This is a list of some common medical abbreviations and acronyms.

  1. ab      -  abortion 
  2. abd    -  abdominal
  3. ABG  -  Arterial blood gases                   -            You may have an ABG test to detect lung diseases.
  4. a.c.    -  before meals                              -            Your doctor may write this on your prescription.
  5. ACE  -   Angiotensin converting enzyme -            Drugs called ACE inhibitors are used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure, diabetes and kidney diseases.
  6. ACL   -   Anterior cruciate ligament         -             Commonly injured part of the knee
  7. ADHD -  Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder -  A behavior disorder
  8. AFIB  -  Atrial fibrillation                          -            A disturbance of the rhythm of the heart
  9. AIDS  -   Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome - Infection caused by human immunodeficiency virus
  10. ALP  -     Alkaline phosphatase                           -  You may have a blood test for ALP to detect liver or bone disease.
  11. ALS  -   Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.                 -   Also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease
  12. ALT -   Alanine aminotransferase            -   You may have a blood test for ALT to detect liver disease.
  13. AMD -   Age-related macular degeneration    -     An eye problem
  14. AMI  -  Acute myocardial infarction                       -     Heart attack
  15. AODM -   Adult onset diabetes mellitus                 -    Type 2 diabetes
  16. approx  -  approximately 
  17. AST -   Aspartate aminotransferase                       -    You may have a blood test for AST to detect liver disease.
  18. AVM  -  Arteriovenous malformation                       -    A defect in the circulatory system.
  19. BID / BD  -  Twice a day                                                  -   Your doctor may write this on your prescription.
  20. BMI  -  Body Mass Index                                         -  A measure of how much you should weigh based on your height
  21. BP  -  Blood Pressure                                             - The force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries
  22. BPH  -  Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy     -       Enlargement of the prostate gland
  23. bpm  -  beats per minute 
  24. BUN  - Blood urea nitrogen                           - You may have a blood test for BUN to detect kidney disease problems.
  25. bx       -   biopsy
  26. CABG  -  Coronary artery bypass graft                    -    A type of heart surgery
  27. CAD  -  Coronary artery disease                              -    A common type of heart disease
  28. CAT  -  Computerized axial tomography  -  A type of x-ray
  29. CBC  -  Complete blood count  - A blood test that measures many properties of the cells in your blood
  30. CHD -   Congenital heart disease    -        Heart disease you were born with
  31. CHF  -  Congestive heart failure     -       Also called heart failure. A condition in which the heart can’t pump enough blood throughout the body.
  32. CMV  -  Cytomegalovirus          -          A common virus
  33. CNS  -  Central nervous system       -         The brain and spinal cord
  34. chol  -  cholesterol 
  35. COPD  -  Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease    -    A lung disease that makes it hard to breathe
  36. CPK  -  Creatine phosphokinase          -      You may have a blood test for CPK to see if you’ve had a heart attack.
  37. CPR  -  Cardiopulmonary resuscitation - An emergency procedure whose heart has stopper or is no longer breathing
  38. CRF  -  Chronic renal failure         -       Failure of the kidneys
  39. CRP  -  C-reactive protein  -  You may have a blood test for CRP to see if you have   inflammation or heart problems.
  40. CSF  -  Cerebrospinal fluid       -         A fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord
  41. CVA  -  Cerebrovascular accident       -     A stroke or "brain attack"
  42. CXR  -  Chest x-ray           -         A diagnostic test that uses radiation to make images of your lungs
  43. D&C -   Dilatation and curettage      -      A surgical procedure on the uterus (womb)
  44. DJD  -  Degenerative joint disease     -       Another name for arthritis
  45. DM  -  Diabetes mellitus
  46. DOA  -  dead on arrival 
  47. DOB -   date of birth      
  48. DTP   - Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis     -       A vaccine for three diseases
  49. DVT -   Deep-vein thrombosis       -         A blood clot
  50. DX  -  Diagnosis     
  51. ECG  -  Electrocardiogram      -          A test that measures electrical impulses of the heart
  52. ECHO   - Echocardiogram    -                A test that uses sound waves to look at the heart
  53. EEG  -  Electroencephalogram    -            A test that measures electrical impulses of the brain
  54. EMG  -  Electromyography      -          A test that measures electrical impulses of muscles
  55. ENT  -  Ear, nose and throat     
  56. ERCP -   Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography -   A way to diagnose problems in the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts and pancreas
  57. ER  -  emergency room 
  58. ESR  -  Erythrocyte sedimentation rate     -       A blood test for inflammation
  59. ESRD  -  End-stage renal (kidney) disease     
  60. FSH -   Follicle stimulating hormone   -    If you are a woman, you may have a blood test for FSH to evaluate fertility.
  61. GB  -  gallbladder 
  62. GERD - Gastroesophageal reflux disease - A problem that happens when stomach contents leak back into your gullet
  63. GI -   Gastrointestinal         -       Another term for your digestive system
  64. GFR -   Glomerular filtration rate     -       A test of kidney damage
  65. GU  -  Genitourinary          -          The urinary and sex organs
  66. HAV  -  Hepatitis A virus         -       A virus that causes one type of liver disease
  67. HBV -   Hepatitis B virus          -      A virus that causes one type of liver disease
  68. HCV  -  Hepatitis C virus        -        A virus that causes one type of liver disease
  69. HCT  -  Hematocrit           -         A blood test measurement
  70. HDL  -  High density lipoprotein     -       A type of cholesterol, also known as "good" cholesterol
  71. HGB -   Hemoglobin         -            A blood test measurement
  72. HIV   - Human immunodeficiency virus        -    The virus that causes AIDS
  73. HPV  -  Human papilloma virus         -       A virus that causes cervical cancer
  74. HRT  -  Hormone replacement therapy      -      Treatment with hormones to replace natural hormones when the body does not make enough.
  75. HTN  -  Hypertension           -         High blood pressure
  76. hyst  -  hysterectomy 
  77. Hx  -  history
  78. IBD -   Inflammatory bowel disease   -         A name for two digestive disorders-- ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease
  79. IBS  -  Irritable bowel syndrome      -      A problem with the large intestine
  80. ICD  -  Implantable cardioverter defibrillator    -    A device that monitors heart rhythm problems
  81. ICU  -  Intensive care unit        -        Special hospital unit
  82. IDDM  -  Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus    -    Type 1 diabetes
  83. IM  -  Intramuscular         -           A type of injection
  84. inj  -  injection 
  85. IUD  -  Intrauterine device       -         A type of birth control for women
  86. IV  -  Intravenous          -          A type of injection
  87. IVP -   Intravenous pyelogram         -       An x-ray test of the  urinary system
  88. LDL  -  Low density lipoprotein       -         A type of cholesterol, also known as "bad" cholesterol
  89. LFT   - Liver function tests
  90. LMP  -  last menstrual period 
  91. liq -   liquid      
  92. MI  -  Myocardial infarction       -         Heart attack
  93. MMR  -  Measles, mumps, and rubella     -       A vaccine for three diseases
  94. MRI -   Magnetic resonance imaging     -       A  type of imaging test
  95. MRSA  -  Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus -   A type of infection
  96. MS  -  Multiple sclerosis        -        A disease of the nervous system
  97. NG  -  Nasogastric           -         You may need an NG tube to empty the contents of your stomach.
  98. NIDDM -   Non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus   -     Type 2 diabetes
  99. NKDA  -  No known drug allergies     
  100. NSAID -   Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug     -   Drugs like ibuprofen
  101. OB  -  obstetrics 
  102. OCD  -  Obsessive-compulsive disorder     -       A type of anxiety disorder
  103. OT - Operation Theatre
  104. PAD  -  Peripheral arterial disease       -     Diseases of the arteries outside the heart
  105. PAP  -  Papanicolau           -         You may need a PAP test to detect cervical cancer.
  106. PAT  -  Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia        -    A disturbance of the rhythm of the heart
  107. PET  -  Positron emission tomography       -     A type of x-ray test
  108. PFT  -  Pulmonary function test           -     You may need PFTs to find out how your lungs are working.
  109. PID  -  Pelvic inflammatory disease      -      Infection and inflammation of the female reproductive organs
  110. PMS  -  Premenstrual syndrome        -        A group of symptoms that may happen before a woman’s period
  111. PPD -   Purified protein derivative       -     You may have a PPD skin test for tuberculosis.
  112. PRN  -  As needed          -          Your doctor may write this on your prescription.
  113. PSA  -  Prostate specific antigen     -       You may have a blood test for PSA to detect prostate disease.
  114. PT  -  Prothrombin time          -      A measure of blood clotting
  115. PTH  -  Parathyroid hormone           -     You may have a blood test for PTH to detect    parathyroid disease.
  116. PTSD  -  Post-traumatic stress syndrome     -       An illness caused by traumatic events
  117. PTT  -  Partial thromboplastin time    -        A measure of blood clotting
  118. PUD  -  Peptic ulcer disease       -         A disease of the stomach
  119. PVC   - Premature ventricular contraction    -    A disturbance of the rhythm of the heart
  120. QID  -  Four times a day        -        Your doctor may write this on your prescription.
  121. RA  -  Rheumatoid arthritis       -         A type of joint disease
  122. RBC  -  Red blood cell            -        A type of blood cell
  123. RSV  -  Respiratory syncytial virus       -     A virus that causes infections in children
  124. Rx  -  Prescription     
  125. SAD -   Seasonal affective disorder     -       Depression during seasons with little light
  126. SIDS -   Sudden infant death syndrome     
  127. SLE  -  Systemic lupus erythematosus    -        Lupus for short
  128. SOB  -  Shortness of Breath     
  129. STD -   Sexually transmitted disease     
  130. T3  -  Triiodothyronine      -          You may have a blood test for T3 to detect thyroid disease.
  131. T4   - Thyroxine         -           You may have a blood test for T4 to detect thyroid disease.
  132. TB -   Tuberculosis     -               An infection of the lungs
  133. TAH   - Total abdominal hysterectomy     -       Surgery to remove a woman's uterus (womb)
  134. TIA  -  Transient ischemic attack     -       A  small stroke
  135. TIBC  -  Total iron binding capacity      -      A test that measures the amount of iron in your blood
  136. TID  -  Three times a day       -         Your doctor may write this on your prescription.
  137. TMJ  -  Temporomandibular joint     -           The joint that connects your jaw to the side of your head
  138. TSH  -  Thyroid stimulating hormone    -        You may have a blood test for TSH to detect thyroid disease.
  139. TURP -   Transurethral resection of prostate gland  -  An operation to remove parts of the prostate gland
  140. URI  -  Upper respiratory infection      -      Another name for the common cold
  141. USG   - Ultrasound Sonography
  142. UTI -   Urinary tract infection       -         Infection of the bladder and kidneys
  143. XRT -   Radiotherapy           -         Therapy that uses radiation, usually for cancer
  144. WBC  -  White blood cell       -         A type of blood cell
  145. WNL  -  within normal limits