONS & TERMINOLOGY

2017 - 2018

POCKET BOOKLET

Made By : Mr. Ibrahim Kanbayti ; Mrs. Jawaher Almaimani

Reviewed By : Mr. Loai Althagafi



The healthcare field is full of technical terminology,

including a number of medical abbreviations that are

used to complete patient charts, write prescriptions,

communicate general needs and bill for services.

Understanding the most common medical abbreviations

can help you take control of your healthcare needs.

SECTION 1

MEDICAL ABBREVATIONS



AAA Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

AAS Acute Abdominal Series

AB Abortion

Ab Antibody

ABC Aspiration, Biopsy, Cytology

abd Abdominal

Abdo E&S Abdomen Erect and Supine

ABX Antibiotics

ACJ Acromio Clavicular Joint

ACL Anterior Cruciate Ligament

ACLS Advanced Cardiac Life Support

ACS Acute Coronary Syndromes

AD Alzheimer Disease

A



ADC Analog to Digital Converter

AF Atrial Fibrillation

AFI Amniotic Fluid Index

AHW Aboriginal Health Worker

AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

AKI Acute Kidney Injury

ALARA As Low As Reasonably Achievable

ALL Acute Lymphoid Leukemia

AMI Acute Myocardial Infarction

A/N Antenatal

ANT Anterior

AOM Acute Otitis Media

AP Anteroposterior

A



ARF Acute Renal Failure

ARDS Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

AS Aortic Stenosis

ASA Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin)

ASD Atrial Septal Defect

ASIS Anterior Superior Iliac Spine

ATB Antibiotic

AV Atrioventricular ; Avascular Necrosis

A-V Arteriovenous

AVF Arteriovenous Fistula

AVM Arterial Venous Malformation

AXR Abdominal X-ray

A



BA Barium

BAS Barium Swallow

BCG Bacillus Calmette–Guérin

BE Barium Enema

B / F Brest – Fed

BGL Blood Glucose Level

BM Bowel Movement

BMI Body Mass Index

BMT Bone Marrow Transplant

B/O Baby of

BP Blood Pressure

BPH Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

BW Body Weight ; Bandwidth

BX Biopsy

B



CA Cancer

Ca calcium

CAT Computed Axial Tomography

CABG Coronary Artery Bypass Graf

CAD Coronary Artery Disease

CAPD Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis

CAS Carotid Artery Stenting

CAT Computerized Axial Tomography

Cath Catheter ; Catheterization

CAU Caudal

CC Cranio - Caudal view

CCF Congestive Cardiac Failure

CCU Coronary Care Unit

C



CDH Congenital Dislocated Hip

CF Cystic Fibrosis

CHD Congenital Heart Defects ; Coronary Heart Disease

CHF Congestive heart failure

CKD Chronic Kidney Disease

CM Contrast Media

CNS Central Nervous System

CNR Contrast-to-Noise Ratio

C / O Complaining of

COLD Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease

COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

CP Chest Pain

C



CRA Cranial

CRL Crown Rump Length

CRT Cathode Ray Tube

CPR Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation

CS Cesarean Section

Csp Cervical Spine

CSF Cerebrospinal Fluid

CSOM Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media

CTS Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

CVA Cerebro-Vascular Accident

CVC Central Venous Catheter

C/W Compare with ; consist with

Cx Cervix

CXR Chest X-ray

C



D/C Discharge

DDA Dangerous Drug of Addiction

DDH Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip

DDx Differential Diagnosis

DECUB Decubitus

DI Diabetes Insipidus

DIP Distal Interphalangeal Joint

DISH Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis

DJD Degenerative Joint Disease

DM Diabetes Mellitus

DNR Do not Resuscitate

DOB Date of Birth

DSA Digital Subtraction Angiography

D & V Diarrhea & Vomiting

DVT Deep Vein Thrombosis

D



EAM External Auditory Meatus

ECC Emergency Cardiac Care

E COLI Escherichia coli

ECG Electrocardiography

Echo Echocardiogram

ED Emergency Department

EEG Electroencephalography

ENT Ear, Nose and Throat

ER Emergency Room

ERCP Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangio – Pancreatography

ESRD End Stage Renal Disease

ESWL Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy

ET Endometrial Thickness

ETT Endotracheal Tube

EUA Examination Under Anesthesia

E



FA Flip Angle

FB Foreign Body

FFD Focal Film Distance

FHR Fetal Heart Rate

FOOSH All on Outstretched Hand

F/U Follow-Up

Fx Fracture

F



GA General Anesthesia

GB Gallbladder

GE Gastric Emptying

GERD Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

GFR Glomerular Filtration Rate

GH Growth Hormone

GI Gastrointestinal

GSW Gun Shot Wound

GU Gastric Ulcer

GYN Gynecology

G



HA Headache

Hgb Hemoglobin

HBP High Blood Pressure

HBV Hepatitis B Virus

HCV Hepatitis C Virus

HC Head Circumference

HCC Hepatocellular Carcinoma

HD Hemodialysis

HDL High Density Lipoprotein

HI Head Injury

H



HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus

HNPU Has Not Passed Urine

HOP Head of Pancreases

HPU Has Passed Urine

HR Heart Rate

HSG Hystero-Salpingogram

HTN Hypertension

Hx History

H



IAM Internal Auditory Meatus

IBD Inflammatory Bowel Disease

IBS Irritable Bowel Syndrome

ICP Intra Cranial Pressure

ICU Intensive Care Unit

ID Infectious Disease ; Identification

I & D Incision & Drainage

IDDM Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

IG Immunoglobulin

IHD Ischemic Heart Disease

II Image Intensifier

INR International Normalized Ratio

IM Intramuscular

I



IM Nail Intramedullary Nail

INF Infection

IR Interventional Radiology; Image Receptor

IT Intrathecal

IUCD Intra-Uterine Contraceptive Device

IV Intravenous

IVCIntravenous Cannula; Intravenous Cholangiogram ;

Inferior Vena Cava

IVP Intravenous Pyelogram

IVU Intravenous Urogram

I



K/C Known Case of

Kev Kiloelectron Volt

kVp Kilovoltage Peak

KUB Kidneys, Ureters, Bladder

K



LA Local Anesthetic

LAO Left Anterior Oblique

LAT Lateral View

LBP Low Back Pain

LCD Low Contrast Detail ; Liquid Crystal Display

LCR Low Contrast Resolution

LE Lower Extremities

LIF Left Iliac Fossa

LK Left Kidney

LL Lower Limb

LLQ Left Lower Quadrant

LMP Last Menstrual Period

L



LN Lymph Node

LOC Loss of Consciousness ; Level of Consciousness

Lsp Lumbar spine

LSsp Lumbo-Sacral spine

LT Left

LP Lumbar puncture

LPO Left Posterior Oblique

LUL Left Upper Lobe

LUQ Left Upper Quadrant

LV Left Ventricle

LVH Left Ventricular Hypertrophy

L



mA Milliamperage

mAs Milliampere Seconds

MBA Motor Bike Accident

MCA

Motor Cycle Accident ;

Multiple Congenital Abnormalities ;

Middle Cerebral Artery

MCL Mid Clavicular Line

MCP Metacarpophalangeal Joint

MCUG Micturating Cysto-Urethrogram

MDCT Multi-Detector Computed Tomography

MET/S Metastases

MI Myocardial Infarction ; Mitral Insufficiency

M



ML Midline

MMG Mammography ; Mammogram

MNG Multinodular Goiter

MRA Magnetic Resonance Angiography

MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging

MRS Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

MS Multiple Sclerosis ; Mitral Stenosis

MSS Musculo-Skeletal System

MTP Metatarso-Phalangeal Joint

MVA Motor Vehicle Accident

MVP Mitral Valve Prolapse

M



NB Newborn

N/G tube Nasogastric Tube

NF1 Neurofibromatosis type 1

NICU Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

NKA NO Known Allergies

NNU Neonatal Unit

NOF Neck of Femur

NPO Nothing by mouth ( Nil per OS )

NSAIDs Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

NT Nasotracheal

N + V Nausea and Vomiting

N



OA Osteoarthritis

OB Obstetrics

OBL Oblique

OFD Object Film Distance

O & G Obstetrics and Gynecology

OP Out Patient

OR Operating Room

ORIF Open Reduction and Internal Fixation

ORTH Orthopedics

OSA Obstructive Sleep Apnea

OT Occupational Therapy

O



P.A Banding Pulmonary Artery Banding

PA Posteroanterior

PACS Picture Archive and Communications System

PAP Pulmonary Artery Pressure

Para Paracentesis ( abdominocentesis)

PCL Posterior Cruciate Ligament

PCN Percutaneous Nephrostomy

PDA Patent Ductus Arteriosus

PE Pulmonary Embolus

PEG Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy

PET Positron Emission Tomography

PFA Plain Film Abdomen

PICC Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter

PIDPelvic Inflammatory Disease ;

Prolapsed Intervertebral Disc

P



PIP Proximal Interphalangeal Joints

PKD Polycystic Kidney Disease

PLT Platelet

PMT Photomultiplier Tube

PNS Postnasal Space ; Paranasal Sinuses

P/O Postoperative

PORT Portable X-Ray

PP Private Patient ; Placenta Praevia

PPM Lead Permanent Pacemaker Lead

Pre-op Before Operation

Pro time Prothrombin Time

PT Physical Therapy ; Prothrombin Time

Pt Patient

P



PTB Pulmonary Tuberculosis

PTCAPercutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (

Balloon Angioplasty)

PTH Parathyroid Hormone

PTHC Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangiogram

PTT Partial Thromboplastin Time

PTSD Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome

PUD Peptic Ulcer Disease

PUJ Pelviureteric Junction

PV Portal vein

PVD Peripheral Vascular Disease

P



QA Quality Assurance

QC Quality Control

Q



RA Rheumatoid Arthritis ; Right Atrium

RAD Radiation Absorbed Dose

RAO Right Anterior Oblique

RAS Renal Artery Stenosis

RCM Right Costal Margin

RDS Respiratory Distress Syndrome

RF Renal Failure

R&F Radiography and Fluoroscopy

RHD Rheumatic Heart Disease

RIF Right Iliac Fossa

RIS Radiology Information System

R



R/L Right / Left

RLL Right Lower Lobe

RLQ Right Lower Quadrant

RLZ Right Lower Zone

ROI Region Of Interest

R/O Rule Out

RP Retrograde Pyelography ( urography )

RPG Retrograde Pyelogram

RPO Right Posterior Oblique

RR Recovery Room ; Respiration Rate

RT Right ; Radiologic Technologist

R



RT Respiratory ; Radiation Therapy

RR Respiration Rate

RTA Road Traffic Accident

RUG Retrograde Urethrogram

RUQ Right Upper Quadrant

RV Right Ventricle

RX Treatment ; Therapy

R



SARS-COVSevere Acute Respiratory Syndrome - Corona

Virus

SAH Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

SB Spina Bifida

SBFT Small Bowel Follow Through

SBO Small Bowel Obstruction

SCA Sickle-Cell Anemia

SCJ Sterno Clavicular Joint

SDH Subdural Hematoma

SE Spin Echo

SFOV Scan Field Of View

SID Source to Image Distance

SIJs Sacro-iliac joints

SMA Superior Mesenteric Artery

SMV Superior Mesenteric Vein

S



SNR Signal to Noise Ratio

SOA Swelling of Ankle

SONO Sonogram ; Sonography

SOB Shortness of Breath

SOF Shaft of Femur

SPECT Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography

SQ Subcutaneous

Sv Sievert

SV Stroke Volume

SVC Superior Vena Cava

Sx Signs and Symptoms

SXR Skull X-ray

Sz Seizure

S



TACE Trans Arterial Chemo Embolization

TAH-BSOTotal Abdominal Hysterectomy and Bilateral

Salpingo-Oopherectomy

TB Tuberculosis

TE Echo Time

TFT Thyroid Function Test

TGC Time Gain Compensation

THR Total Hip Replacement

I T Inversion Time

TIA Transient Ischemic Attack

Tib & Fib Tibia and Fibula

TKR Total Knee Replacement

T



TLC Total Lung Capacity

TLD Thermoluminescent Dosimeter

TM Tympanic Membrane

TMJ Temperomandibular joint

TOF Time of Flight

TOMO Tomography ; Tomogram

TPA Tissue Plasminogen Activator

TPNTotal Parenteral Nutrition (also total peripheral

nutrition)

Tsp Thoracic Spine

TURP Transurethral Resection of the Prostate

TVH Total Vaginal Hysterectomy

T



U / A Urinalysis

UA Upper Abdomen

UAC Umbilical Artery Catheter

UAO Upper Airway Obstruction

UC Umbilical Cord

UGI Upper Gastrointestinal

UE Upper Extremity

UL Upper Limb

UPJ Ureteropelvic Junction

URI Upper Respiratory Infection

UTI Urinary Tract Infections

UVJ Ureterovesical Junction

U



VAD Venous Access Device

VCT Venous Clotting Time

VCUG Voiding Cystourethrogram

VDH Valvular Disease of the Heart

VP Ventricle-Peritoneal (shunt)

V/Q Ventilation Perfusion (Lung Scan)

VS Vital Signs

VSD Ventricular Septal Defect

VT Ventricular Tachycardia

VUR Vesicoureteral Reflux

VV Varicose veins

V



WBC White Blood Cell

W/C Wheelchair

Wd Wound

WT Weight

W



X Xiphoid

XRT X-ray Therapy (Radiation Therapy)

X



Add More Medical Abbreviations

ABBREVATION DETAILS



If you are working as a health care provider in a medical

setting, you will hear different Latin words or medical

terms that are some times difficult or complicated to be

understood. Analyzing these medical terms into their main

components will assist you to understand them easily.

Most medical terms contain four main parts. These parts

include root, suffix, prefix, and combining vowel.

SECTION 2

MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY



Root Suffix

Combining

vowel

HEMAT / O / LOGY

When you analyze a medical term, begin at the end of the word (see

the example 1- LOGY-). The ending word is known as a suffix. Most

medical terms contain suffixes. The suffix in hematology is logy, which

means study of. It usually modifies the central meaning of term by

referring to procedure, science, disorder, disease, condition, …etc.

The second part is known as root. It is usually the middle word and

its central meaning. Look at the beginning of example 1. HEMAT

represents the word root. The root gives the essential meaning of the

term. In this example, it means blood.

The third part is the letter O. This component does not have

meaning, but it serves as a connector between root and suffix (as in

example 1) or root and root, such as, Gastr/o/enter/o/logy. It is

called as a combining vowel.

Now put together the meanings of suffix and root. (HEMATOLOGY)

means the study of blood.

Example 1



Prefix

MYO / CARD / ITIS

The last component is called Prefix. It comes at the

beginning and usually identifies some subdivisions or parts

of the central meaning.

Note:

Read the meaning of medical term from the suffix to the beginning of the word and then across.

Example 2



Prefixes Meaning Example Meaning

Bi- Two Bifocal Two foci

Hemi- Half HemiplegiaA half side of the

body is paralyzed

Hyper-Over or more

than the usual Hypertension

High blood

pressure

Hypo-Under or less

than the usual Hypoglycemia

Low glucose blood

level

Macro- Large Macrocephaly Large abnormal

head condition

Megaly- Enlargement Hepatomegaly Enlargement of

liver

Micro- Small Microscope

Instrument used

to see small

objects

Multi-/

Poly-Many Multichromosome

Many

chromosomes

Semi- Partial /half Semiconscious Half conscious

Tri- Three Trilateral Involving three

sides

Uni- /

Mono-One Unilateral Involving one side

Prefixes Denoting Number and Size



Prefixes Meaning Example Meaning

peri- AroundPeriodontal Around teeth

post-After / behind Postoperation After operation

Pre-/ pro-Before / in

front of Preoral In front of mouth

Retr/o

Behind / in

back of Retrogastric Behind stomach

Sub- Under Subgastric Under stomach

Poster/o Behind Posterior skin

surface Behind skin surface

Anter/o In front of Anterior skin

surface

In front of skin

surface

Supra- Above Supraclavicular

region

Area above the

clavicle

Prefixes and Roots Denoting relative Directions



Suffixes Meaning Example Meaning

-algia pain Myalgia Muscle pain

-ar/-al/-

ic/-ia/-acPertaining to Cardiac Pertaining to heart

-ectomy Excision MastectomyRemoval of whole

breast

-EmesisVomiting

Hematemesis Blood vomiting

-emia Blood Anemia Absence of blood

-it is Inflammation Hepatitis Inflammation of liver

-Ology Study of RadiologyStudy of radiology

sciences

-Ologist One who studies RadiologistSome one specialize in

radiology

-oma Tumor SarcomaTumor of connective

soft tissue

-plegia Paralysis Hemiplegia Paralysis of one side

-ostomy New opening Nephrostomy New opening for kidney

-stasis To stop Hemostasis To stop blood

Examples for Common Suffixes



Word roots Meaning Example Meaning

Aden/o Gland AdenologyThe study of

gland

Arthr/o –

articul /oJoint Arthritis

Inflammation of

joint

Bronch(i)- Bronchus BronchitisInflammation of

bronchus

Cerebr/o Brain Cerebrology Study of brain

Chem/o Chemistry/drug ChemotherapyTreatment by

drug

Cholecyct/o Gallbladder CholecystectomyRemoval of

gallbladder

Dermat/o Skin Dermatology The study of skin

Enter/o Intestine Gastroenterologist

Some one

specialized in GI

system

Erythr/o Red color Erythrocyte Red blood cells

Leuk/o White color Leukocyte White blood cells

Hepat/o Liver HepatitisInflammation of

liver

Hyster/o Uterus Hysterectomy Removal of uterus

Examples for Common Word Roots



Medical terms Meaning Examples

Cardi/o Heart Endocarditis,

Myocarditis

Brady- Slow Bradycardia

Tachy - Fast Tachycardia

Angi/o Vessel Angiography

Veno/phlebo Veins Venogram

-stasis To stop Hemostasis

-Cyte Cell Erythrocyte

Hem/o Blood Hematosalpinx

Circulatory System Terms




Cephal/o Head Cephalgia

Mening/oMembranes surrounding

the brain and spinal cordMeningitis

Myel/o Spinal cord Myelogram

Neur/o Nerve Neuroma

Dys Difficult, abnormal Dyslexia

-Cele Hernia Meningomyelocele

-Pathy Disease Encephalopathy

-plasia Development, growth Aplasia

Nervous System Terms




Gastr/o Stomach Gastritis

Hepat/o Liver Hepatitis

Chol/e Gall, bile Cholecystectomy

Cyct/o Sac, bladder Cholecystitis

Emes/o Vomiting Emesis

-centesis To puncture Abdominocentesis

-osis/-iasis Abnormal condition Amyloidosis

Digestive System Terms




Rhin/o Nose Rhinitis

Laryng/o Larynx Laryngotomy

Trache/o Trachea Tracheotomy

Pulmo/o Lung Pulmonary artery

-ptysis Spitting Hemoptysis

-plasty Reconstruction Rhinoplasty

Bronch/o Lung air ways Bronchoscopy

Respiratory System Terms




Nephr/o Kidney Nephritis

Hydro/o Water Hydronephrosis

Cyst/o Bladder Cystitis

Pyel/o Renal collecting system Pyelogram

Ur/o Urine Polyuria

Urinary System Terms




Orchid/o Testes Orchiditis

Balan/o Head of the penis Balanitis

Prostat/o Prostate Prostatitis

Vas/o Duct Vasectomy

Hyster/o Uterus Hysterectomy

Salping/o Uterine tube Salpingitis

Oophor/o Ovary Oophorectomy

Mamm/o, mast/o Breast Mammogram,

mastectomy

Male and Female Reproductive System Terms



Medical terms Word analysis

Meaning

Prefix Word roots Suffix

Add More Medical Terms

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