Med. Term Abbreviations - A-G

AAA

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

AB

Abortion

Ab

Antibody

ABC

Aspiration, biopsy, cytology

abd

abdomen

ABG

arterial blood gas

a.c., ac

before meals (ante cibum)

ACE

angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE inhibitors treat hypertension)

ACL

anterior cruciate ligament of the knee

ACS

acute coronary syndrome (myocardial infarction, unstable angina)

ACTH

adrenocorticotropic hormone (secreted by the pituitary gland)

AD

Alzheimer's disease

ADD

attention deficit disorder

ADH

antidiuretic hormone (secreted by the pituitary gland)

ADHD

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

ad lib

freely as desired (ad libitum)

AED

automated external defibrillator

AICD

automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator

AIDS

acquired immune deficiency syndrome

alb

albumin (protein)

ALL

acute lymphocytic leukemia

alk phos

alkaline phosphatase (enzyme elevated in liver disease)

ALS

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig disease)

ALT

alanine aminotransferase (enzyme elevated in liver disease); formerly called SGPT

AMI

acute myocardial infarction

AML

acute myelocytic (myelogenous) leukemia

ANA

antinuclear antibody; test for rheumatoid arthritis

AP or A/P

anteroposterior (front to back)

A&P

auscultation and percussion

aq

water (aqua)

ARDS

acute respiratory distress syndrome

AS

aortic stenosis

ASD

atrial septal defect

ASHD

arteriosclerotic heart disease

AST

aspartate transaminase (elevated in liver and heart disease); formerly called SGOT

AV

arteriovenous; atrioventricular

A&W

alive and well

BE

barium enema

B cells

white blood cells (lymphocytes) produced in bone marrow

b.i.d., bid

twice a day (bis in die)

BM

bowel movement; bone marrow

BMT

bone marrow transplant

BP, B/P

blood pressure

BPH

benign prostatic hypertrophy (hyperplasia)

bronch

bronchoscopy

bs

blood sugar; bowel sounds; breath sounds

BSE

breast self-examination

BSO

bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy

BUN

blood urea nitrogen (test of kidney function)

BW

birth weight

Bx, bx

biopsy

c

with (cum)

C1,C2

first cervical vertebra, second cervical vertebra

CA

cancer; carcinoma; cardiac arrest; chronologic age

Ca

Calcium

CABG

coronary artery bypass graft

CAD

coronary artery disease

CAPD

continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

cap

capsule

cath

catheter; catheterization

CBC

complete blood count

cc

cubic centimeter (1cc=1ml)

CC

chief complaint

CCU

coronary care unit; critical care unit

CF

cystic fibrosis

chemo

chemotherapy

CHF

congestive heart failure

chol

cholesterol

CIN

cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

CIS

carcinoma in situ

CKD

chronic kidney disease

cm

centimeter (1cm=1/100meter)

CLL

chronic lymphocytic leukemia

CML

chronic myelocytic (myelogenous) leukemia

CMP

comprehensive metabolic panel

CNS

central nervous system (brain and spinal cord)

c/o

complains of

CO2

carbon dioxide

COPD

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

COVID-19

Coronavirus disease 2019

CP

cerebral palsy; chest pain

CPAP

continuous positive airway pressure (provided by machine to aid breathing in patients with sleep apnea)

CPD

cephalopelvic disproportion

CPR

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

C&S, C+S

culture and sensitivity (testing)

C-section, CS

cesarean section

CSF

cerebrospinal fluid

CT scan

computed tomography scan (x-ray images in cross-sectional view)

CTE

chronic traumatic encephalopathy

CVA

cerebrovascular accident

c/w

compare with; consistent with

CX, CXR

chest x-ray (image)

Cx

cervix

cysto

cystoscopy

D&C

dilation (dilatation) and curettage (of the uterine lining)

DES

diethylstilbestrol (estrogen causing defects in children who's mother's took the drug during pregnancy)

DEXA (DXA)

dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry

DIC

disseminated intravascular coagulation

diff.

differential (percentages of types of white blood cells)

DJD

degenerative joint disease