ABGs arterial blood gases
ACAS Asymptomatic Carotid Atherosclerosis Study
ACE angiotensin-converting enzyme
ACTH adrenocorticotropic hormone
ADH antidiuretic hormone
AFP alpha-fetoprotein
AI aortic insufficiency
ALT alanine transaminase
ANA antinuclear antibody
AP anteroposterior
APKD adult polycystic kidney disease
ARDS adult respiratory distress syndrome
AS aortic stenosis
ASD atrial septal defect
AST aspartate transaminase
ATLS Advanced Trauma Life Support
AUA-IPSS American Urological Association Symptom Score
AV arteriovenous
BCC basal cell carcinoma
BCG bacill (bacillus) Calmette-Guérin
BE barium enema
β-hCG beta-human chorionic gonadotropin
BP blood pressure
BPH benign prostatic hypertrophy
BRCA breast cancer gene
BUN blood urea nitrogen
CABG coronary artery bypass graft
CAD coronary artery disease
CBC complete blood count
CCK cholecystokinin
CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CEA carcinoembryonic antigen
CES cauda equina syndrome
CHF congestive heart failure
CIS carcinoma in situ
CMF cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil
CMV cytomegalovirus
CN cranial nerve
CNS central nervous system
COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CPAP continuous positive airway pressure
CRF corticotropin-releasing factor
CRH corticotropin-releasing hormone
CSF cerebrospinal fluid
CT computed tomography
CXR chest x-ray
DCIS ductal carcinoma in situ
DEXA dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry
DHT dihydrotestosterone
DIC disseminated intravascular coagulation
DIP distal interphalangeal
DNA deoxyribonucleic acid
DTRs deep tendon reflexes
ECG electrocardiography
EEG electroencephalogram
EGD esophagogastroduodenoscopy
EMG electromyography
ERCP endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
ESR erythrocyte sedimentation rate
EUS endoscopic esophageal ultrasound
ESWL extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy
FDG-PET fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography
FNA fine-needle aspiration
FSH follicle-stimulating hormone
G-6-PD glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase
GBM glioblastoma multiforme
GCS Glasgow Coma Scale
GERD gastroesophageal reflux disease
GGT gamma-glutamyl transferase
GH growth hormone
GI gastrointestinal
GU genitourinary
Hb hemoglobin
hCG human chorionic gonadotropin
HIDA hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid
HIV human immunodeficiency virus
HLA human leukocyte antigen
P.xiv
HPF high-power field
HPI history of present illness
HPV human papilloma virus
HR heart rate
ICP intracranial pressure
ID/CC identification and chief complaint
IgA immunoglobulin A
IL-2 interleukin-2
IMA inferior mesenteric artery
IMV inferior mesenteric vein
INR international normalized ratio
ITP immune thrombocytopenic purpura
IVP intravenous pyelography
JVD jugular venous distention
KUB kidneys/ureter/bladder
LAD left anterior descending coronary artery
LCA left coronary artery
LCIS lobular carcinoma in situ
LCX left circumflex
LDH lactate dehydrogenase
LES lower esophageal sphincter
LFTs liver function tests
LH luteinizing hormone
LH-RH luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone
LM left main coronary artery
LVH left ventricular hypertrophy
Lytes electrolytes
MCP metacarpophalangeal
MCV mean corpuscular volume
MELD Model for End-Stage Liver Disease
MEN multiple endocrine neoplasia
MHC major histocompatibility complex
MI myocardial infarction
MMF mycophenolate mofetil
MPA mycophenolic acid
MR mitral regurgitation
MRCP magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
MRI magnetic resonance imaging
MS mitral stenosis
MTC medullary thyroid carcinoma
MVA motor vehicle accident
NASCET North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial
NG nasogastric
NPO nil per os (nothing by mouth)
NSAID nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
NSGCT nonseminomatous germ cell tumor
Nuc nuclear medicine
OPSS overwhelming postsplenectomy sepsis
PA posteroanterior
PBS peripheral blood smear
PCNL percutaneous nephrolithotomy
PDA posterior descending coronary artery
PDS polydioxanone
PE physical examination
PEEP positive end-expiratory pressure
PET positron-emission tomography
PFTs pulmonary function tests
PIP proximal interphalangeal
PMI point of maximal impulse
PP pancreatic polypeptide
PPI proton-pump inhibitors
PSA prostate-specific antigen
PT prothrombin time
PTC percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography
PTH parathyroid hormone
PTU propylthiouracil
RA right atrium
RBC red blood cell
RCA right coronary artery
REM rapid eye movement
RPLND retroperitoneal lymph node dissection
RR respiratory rate
RV right ventricular
RVH right ventricular hypertrophy
SAH subarachnoid hemorrhage
SBFT small bowel follow-through
SBO small bowel obstruction
SCC squamous cell carcinoma
SIADH syndrome of inappropriate secretion of ADH
SLNB sentinel lymph node biopsy
SMA superior mesenteric artery
SMV superior mesenteric vein
SSI surgical site infection
STD sexually transmitted disease
STSG split-thickness skin graft
TCC transitional cell carcinoma
TIA transient ischemic attack
TIBC total iron-binding capacity
TIPS transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt
TNM tumors, nodes, metastases classification
TPN total parenteral nutrition
TRAM transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous
TRH thyrotropin-releasing hormone
TSH thyroid-stimulating hormone
TUBD transurethral balloon dilatation
TUNA transurethral needle ablation
P.xv
TURP transurethral resection of the prostate
UA urinalysis
UGI upper gastrointestinal
US ultrasound
UTI urinary tract infection
UV ultraviolet
VMA vanillylmandelic acid
VS vital signs
VSD ventricular septal defect
WBC white blood cell
XR x-ray