Clinical, Technical, and Other Common Terms
UPDATE: In the list of abbreviations (Section 14.11, page 504 in the print), an asterisk should be added after CI to indicate that this abbreviation no longer needs to be expanded. This change was made July 27, 2011.
This compilation of clinical, technical, and other common terms and their abbreviations is not intended to be all-encompassing but is provided as a short reference. There are many published listings of abbreviations, acronyms, and initialisms.
Many entities share the same abbreviation (eg, American Heart Association, American Hospital Association, American Historical Association, American Humanist Association, American Hyperlexia Association, American Hydrogen Association). Thus, preciseness takes precedence over abbreviating.
In addition, some abbreviations encompass more than one grammatical variant (eg, noun, adjective) of a term. For example, ECG represents both electrocardiogram and electrocardiographic. It is unnecessary to redefine the abbreviation for each variation in usage within a body of work. Similarly, terms that have singular and plural forms (eg, WBC and WBCs) are defined once, whichever form is mentioned first.
When the expanded form is possessive at first mention, the parenthetical abbreviation is also possessive at first mention:
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA's) Implementation Plan for Space Shuttle Return to Space and Beyond was the NASA response to the Columbia disaster in 2003.
Most terms should be expanded at first mention. However, considerations for which this general rule might be set aside include comprehensibility, recognition, and space, as well as avoidance of cumbersome expressions. Exceptions include using the abbreviation instead of the expansion in a long title or subtitle, a letter to the editor, or an informal essay.
Use common sense in deciding whether to abbreviate the terms in the following list and other terms. For example, if “acute respiratory distress syndrome” appears only once or twice in an article, spell it out. If the article concerns acute respiratory distress syndrome and the term is used several times, expand the term at first mention with the abbreviation immediately following in parentheses. Abbreviate it thereafter.
Note: Some terms may be known better in their abbreviated form (eg, HIPAA), and abbreviating them at first mention (with the expanded form following in parentheses) may be appropriate.
Avoid using abbreviations at the beginning of a sentence unless the expansion is cumbersome, eg, a collaborative group name or other acronym pronounced as a word (ALLHAT, AIDS, CLIA, UNICEF) (see also 14.8, Agencies and Organizations, and 14.9, Collaborative Groups).
Do not use an abbreviation as the sole term in a subheading. Also avoid introducing an abbreviation in a subheading:
Avoid:
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
The NIH is the steward of medical and behavioral research for the United States. It is an agency under the US Department of Health and Human Services.
Preferred:
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the steward of medical and behavioral research for the United States. It is an agency under the US Department of Health and Human Services.
Apply the foregoing concepts to each element of the manuscript. See also 14.0, Abbreviations, and 2.0, Manuscript Preparation, as well as specific nomenclature sections (15.0, Nomenclature), for additional guidelines for correct use of specialized terms and their abbreviations. (See also 4.0, Visual Presentation of Data.)
Note: At a 2004 National Summit on Medical Abbreviations, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) approved an official “do not use” list of abbreviations. It is important to note that this list applies to all medical orders and all medication-related documentation that are handwritten or on preprinted forms used in hospitals and other health care facilities. The JCAHO requirement does not apply to the use of abbreviations in the publication of articles in scientific journals.
However, authors and editors should be mindful of the possibility of introducing error in journal articles when using certain abbreviations and symbols. Other organizations (eg, see the Institute for Safe Medication Practices at http://www.ismp.org) have suggested the desirability of even more stringent initiatives against the use of certain abbreviations and symbols, which are designed to protect patients from potential harm.
Note: JAMA and the Archives Journals do not endorse any proprietary entities in this list.
Abbreviation |
Expanded From |
|---|---|
AAA |
abdominal aortic aneurysm |
ABC |
avidin-biotin complex |
AC |
alternating current |
ACE |
angiotensin-converting enzyme |
ACS |
acute coronary syndromes |
ACTH |
Use corticotropin (formerly adrenocorticotropic hormone) |
AD |
Alzheimer disease |
ADH |
antidiuretic hormone |
ADHD |
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder |
ADL |
activities of daily living (but: 1 ADL, 6 ADLs) |
aDNA |
ancient DNA |
ADP |
adenosine diphosphate |
ADPase |
adenosine diphosphatase |
AED |
automated external defibrillator |
AF |
atrial fibrillation |
AFP |
α-fetoprotein |
AIDS* |
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome |
ALL |
acute lymphoblastic leukemia; acute lymphocytic leukemia |
allo-SCT |
allogeneic stem cell transplantation |
ALS |
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis |
ALT |
alanine aminotransferase (previously SGPT) |
AML |
acute monocytic leukemia; acute myeloblastic leukemia; acute myelocytic leukemia |
AMP |
adenosine monophosphate |
ANA |
antinuclear antibody |
ANCOVA |
analysis of covariance |
ANLL |
acute nonlymphocytic leukemia |
ANOVA |
analysis of variance |
AOR |
adjusted odds ratio |
APACHE |
Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation |
APB |
atrial premature beat |
APC |
atrial premature contraction |
ARC |
Use symptomatic HIV infection (formerly AIDS-related complex) |
ARDS |
acute respiratory distress syndrome |
ARMD |
age-related macular degeneration |
ARR |
absolute risk reduction |
ART |
antiretroviral therapy |
ASC |
adult stem cell |
ASC-US |
atypical squamous cells of uncertain significance |
ASD |
atrial septal defect; autistic spectrum disorder |
AST |
aspartate aminotransferase (previously SGOT) |
ATP |
adenosine triphosphate |
ATPase |
adenosine triphosphatase |
AUC |
area under the curve |
AUROC |
area under the receiver operating characteristic curve |
BAC |
blood alcohol concentration |
BADL |
basic activities of daily living (use activities of daily living) |
BAER |
brainstem auditory evoked response |
BCG |
bacille Calmette-Guérin (but: do not expand as a drug: BCG vaccine) |
BDI |
Beck Depression Inventory |
bid |
twice a day (do not abbreviate) |
BMD |
bone mineral density |
BMI |
body mass index |
BMT |
bone marrow transplantation |
BP |
blood pressure |
BPD |
bronchopulmonary dysplasia |
BPH |
benign prostatic hyperplasia |
BPRS |
Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale |
BSA |
body surface area |
BSE |
bovine spongiform encephalopathy; breast self-examination |
BUN |
blood urea nitrogen (use serum urea nitrogen) |
C* |
complement (use with a number, eg, C1, C2,… C9; see 15.8.3, Nomenclature, Immunology, Complement) |
c, ca |
circa (do not abbreviate) |
CABG |
coronary artery bypass graft |
CAD |
coronary artery disease |
CAGE |
cut down, annoyed, guilty, eye opener (screening questionnaire for potential alcoholism) |
CAM |
complementary and alternative medicine |
cAMP |
cyclic adenosine monophosphate |
CARS |
compensatory anti-inflammatory response syndrome |
CART |
combination antiretroviral therapy |
CBC |
complete blood (add cell) count |
CCU |
cardiac care unit; critical care unit |
CD* |
clusters of differentiation (use with a number, eg, CD4 cell; see 15.8.2, Nomenclature, Immunology, CD Cell Markers) |
CD* |
compact disc |
cDNA |
complementary DNA |
CD-ROM* |
compact disc read-only memory |
CEA |
carcinoembryonic antigen; cost-effective analysis |
CEU |
continuing education unit |
cf* |
compare |
CF |
cystic fibrosis |
CFS |
chronic fatigue syndrome |
CFT |
complement fixation test |
CFU |
colony-forming unit |
cGMP |
cyclic guanosine monophosphate |
CHD |
coronary heart disease |
CHF |
congestive heart failure |
CI |
confidence interval |
CIN |
cervical intraepithelial neoplasia |
CIS |
carcinoma in situ |
CJD |
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease |
CK |
creatine kinase |
CK-BB |
creatine kinase BB (BB designates the isozyme) |
CK-MB |
creatine kinase MB |
CK-MM |
creatine kinase MM |
CL |
confidence limit |
CLIA |
Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments |
CME |
continuing medical education (often used without expansion when describing credit hours, eg, category 1 CME credit) |
CMI |
cell-mediated immunity |
CML |
chronic myelocytic leukemia |
CMV |
cytomegalovirus |
CNS |
central nervous system |
CONSORT |
Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials |
COPD |
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |
COX-2 |
cyclooxygenase 2 |
CPAP |
continuous positive airway pressure |
CPD |
continuing professional development |
CPK |
Use creatine kinase |
CPR |
cardiopulmonary resuscitation |
CPT |
Current Procedural Terminology |
CQI |
continuous quality improvement |
CRF |
corticotropin-releasing factor |
cRNA |
complementary RNA |
CRP |
C-reactive protein |
CSF |
cerebrospinal fluid; colony-stimulating factor |
CST* |
central standard time |
CT |
computed tomographic; computed tomography |
CUA |
cost-utility analysis |
CVS |
chorionic villus sampling |
DALY |
disability-adjusted life-year |
dAMP |
deoxyadenosine monophosphate (deoxyadenylate) |
D&C |
dilation and curettage |
DC |
direct current |
DCIS |
ductal carcinoma in situ |
DDD |
defined daily dose |
DDT* |
dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (chlorophenothane) |
DE |
dose equivalent |
DEV |
duck embryo vaccine |
DFA |
direct fluorescence assay |
dGMP |
deoxyguanosine monophosphate (deoxyguanylate) |
DIC |
disseminated intravascular coagulation |
DIF |
direct immunofluorescence |
DNA* |
deoxyribonucleic acid |
DNAR |
do not attempt resuscitation |
DNase |
deoxyribonuclease |
DNH |
do not hospitalize |
DNR |
do not resuscitate |
DOS* |
disk operating system |
DOT |
directly observed therapy |
DOTS |
directly observed therapy, short course |
dpi* |
dots per inch |
DRE |
digital rectal examination |
DRG |
diagnosis related group |
DS |
duplex sonography |
DSM-III |
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Third Edition) |
DSM-III-R |
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Third Edition Revised) |
DSM-IV |
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition) |
DSM-IV-TR |
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fourth Edition, Text Revision) |
DSMB |
data and safety monitoring board |
DT |
delirium tremens |
DTaP |
diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis [vaccine] |
DTP |
diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis [vaccine] |
DXA |
dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry |
EBM |
evidence-based medicine |
EBV |
Epstein-Barr virus |
EC |
ejection click |
ECA |
epidemiologic catchment area |
ECG |
electrocardiogram; electrocardiographic |
ECMO |
extracorporeal membrane oxygenation |
ECT |
electroconvulsive therapy |
ED |
effective dose; emergency department |
ED50 |
median effective dose |
EDTA* |
ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid |
EEE |
eastern equine encephalomyelitis |
EEG |
electroencephalogram; electroencephalographic |
eg* |
for example (from the Latin exempli gratia; see 11.1, Correct and Preferred Usage, Correct and Preferred Usage of Common Words and Phrases) |
EGD |
esophagogastroduodenoscopy |
EIA |
enzyme immunoassay |
ELISA |
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay |
EM |
electron microscope; electron microscopic; electron microscopy |
EMG |
electromyogram; electromyographic |
EMIT |
enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique |
EMS |
electrical muscle stimulation; emergency medical services; eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome |
EMT |
emergency medical technician |
ENG |
electronystagmogram; electronystagmographic |
EOG |
electro-oculogram; electro-oculographic |
ERCP |
endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography |
ERG |
electroretinogram; electroretinographic |
ESBC |
extended-spectrum β-lactamases |
ESC |
embryonic stem cell |
ESR |
erythrocyte sedimentation rate |
ESRD |
end-stage renal disease |
EST* |
eastern standard time |
ESWL |
extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy |
etc* |
et cetera (and so forth) (see 11.1, Correct and Preferred Usage, Correct and Preferred Usage of Common Words and Phrases) |
EVR |
evoked visual response |
F* |
French (add catheter; use only with a number, eg, 12F catheter) |
FEF25%-75% |
forced expiratory flow, midexpiratory phase (see 15.16, Nomenclature, Pulmonary, Respiratory, and Blood Gas Terminology) |
FEV |
forced expiratory volume |
FEV1 |
forced expiratory volume in the first second of expiration |
Fio2 |
fraction of inspired oxygen |
FISH |
fluorescence in situ hybridization |
FLAIR |
fluid-attenuated inversion recovery |
FSH |
follicle-stimulating hormone |
FTA |
fluorescent treponemal antibody |
FTA-ABS |
fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (add test) |
FUO |
fever of unknown origin |
FVC |
forced vital capacity |
GABA |
γ-aminobutyric acid |
GAD |
generalized anxiety disorder |
GAF |
Global Assessment of Functioning [Scale] |
GB* |
gigabyte |
GCS |
Glasgow Coma Scale |
G-CSF |
granulocyte colony-stimulating factor |
GDP |
guanosine diphosphate |
GDS |
Geriatric Depression Scale |
GED |
General Education Development |
GERD |
gastroesophageal reflux disease |
GFR |
glomerular filtration rate |
GH |
growth hormone |
GI |
gastrointestinal |
GIFT |
gamete intrafallopian transfer |
GLC |
gas-liquid chromatography |
GM-CSF |
granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor |
GMP |
guanosine monophosphate (guanylate, guanylic acid) |
GMRI |
gated magnetic resonance imaging |
GMT |
geometric mean titer |
GMT* |
Greenwich mean time |
GnRH |
gonadotropin-releasing hormone (gonadorelin as diagnostic agent) |
GSC |
germline stem cell |
GU |
genitourinary |
GUI |
graphical user interface |
GVHD |
graft-vs-host disease |
HAART |
highly active antiretroviral therapy |
HALE |
health-adjusted life expectancy |
HAV |
hepatitis A virus (see 15.14.3, Nomenclature, Organisms and Pathogens, Virus and Prion Nomenclature) |
HbA1c |
hemoglobin A1c |
Hbco |
carboxyhemoglobin |
HBO |
hyperbaric oxygen |
Hbo2 |
oxyhemoglobin; oxygenated hemoglobin |
HbS |
sickle cell hemoglobin |
HBsAg |
hepatitis B surface antigen (see 15.14.3, Nomenclature, Organisms and Pathogens, Virus and Prion Nomenclature) |
HBSS |
Hanks balanced salt solution |
HBV |
hepatitis B virus |
hCG |
human chorionic gonadotropin (do not abbreviate when used as a drug) |
HCV |
hepatitis C virus (see 15.14.3, Nomenclature, Organisms and Pathogens, Virus and Prion Nomenclature) |
HDL |
high-density lipoprotein |
HDL-C |
high-density lipoprotein cholesterol |
HDRS |
Hamilton Depression Rating Scale |
hGH |
human growth hormone |
HHV |
human herpesvirus |
Hib |
Haemophilus influenzae type b [vaccine or disease] (see 15.14.2, Nomenclature, Organisms and Pathogens, Bacteria: Additional Terminology) |
HIPAA |
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act |
HIV |
human immunodeficiency virus |
HL |
hearing level |
HLA* |
human leukocyte antigen (use “HLA antigen”; see 15.8.5, Nomenclature, Immunology, HLA/Major Histocompatibility Complex) |
HMO |
health maintenance organization |
HPF |
high-power field |
HPLC |
high-performance liquid chromatography |
HPV |
human papillomavirus (add hyphen to abbreviation when indicating type, eg, HPV-6) |
HR |
hazard ratio |
HRQOL |
health-related quality of life |
HSC |
hematopoietic stem cell |
HSIL |
high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion |
HSV |
herpes simplex virus |
HT |
hormone therapy |
5-HT |
Use serotonin (also 5-hydroxytryptamine) |
HTLV |
human T-lymphotropic virus (use arabic numeral with specific type, eg, HTLV-1) |
HTML* |
hypertext markup language |
http* |
hypertext transfer protocol |
HUS |
hemolytic uremic syndrome |
IADL |
instrumental activities of daily living (but: 1 IADL, 6 IADLs) |
ICD |
implantable cardioverter-defibrillator |
ICD-9 |
International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision |
ICD-9-CM |
International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification |
ICD-10 |
International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision |
ICD-10-CM |
International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification |
ICU |
intensive care unit |
ID |
infective dose |
IDU |
injecting drug user; injection drug user |
ie* |
that is (from the Latin id est; see 11.1, Correct and Preferred Usage, Correct and Preferred Usage of Common Words and Phrases) |
IFN |
interferon (do not abbreviate when used as drug; see 15.4.13, Nomenclature, Drugs, Nomenclature for Biological Products) |
Ig |
immunoglobulin (abbreviate only with specification of class, eg, IgA, IgG, IgM; see 15.8.6, Nomenclature, Immunology, Immunoglobulins) |
IGF-1 |
insulinlike growth factor 1 |
IL |
interleukin (abbreviate only when indicating a specific protein factor, eg, IL-2) (see 15.8.4, Nomenclature, Immunology, Cytokines) |
IM |
intramuscular; intramuscularly |
IND |
investigational new drug |
INR |
international normalized ratio |
IOP |
intraocular pressure |
IPA |
intimate partner abuse |
IPV |
intimate partner violence |
IQ* |
intelligence quotient |
IRB |
institutional review board |
IRMA |
immunoradiometric assay |
ISBN* |
International Standard Book Number |
ISG |
immune serum globulin |
ISSN* |
International Standard Serial Number |
ITI |
intratubal insemination |
ITP |
idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura |
ITT |
intention to treat |
IUD |
intrauterine device |
IUGR |
intrauterine growth retardation |
IUI |
intrauterine insemination |
IV |
intravenous; intravenously |
IVF |
in vitro fertilization |
IVIG |
intravenous immunoglobulin |
IVP |
intravenous pyelogram |
JPEG* |
Joint Photographic Experts Group (computer file format for digital images) |
kB* |
kilobyte |
KUB |
kidneys, ureter, bladder [plain abdominal radiograph] |
LA |
left atrium |
LAD |
left anterior descending coronary artery |
LAO |
left anterior oblique coronary artery |
LASEK |
laser epithelial keratomileusis |
LASIK |
laser in situ keratomileusis |
LAV |
lymphadenopathy-associated virus |
LBW |
low birth weight (but: low-birth-weight infant) |
LCA |
left coronary artery |
LCR |
locus control region |
LCX, CX |
left circumflex coronary artery |
LD |
lethal dose |
LD50 |
median lethal dose |
LDH |
lactate dehydrogenase |
LDL |
low-density lipoprotein |
LDL-C |
low-density lipoprotein cholesterol |
LGA |
large for gestational age |
LH |
luteinizing hormone |
LHRH |
luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (gonadorelin as diagnostic agent) |
LMW |
low molecular weight (usually refers to low-molecular-weight heparin) |
LOCF |
last observation carried forward |
LOD |
logarithm of odds |
logMAR |
logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution |
LOS |
length of stay |
LR |
likelihood ratio |
LSD |
lysergic acid diethylamide |
LSIL |
low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion |
LV |
left ventricle; left ventricular |
LVEDV |
left ventricular end-diastolic volume |
LVEF |
left ventricular ejection fraction |
LVOT |
left ventricular outflow tract |
m-* |
meta- (use only in chemical formulas or names) |
MAOI |
monoamine oxidase inhibitor |
MAPC |
multipotent adult progenitor cell |
MB* |
megabyte |
MBC |
minimum bactericidal concentration |
MCH |
mean corpuscular hemoglobin |
MCHC |
mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration |
MCO |
managed care organization |
MCV |
mean corpuscular volume |
MD |
muscular dystrophy |
MDR |
multidrug-resistant |
MEC |
mean effective concentration |
MEM |
minimal essential medium |
MEN |
multiple endocrine neoplasia [type 1: MEN-1; type 2: MEN-2, etc] |
MeSH |
Medical Subject Headings [of the US National Library of Medicine] |
MET |
metabolic equivalent task |
MGUS |
monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance |
MHC |
major histocompatibility complex |
MI |
mitral insufficiency; myocardial infarction |
MIC |
minimum inhibitory concentration |
MICU |
medical intensive care unit |
MMPI |
Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory |
MMR |
measles-mumps-rubella [vaccine] |
MMSE |
Mini-Mental State Examination |
MODS |
multiple-organ dysfunction syndrome |
MOOSE |
Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology |
MPS |
Mortality Probability Score |
MRA |
magnetic resonance angiography |
MRI |
magnetic resonance imaging |
mRNA |
messenger RNA |
MRSA |
methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus |
MS |
mitral stenosis; multiple sclerosis |
MSA |
metropolitan statistical area |
MSC |
mesenchymal stem cell |
MSET |
multistage exercise test |
MST* |
mountain standard time |
MVC |
motor vehicle crash |
NAD |
nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide |
NADP |
nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate |
nb* |
nota bene (note well) |
NDA |
new drug application |
Nd:YAG* |
neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet [laser] |
NEC |
necrotizing enterocolitis |
NF |
National Formulary |
NICU |
neonatal intensive care unit |
NK |
natural killer (add cells) |
NMN |
nicotinamide mononucleotide |
NNH |
number needed to harm |
NNS |
number needed to screen |
NNT |
number needed to treat |
NOS |
not otherwise specified |
npo |
nothing by mouth (do not abbreviate) |
NPV |
negative predictive value |
NS |
not significant (see 20.0, Study Design and Statistics) |
NSAID |
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug |
NSC |
neural stem cell |
NSTE |
non–ST-segment elevation |
o-* |
ortho- (use only in chemical formulas) |
OC |
oral contraceptive |
OCD |
obsessive-compulsive disorder |
OD* |
oculus dexter (right eye) (use only with a number, as in a refraction) |
OGTT |
oral glucose tolerance test |
OR |
odds ratio |
OS* |
oculus sinister (left eye) (use only with a number, as in a refraction) |
OS |
opening snap |
OSA |
obstructive sleep apnea |
OU* |
oculus unitas (both eyes) or oculus uterque (each eye) (use only with a number) |
p-* |
para- (use only in chemical formulas or names) |
PA |
posteroanterior; pulmonary artery |
PAC |
premature atrial contraction; pulmonary artery catheter |
Paco2* |
partial pressure of carbon dioxide, arterial (see 15.16, Nomenclature, Pulmonary, Respiratory, and Blood Gas Terminology) |
Pao2* |
partial pressure of oxygen, arterial |
Pao2 |
partial pressure of oxygen in the alveoli |
PAD |
peripheral artery disease |
PAS |
periodic acid–Schiff |
PAT |
paroxysmal atrial tachycardia |
PBS |
phosphate-buffered saline |
PBSC |
peripheral blood stem cell |
PCI |
percutaneous coronary intervention |
Pco2* |
partial pressure of carbon dioxide |
PCP |
Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (formerly Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia) |
PCR |
polymerase chain reaction |
PCT |
practical clinical trial; pragmatic clinical trial |
PCW |
pulmonary capillary wedge [pressure] |
PDA |
patent ductus arteriosus |
PDA* |
personal digital assistant |
PDF* |
portable document format |
PDR |
Physicians' Desk Reference |
PE |
pulmonary embolism |
PEEP |
positive end-expiratory pressure |
PEG |
percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy; pneumoencephalographic; pneumoencephalography |
PEP |
postexposure prophylaxis |
PET |
positron emission tomographic; positron emission tomography |
PFGE |
pulsed-field gel electrophoresis |
PGF |
placental growth factor |
pH* |
negative logarithm of hydrogen ion concentration |
PICC |
peripherally inserted central catheter |
PICU |
pediatric intensive care unit |
PID |
pelvic inflammatory disease |
PKU |
phenylketonuria |
PMS |
premenstrual syndrome |
po |
orally (do not abbreviate) |
Po2* |
partial pressure of oxygen |
POAG |
primary open-angle glaucoma |
PPD |
purified protein derivative (tuberculin) |
PPO |
preferred provider organization |
PPROM |
preterm premature rupture of membranes |
PPV |
positive predictive value |
prn |
as needed (do not abbreviate) |
PRO |
peer review organization; professional review organization |
PROM |
premature rupture of membranes |
PSA |
prostate-specific antigen |
Psqo2 |
subcutaneous tissue oxygen tension |
PSRO |
professional standards review organization |
PST* |
Pacific standard time |
PSVT |
paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia |
PT |
physical therapy; prothrombin time |
PTCA |
percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty |
PTSD |
posttraumatic stress disorder |
PTT |
partial thromboplastin time |
PUFA |
polyunsaturated fatty acid |
PUVA |
psoralen–UV-A |
PVC |
premature ventricular contraction |
PVR |
peripheral vascular resistance; pulmonary vascular resistance |
PVS |
permanent vegetative state; persistent vegetative state |
QA |
quality assurance |
QALY |
quality-adjusted life-year |
QC |
quality control |
qd |
every day (do not abbreviate) |
QI |
quality improvement |
qid |
4 times a day (do not abbreviate) |
qod |
every other day (do not abbreviate) |
QOL |
quality of life |
QUOROM |
Quality of Reporting of Meta-analyses |
RA |
rheumatoid arthritis |
RAM* |
random access memory |
RAST |
radioallergosorbent test |
RBC |
red blood cell |
RBRVS |
resource-based relative value scale |
RCA |
right coronary artery |
RCT |
randomized clinical trial; randomized controlled trial |
RDA |
recommended daily allowance; recommended dietary allowance |
RDC |
Research Diagnostic Criteria |
rDNA |
ribosomal DNA |
RDS |
respiratory distress syndrome |
REM |
rapid eye movement |
RFLP |
restriction fragment length polymorphism |
RFP |
radiofrequency pulse |
rh |
recombinant human |
Rh* |
rhesus (of, related to, or being an Rh antibody, blood group, or factor) |
rhNGF |
recombinant human nerve growth factor |
RIA |
radioimmunoassay |
RIND |
reversible ischemic neurological deficit |
RNA* |
ribonucleic acid |
RNAi |
RNA interference |
ROC |
receiver operating characteristic [curve] |
ROM* |
read-only memory |
ROP |
retinopathy of prematurity |
RPR |
rapid plasma reagin |
RR |
relative risk; risk ratio |
RSV |
respiratory syncytial virus |
RT-PCR |
reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction; reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction |
RV |
right ventricle; right ventricular |
RVEF |
right ventricular ejection fraction |
RVOT |
right ventricular outflow tract |
SAD |
seasonal affective disorder |
SADS |
Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia |
SAH |
subarachnoid hemorrhage |
SAPS |
Simplified Acute Physiology Score |
SARS |
severe acute respiratory syndrome |
SAS* |
Statistical Analysis System |
SCID |
severe combined immunodeficiency; Structured Clinical Interview for DSM (use with DSM edition number) |
SD |
standard deviation (abbreviate only when used with a number, eg, 2 SDs; or in Mean [SD] construction in table stubs and headings) |
SE |
standard error (abbreviate only when used with a number; see SD) |
SEM |
standard error of the mean (abbreviate only when used with a number; see SD) |
SEM |
scanning electron microscope; systolic ejection murmur |
SF-36 |
36-Item Short Form Health Survey |
SGA |
small for gestational age |
SGML* |
standardized general markup language |
SGOT |
Use aspartate aminotransferase (for serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase) |
SGPT |
Use alanine aminotransferase (for serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase) |
SIADH |
syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone |
SICU |
surgical intensive care unit |
SIDS |
sudden infant death syndrome |
SIL |
squamous intraepithelial lesion |
SIP |
Sickness Impact Profile |
siRNA |
small interfering RNA |
SIRS |
systemic inflammatory response syndrome |
SLE |
St Louis encephalitis; systemic lupus erythematosus |
SNP |
single-nucleotide polymorphism |
SPECT |
single-photon emission computed tomography |
SPF |
sun protection factor |
SPSS* |
Statistical Product and Service Solutions (formerly Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) |
SSC |
somatic stem cell |
SSC* |
standard saline citrate |
SSNRI |
selective serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor |
SSPE* |
sodium chloride, sodium phosphate, EDTA [buffer] |
SSPE |
subacute sclerosing panencephalitis |
SSRI |
selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor |
STARD |
Standards for Reporting Diagnostic Accuracy |
STD |
sexually transmitted disease |
STEMI |
ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction |
STI |
sexually transmitted infection; structured treatment interruption |
SUN |
serum urea nitrogen |
SVR |
systemic vascular resistance |
t1/2 |
half-life |
T3 |
triiodothyronine |
T4 |
thyroxine |
TAHBSO |
total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy |
TAT |
Thematic Apperception Test |
TB* |
terabyte |
TB |
tuberculosis |
TBI |
traumatic brain injury |
TBSA |
total body surface area |
TCA |
tricyclic antidepressant |
TCD50 |
median tissue culture dose |
TE |
echo time |
THA |
total-hip arthroplasty |
TI |
inversion time |
TIA |
transient ischemic attack |
TIBC |
total iron-binding capacity |
tid |
3 times a day (do not abbreviate) |
TIFF* |
Tag(ged) Image File Format |
TLC |
thin-layer chromatography; total lung capacity |
TNF |
tumor necrosis factor |
TNM* |
tumor, node, metastasis (see 15.2.2, Nomenclature, Cancer, The TNM Staging System) |
tPA |
tissue plasminogen activator |
TPN |
total parenteral nutrition |
TQM |
total quality management |
TR |
repetition time |
TRH |
thyrotropin-releasing hormone (protirelin as diagnostic agent) |
tRNA |
transfer RNA |
TRP |
tyrosine-related protein |
TRUS |
transrectal ultrasonography |
TSH |
Use thyrotropin (previously thyroid-stimulating hormone). |
TSS |
toxic shock syndrome; toxic “strep” [streptococcal] syndrome |
TTP |
thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura |
UHF |
ultrahigh frequency |
ul* |
uniformly labeled (used within parentheses; see 15.9.5, Nomenclature, Isotopes, Uniform Labeling) |
URI* |
uniform resource identifier |
URL* |
uniform resource locator |
URN* |
uniform resource name |
URTI |
upper respiratory tract infection |
US |
ultrasonography; ultrasound |
USAN |
United States Adopted Names [Council] |
USP |
United States Pharmacopeia |
USSC |
unrestricted somatic stem cell |
UV* |
ultraviolet |
UV-A* |
ultraviolet A |
UV-B* |
ultraviolet B |
UV-C* |
ultraviolet C |
VAIN |
vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia |
vCJD |
variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease |
VDRL* |
Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (add test) |
VEGF |
vascular endothelial growth factor |
VEP |
visual evoked potential |
VER |
visual evoked response |
VHDL |
very high-density lipoprotein |
VHF |
very high frequency; viral hemorrhagic fever |
VLBW |
very low birth weight (but: very low-birth-weight infant) |
VLDL |
very low-density lipoprotein |
oxygen consumption per unit time |
|
maximum oxygen consumption |
|
VPB |
ventricular premature beat |
ventilation-perfusion [ratio or scan] |
|
vs* |
versus (use v for legal references) |
VSD |
ventricular septal defect |
VT |
ventricular tachycardia; tidal volume |
VZV |
varicella zoster virus |
WAIS |
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale |
WBC |
white blood cell |
WEE |
western equine encephalomyelitis |
WISC-R |
Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children |
XML* |
extensible markup language |
YLD |
years living with disability |
YPLL |
years of potential life lost |
zip* |
Zone Improvement Plan (zip code) |
* This abbreviation may be used without expansion.