This page contains medical abbreviations

that radiographers should be familiar with

Symbols
٠ Not Present OR No Also in superscript e.g.
abnormality ……..o
+/- Uncertain/equivocal
+ Present or Noted
++ Present Significantly
+++ Present in Excess eg BMI +++
= Equivalent to
Numbers
٣ OK or satisfactory
A
A Ankle Jerk/Reflex Hitting the ankle with a
patella hammer to test
reflexes
AAA Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Dilatation of abdominal
aorta
AAL Anterior Axillary Line Imaginary line drawn from
the front arm pit down the
chest wall
Ab Abortion
ABG Arterial Blood Gas "Sats" Blood test to see how
much oxygen there is in
the blood (percentage
‘saturation’ with oxygen)
ACD Acid Citrate Dextrose Anticoagulant solution
ACE Angiotensin Converting
Enzyme
ACJ Acromio Clavicular Joint
ACL Anterior Clavicular Line or An imaginary line down the
Anterior Cruciate Ligament front of the body from the
inner end of the collarbone
OR a ligament in the knee
ACTH Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
A.d As Directed
A&E Accident and Emergency
AE After Evacuation
A/E Air Entry to Lungs OR
Accident & Emergency
AF Atrial Fibrillation Irregular heart beat
AFM After Fatty meal
AFP Alpha Feto Protein
AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency
Syndrome
AIIS Anterior Inferior Iliac Spine
AI/R Aortic Incompetence/ Leaking heart valve.
regurgitation
ALL Acute Lymphatic Leukaemia
ALP Alkaline-Phosphatase
AM After Micturation
AML Acute Myeloid Leukaemia
AMNIO Amniocentesis
ANC Ante-Natal Clinic
ANT Anterior
AODM Adult Onset of Diabetes
Mellitus
AP Anterior Posterior
APH Ante Partum Haemorrhage
AoR Aortic Valve Replacement AVR
ARDS Adult Respiratory Distress
Syndrome
ARF Acute Renal Failure
AS Abdominal System OR Aortic Aortic Stenosis is a
Stenosis narrowed heart valve
ASAP As Soon As Possible
ASD Atrial Septal Defect
ASIS Anterior Superior Iliac Spine
ATB Antibiotic
ATN Acute Tubular Necrosis
AV Avascular Necrosis
AVF Arterial Venous Fistula
AVM Arterial Venous Malformation
AVR Atrial Valve Replacement
AXR Abdominal X-Ray
B
Ba Barium
BaE (BE) Barium Enema
BA Bowel Action
bd/bid Twice a Day
B Biceps Jerk/Reflex Hitting the arm with a
patella hammer to test
reflexes
BB Battered Baby
BBB Blood Brain Barrier
BCC Basal Cell Carcinoma Skin Cancer – Very Low
Malignancy
BCDH Bilateral Congenital
Dislocated Hips
BE (BaE) BariumEnema
BFR Bone Formation Rate
BIBA Brought in by Ambulance
BMI Body Mass Index A measure of body size
relating to height and
weight
B-mode Brightness Modulation
(ultrasound)
BMT Bone Marrow Transplant
BNO Bowels Not Opened
BOR Bowels Open Regularly
BOP Base of Penis
BP Blood Pressure
BPd Diastolic Blood Pressure The lower blood pressure
(heart relaxed)
BPD Bi-Parietal Diameter
BPH Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy
BPs Systolic Blood Pressure The higher blood pressure
(heart contracted)
BS Bowel Sounds
BSO Bilateral Salpingo
Oopherectomy
BTD Biliary Tract Disease
Bx Biopsy
C
C Celsius
CA or Ca Carcinoma Cancer
CABG/S or Coronary Artery (Bypass) Heart surgery to bypass
CAG/S Graft/Surgery blocked blood supply
Cal Calorie
Cas Casualty
CAT Computed Axial Tomography
CBD Common Bile Duct
CBE Complete Blood Examination
CBP Complete Blood Picture
CCF Congestive Cardiac Failure
CCK Cholecystokinin
CCU Coronary Care Unit
CDH Congenital Dislocated Hip
CFS Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Also called ME
CHD Congenital Heart Disease
CHI Closed Head Injury
CLL Colapsed Lower Lobe
Chronic Lymphatic
Leukaemia
Cm Centimetre
CN Charge Nurse
CNC Clinical Nurse Consultant
CNS Central Nervous System
cnts Countss
c/o or C.o Complains of
CO Cardiac Output
COAD Chronic Obstructive Airways Chronic lung disease
Disease
COPD Chronic Obstructive Chronic lung disease
Pulmonary Disease
CPR Cardiopulmonary
Resuscitation
Cr Creatinine
CRF Chronic Renal Failure
CRL Crown Rump Length
CRT Cathode Ray Tube
CS Caesarean Section
CSF Cerebro Spinal Fluid
CT or CAT Computerised Axial Body Scan
Tomography
CVA Cerebrovascular Accident Stroke
CVD Cerebrovascular Disease
CVP Central Venous Pressure
CVS Cardiovascular System The heart and blood
vessels
CX or Cx Cervix OR Cervical Spine Cervix is the neck of the
womb
For example, Cx smear =
Cervical smear
CXR Chest X-ray
D
D Dates
dB Decibel
D&C Dilatation and Cutettage
D/C Discharge
DCG Dacrocystogram
D/D Differential Diagnosis
D=E Dates=Exam
D>E Large For Dates
D<E Small for Dates
D+V Diarrhoea and Vomiting
D/H Drug History
DIP, PIP Distal/proximal Finger joints
interphalangeal joints
DLE Discoid Lupus A connective tissue
Erythematosus disorder
DNA Did Not Attend
DOA Dead on Arrival
DOB Date of Birth
DS Disseminated (Multiple)
Sclerosis
DU Duodenal Ulcer
DUB Dysfunctional Uterine
Bleeding
DUI Driving under the Influence
DVT Deep Vein Thrombosis Blood clot
Dx Diagnosis
DXT Deep X-ray Treatment Radiotherapy
E
e Electron
EAM External Auditory Meatus Ear canal opening
ECG Electrocardiograph Electrical heart trace
ECT Electroconvulsive Therapy
ED Emergency Department
EF Ejection Fraction
EFW Estimated Fetal Weight
EMLA Local anaesthetic cream
used before injections
EMU Early Morning Specimen of
Urine
ENG Head engaged (Baby) Head of baby low in pelvis
(in Womb)
ENT Ear, Nose & Throat
ERCP Endoscopic Retrograde
Cholangio Pancreatogrophy
ES End Systole
E/S Emergency Service
ESR Erythrocyte Sedimentation A blood test for
Rate inflammation
ETOH Ethanol Alcohol
EUA Evaluate under Anaesthetic
EWS Early Warning Score
F
F Fhrenheight
FA Fetal Abnormality
FAC Family Advisory Clinic
FB Foreign Body
FBC Full Blood Count
FBE Full Blood Examination
FBG/S Fasting Blood Glucose/Sugar
FBL Faecal Blood Loss
FBP Full Blood Picture
FD Forceps Delivery
Fe Iron
FFD Focal Film Distance
F/H or FH Family History
Fetal heart
FHH/R Foetal Heart Heard/Regular Baby’s heartbeat in the
womb
FI For Investigation
FOOSH Fall On Outstretched Hand
FOV Field of View
FROM Full Range of Movement
FSD Focal Source Distance
FSH Folilicle Stimulating Hormone
FT Follow Through
FTD Formal Thought Disorder Psychiatric disorder
FTND Full Term Normal Delivery
FTT Failure to Thrive
FUO Fever of Unknown origin
G
G Gravida
GA General Anaesthetic
GB Gallbladder
GCS Glasgow Coma Scale Consciousness state;
score out of 15
GE Gastric Emptying
GFR Glomerular Filtration Rate
GI or GIT Gastro Intestinal / Tract To do with the intestines
GOR Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux
GORD Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Back flow of stomach acid
Disease into the gullet
GSW Gun Shot Wound
GTT Glucose Tolerance Test
GU or GUT Genito Urinary / Tract / Relating to kidneys,
or GUS System bladder & genitals
GU Gastric Ulcer
GUM Genito-Urinary Medicine For sexually transmitted
diseases/infections
Gyn Gynaecology
H
H2O Water
H/A Head Ache
Hb Haemoglobin A measure of blood count
(eg in Anaemia)
HBP High Blood Pressure
HC Head Circumference
Hct Haematocrit
HD Hepatic Duct
Hodgkins Disease
HDU High Dependency Unit
HF High Frequency
HH Hiatus Hernia Part of stomach displaced
above diaphragm
HI Head Injury
HIV Human Immune Deficiency
Virus
HMD Hyaline Membrane Disease
HNPU Has Not Passed Urine
HO or H/O History Of
HOP Head of Pancrease
HR Heart Rate
HRT Hormone Replacement
Therapy
History of Radiotherapy
HS Heart Sounds
HSA Human Serum Albumin
HT Height
Hypertensive
Hx History (of complaint)
Hz Hertz
I
I Iodine
IAM Internal Auditory Meatus
IBS Irritable Bowel Syndrome
IC Iliac Crest
ICP Intra Cranial Pressure
ICU Intensive Care Unit
IDDM Insulin Dependent Diabetes
Mellitus
IDK Internal Derangement of the
Knee
IF Intrinsic Factors
IGT or In Growing Toenail
IGTN
IH Infectious Hepatitis
IHD Ischaemic Heart Disease
II Image Intensifier
IM Intra Muscular
IMB Intermenstrual Bleeding Vaginal bleeding between
periods
Inf Infection
IOFB Intra Occular Foreign Body
ISQ "In Status Quo" - Nothing has
Changed
IUCD Intra Uterine Contraceptive
Device
IUGR Intrauterine Growth
Restriction
IUFD Intrauterine Fetal Demise
IUP Intrauterine Pregnancy
IV Intra Venous
IVC Inferior Vena Cava
Intra Venous Catheter
IVP Intravenous Pyelogram X-ray of kidneys using an
injected dye
IVU Intravenous Urogram
Ix Investigations
J
JODM Juvenile Onset diabetes
mellitus
JVP Jugular Venous Pressure Neck Vein – back pressure
from the heart
K
K Knee Jerk / Reflex
Potassium
Kg Kilogram
K nail Kintscher Nail
Km Kilometre
KUB Kidneys, Ureters, Bladder X-ray or ultrasound of renal
track (IVP)
KV Kilo Volts
KVp Kilovolts Peak
K wire Kirschner wire
L
L Left
LA Local Anaesthetic
LAO Left Anterior Oblique
LAT Lateral
LB Large Bowel
LBD Light Beam Diaphragm
LBP Lower back Pain
LE Lower Extremeties
LFT Liver Function Test Blood tests for liver
function
LH Luteinizing Hormone
LIF Left Iliac Fossa Left groin
LIH Left Inguinal Hernia Hernia of left groin
LK Left Kidney
LKKS Liver, kidney, kidney, spleen Result of examination
LL Lower Limb
LLL Left Lower Lobe
LLQ Left Lower Quadrant
LLZ Left Lower Zone
LML Left Middle Lobe
LOC Loss of Consciousness
LMP Last Menstrual Period
LMZ Left Middle Zone
LN Lymph Node
LOC Loss of Consciousness
LP Lumbar puncture Needle inserted into the
spine for diagnostic
purposes
LPO Left Posterior Oblique
L/R/ IH Left or Right Inguinal Hernia Hernia of groins
LRTI Lower Respiratory Tract
Infection
LS Lymph System
LSCS or Lower (Uterine) Segment
LUSCS Caesarean section
LSJ Lumbo-Sacral Joint
LSU Left Side Up
Lt Left
LUL Left Upper Lobe
LUQ Left Upper Quadrant Left upper part of abdomen
LUZ Left Upper Zone
LV Left Ventricle
LVEF Left Ventricular Ejection
Fraction
LVSD Left Ventricular Septal Defect
LVF Left Ventricular Failure
M
m Metre
mA Milli Amps
MA Mental Age
mAs Milli Ampere Seconds
Mane In the Morning
MBA Motor Bike Accident
MBC Maximum Breathing Capacity
M&C (S) Microscopy & Culture Of a sample e.g. urine
Sensitivity of Bacteria
MC Metacarpals
MCA Motor Cycle Accident
Multiple Congenital
Abnormalities
Middle Cerebral Artery
MCL Mid Clavicular Line An imaginary line down the
body from the middle of the
collarbone to the described
area
MCP Metacarpophalangeal Joint
MCU Micturating Cysto
Urethrogram
MCV Mean Corpuscular Volume A measure of the size of
red blood cells
MD Mentally Deficient
ME Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Also called Chronic
Fatigue Syndrome
MET/S Metastases Cancer spread
Mhz Megahertz
MI Myocardial Infarction Heart attack OR leaking
Mitral Incompetence heart valve (sometimes
MR)
mitte or Dispense this number of
mite tablets
ML Midline
mm millimetre
MMG Mammogram
MRI Magnetic Resonance Body/Brain Scan
Imaging
MS Multiple Sclerosis Mitral Stenosis is a
Mitral Stenosis narrowed heart valve
MSS Musculo-Skeletal System
MSE Mental State Examination
MSU or Mid-Stream Urine Sample
MSSU
MTP Metatarso-phalangeal Joint
MU Motor Unit
MVA Motor Vehicle Accident
MVR Mitral Valve Replacement
N
N Notch (Sternal)
Na Sodium
NAD Nothing Abnormality
Detected
NAI Non accidental Injury
(Silvermans Disease)
NaI Sodium Iodide
NBI No Bone Injury
NEC Necrotising Enterocolitis
NGT Nasogastric Tube
NHL Non Hodgkins Lymphoma
Nocte At Night
NOF Neck of Femur
NFR Not For Resuscitation
NNU Neonatal Unit
NPO Nil by Mouth
NSS Normal Shape and Size
NSVD Normal Spontaneous Vaginal
Delivery
N&V Nausea & Vomiting
O
O2 Oxygen
OA Osteoarthritis Wear & Tear’ Arthritis
Ob Obstetrics
OBL Oblique
OC/COC (Combined) Oral
Contraceptive
OCP Oral Contraceptive Pill
OCT Orthotopic Cardiac Heart Transplant
Transplant
o.d. Once a Day
O/E or o.e On Examination
OFD Object Film Distance
O&G Obstetrics and Gynaecology
OGD Oesophago-gastro- endoscopic examination of
duodenoscopy stomach and duodenum
on At Night
om In the Morning
OM (R/L) Otitis Media Ear infection
Occipital Mental
OP Out Patient
OPG Orthopantomogram
OR Operating Room
ORIF Open Reduction and Internal
Fixation (of fracture)
otc Over the counter (bought
medication)
P
P Pulse
Para
Phosphorus
Posterior
PA Postero-Anterior
Popliteal Artery
Popliteal Aneurysm
PC Post Cibum After a meal
PCB Post Coital Bleeding Vaginal bleeding after
intercourse
PCC Post Coital Contraception "Morning after" pill
PCV Pack Cell Volume
PD Pancreatic Duct
Peritoneal Dialysis
PDA Patent Ductus Arteriosis
PE Pulmonary Embolism Blood clot on the lung
Post Evacuation
Pleural Effusion
PEG Percutaneous Endoscopic
Gastrostomy
PERLA Pupils equal and reacting to On examination of nervous
light and accommodation system/eyes
PET Positron Emission
Tomography
PFA Plain Film Abdomen Abdominal X-ray
PF(R) Peak Flow (Rate) Breathing test – speed of
expiration
PH Past History
PHx Previous Medical History
PID Pelvic Inflammatory Disease Gynaecological infection
Prolapsed Intervertebral Disc Slipped vertebral Disc
PIIS Posterior Inferior Iliac Spine
PIP Proximal Interphalangeal
(Joint)
PKD Polycystic Kidney Disease
PM Post Mortem Examination
Post Micturation
Post Meridian
PMH also Previous Medical History
PHx
PND Paroxysmal Nocturnal Short of breath at night
Dyspnoea
PNS Paranasal Sinuses
PO Per Orim By Mouth
POP Progesterone Only Pill Minipill
Plaster of Paris Cast
Private Outpatient
PORT Portable X-Ray
PP Private Patient
Placenta Praevia
Postpartum
PPH Postpartum Haemorrhage
PPs Peripheral pulses Pulses felt for example in
the feet, ankles etc…
PR Per Rectum Rectal examination
PPROM Preterm Premature Rupture
of Membranes
PROM Premature Rupture of
Membrane
PSI Post Saline Injection
PSIS Posterior Superior Iliac Spine
PT Pregnancy Test
PTA Prior to Admission
PTB Pulmonary Tuberculosis
PTCA Percutaneous transluminal Opening up the main
coronary angioplasty arteries of the heart using
a balloon inserted usually
near the groin
PTH Parathyroid Hormone
PTSD Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder
PTT Prothrombin Time
PU Peptic Ulcer Peptic Ulcer – Stomach or
Passed urine Duodenal Ulcer
Per urethra
PUD Peptic Ulcer Disease
PUJ Pelviureteric Junction
PUO Pyrexia of Unknown Origin
PV Per Vagina Vaginal examination
Portal Vein
PVD Peripheral Vascular Disease Arterial disease of the
limbs
PYP Pyrophosphate
Q
QA Quality Assurance
QC Quality Control
qds (or) qid Four times a day
R
R Right
R (R) Respiration (Rate) Rate of breathing in
breaths per minute
RA Rheumatoid Arthritis
RAI Radioimmunoassay
RAO Right Anterior Oblique
RAS Renal Artery Stenosis
RBC Red Blood Cell
RCM Right Costal Margin
RDS Respiratory Distress Difficulty in breathing –
Syndrome usually in premature
babies
RF Renal Failure
RFT Renal (Kidney) Function tests
OR
Respiratory Function tests
RHD Rheumatic Heart Disease
RIF Right Iliac Fossa Right lower abdomen
RIH Right Inguinal Hernia Hernia in right groin
RK Right Kidney
R/L Right/Left
RLL Right Lower Lobe
RLQ Right Lower Quadrant
RLZ Right Lower Zone
R/L HC Right/Left Hypochordrium Right/Left upper abdomen
R/LIF Right/Left Iliacfossa Right/Left groin
R/LOL or Right/Left occipito lateral / Position of baby’s head in
RLOP posterior womb
RN Registered Nurse
R/O Rule Out
ROI Region of Interest
ROM Range of Movement
Rupture of Membranes
RPO Right Posterior Oblique
RS Respiratory System
RSI Repetitive Strain Injury Usually of wrist
RT Real Time
Radiation Therapy
RTA Road Traffic Accident Car smash
RUL Right Upper Lobe
RUQ Right Upper Quadrant Right upper abdomen
RUZ Right Upper Zone
RV Right Ventricle
RVF Right Ventricular Failure
Rx Prescription or Treatment Usually prescription
S
S Supinator (jerk /reflex) Hitting the am with a
patella hammer to test
reflexes
S Size
SAH Subarachnoid Haemorrhage
SB Spina Bifida
Small Bowel
SBA Subacute Bacterial
Endocarditis
SBG Serum Blood Glucose Blood Sugar Level
SBO Small Bowel Obstruction
SCJ Sterno Clavicular Joint
SDH Subdural Haematoma
sec seconds
SEP Separation
SI Supero Inferior
SIJ Sacro Iliac Joint
Silvermans Non Accidental Injury (NAI)
Disease
SLAP Superior Labrum
Lesion Anteroposterior Tear
SLR Straight Leg Raise
SM Systolic Mumur
SMA Superior Mesenteric Artery
SMR Submucosal Resection Nasal operation
SMV Superior Mesenteric Vein
Submento Vertical
SOA Swelling of Ankle
SOB Short of Breath
SOL Space Occupying Lesion Tumour, usually of head
SOF Shaft of Femur
SOM Secretary Otitis Media Middle ear infection/glue
ear
SOS In an Emergency
SSD Source Skin Distance
SR Sinus rhythm Normal heart beat
ST Soft Tissue
Stat Immediately
STD Sexually Transmitted
Disease
STI Sexually Transmitted
Infection
SV Stroke Volume
SVC Superior Vena Cava
SVD Spontaneous Vaginal Normal delivery
Delivery
SVT Supra-Ventricular
Tachycardia
Sx Symptoms
SXR Skull X-ray
T
T Triceps Jerk/Reflex Hitting the arm with a
Temperature patella hammer to test
Term reflexes
T (usually Trachea Central Breathing tube not
with a displaced. If displaced,
circle with direction of displacement
a dot in the usually indicated by an
centre) arrow
TAB Therapeutic Abortion
TAH Total Abdominal
Hysterectomy
TATT Tired all the Time
TB Tuberculosis
TCI To come in-date or fact that a
person is due to be admitted
to hospital
TD Tumour Dose
tds (or) tid Three Times a Day
TFTs Thyroid Function Test
TGC Time Gain Compensation
THR Total Hip Replacement
TIA Transient Ischaemic Attack Small, short lived stroke –
often recurrent
TKR Total Knee Replacement
TLC Tender Loving Care Treat only with symptom
relief and nursing care,
usually meaning that this is
all that is needed.
TM or Tm Tympanic Membrane Ear drum
TMJ Tempero Mandibular Joint
TOA Tubo-Ovarian Abscess
TOC Tightness of Chest
TOP Termination of Pregnancy
TPN Total Parental Nutrtion
Trauma Cervcal Spine, Chest and Frquently requested after
Series Pelvis Xray major trauma
Ts & As Tonsilectomy and
Adenoidectomy
TSH Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
TShR Total Shoulder Replacement
TTO/A To take home/away
(medication)
TU(R)P Transurethral (resection) of Operation on the prostate
Prostate gland carried out through
the penis
TVH Total Vaginal Hysterectomy
U
U Umbilicus
UA Upper Abdomen
UBI Unknown Basal Insufficiency
UC Ulcerative Colitis
UE Upper Extremity
U&Es Urea and Electrolytes Blood test for kidney
function
UL Upper Limb
UO Under Observation
UPJ Ureteropelvic Junction
UR (No) Unit Record (Number)
URTI Upper Respiratory Tract
Infection
US or U/S Ultrasound
UT Urinary Tract
UTI Urinary Tract Infection
UVJ Ureterovesical Junction
UWSD Under Water Seal Drainage
UTWB Unable to Weight Bear
V
VA Vehicular Accident
VDH Valvular Disease of the Heart
VF Ventricular Fibrillation Rapid uncoordinated heart
beat usually leading to
collapse, and need for
defibrillation
VP Ventriculo-Peritoneal (shunt)
VQ Ventilation / Pefusion (Lung
Scan)
VSD Ventricular Septal Defect
V/S/TOP Vaginal suction termination of
pregnancy
VT Ventricular Tachycardia Fast heart beat
VUJ Vesicoureteric Junction
VUR Vesicoureteric Reflux
W
WBBS Whole Body Bone Scan
WBC White Blood Cell
WCC White Cell Count
WOB Work of Breath
Wt Weight
X
X Xiphoid
Xe Xenon
XR X-Ray
XS Excess
Y
Y Yttrium

Saleh Abu Shakraa

Telegram channel

https://t.me/Radiologic_world