Commonly Used Abbreviations

Abbreviation Description
ACR American College of Radiology
ALARA As Low As Reasonably Achievable
AP Antero-Posterior (view)
CAR Canadian Association of Radiologists
CT Computed Tomography
CTA Computed Tomography Angiography
CWC Choosing Wisely – Canada
CXR Chest X-Ray
C+ Post-Contrast Injection
Gy Gray (unit) – the absorbed dose of radiation
Hu Hounsfield Units
Hx History
IV Intravenous
LLQ Left Lower Quadrant
LUQ Left Upper Quadrant
MR Magnetic Resonance (also MRI)
MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging (also MR)
MSK Musculoskeletal
PA Postero-Anterior (view)
PACS Picture Archiving and Communication Systems
PET Positron Emission Tomography
PE Pulmonary Embolus
RLQ Right Lower Quadrant
RUQ Right Upper Quadrant
Sv Sievert (unit) – the effective dose of radiation
US Ultrasound (also U/S)
U/S Ultrasound (also US)

Abbreviations

(BoldĀ abbreviations appear in the Commonly Used list)

Abbreviation Description
AAA Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
AC Joint Acromioclavicular Joint
ACR American College of Radiology
AHT Abusive Head Trauma
AKI Acute Kidney Injury
ALARA As Low As Reasonably Achievable
AP Antero-PosteriorĀ (view)
AVM Arteriovenous Malformation
AVN Avascular Necrosis
AXR Abdominal X-Ray
BE Barium Enema
BI-RADS Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System
CAR Canadian Association of Radiologists
CAT Computed Axial Tomography
CDU Colour Doppler Ultrasound
CES Cauda Equina Syndrome
CIN Contrast Induced Nephrotoxicity
COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
CSF Cerebrospinal Fluid
CT Computed Tomography
CTA Computed Tomography Angiography (CT Angiography)
CT-PA Computed Tomography – Pulmonary Angiography
CTR Cardio-Thoracic Ratio
CTU Computed Tomography Urography
CWC Choosing Wisely – Canada
CXR Chest X-Ray
C+ Post Contrast Injection
C1 Atlas (first cervical vertebrae)
C2 Axis (second cervical vertebrae)
DDx Differential Diagnosis
DMSA 99mTc Dimercaptosuccinic Acid Scintigraphy
DSA Digital Subtraction Angiography
DVT Deep Venous Thrombosis
ECT Electrocardiogram
ER Emergency Room
ET Endotracheal Tube
FNH Focal Nodular Hyperplasia
GBCA Gadolinium-Based Contrast Agents
GCS Glasgow Coma Scale
GER / GERD Gastroesophageal Reflux (disease)
Gy Gray (unit) – the absorbed dose of radiation
HCC Hepatocellular Carcinoma of the Liver
HCG Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hormone)
HPS Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis
HRCT High Resolution Computed Tomography
HU Hounsfield Units
Hx History
IIH Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension
IM Intramuscular
IV Intravenous
IVC Inferior Vena Cava
LBP Low Back Pain
LLQ Left Lower Quadrant
LMWH Low-Molecular Weight Heparin
LUQ Left Upper Quadrant
L1 First lumbar vertebrae
MCP Metacarpal-Phalangeal Joint
MEN Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia
MR Magnetic Resonance (also MRI)
MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging (also MR)
MRT Medical Radiation Technologist
MSK Musculoskeletal
NSF Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis
OA Osteoarthritis
OAR Ottawa Ankle Rules
PA Postero-Anterior (view)
PACS Picture Archiving and Communication Systems
PET Positron Emission Tomography
PE Pulmonary Embolus
PICC Peripherally Inserted Central Vein Catheter
RA Rheumatoid Arthritis
RIS Radiology Information System
RLQ Right Lower Quadrant
RUQ Right Upper Quadrant
SDH Subdural Hematoma
SUV Standardized Uptake Value
SVC Superior Vena Cava
Sv Sievert (unit) – the effective dose of radiation
TAS Transabdominal Sonography
TC Toxic Colitis
TIA Transient Ischemic Attack
TM Toxic Megacolon
t-PA Tissue Plasminogen Activator
TVS Transvaginal Sonography
UGI (tract) Upper Gastrointestinal (tract)
US Ultrasound (also U/S)
U/S Ultrasound (also US)
UTI Urinary Tract Infection
VTE Venous Thromboembolism
VUR Vesico-ureteric Reflux
WT Wilms Tumor
99mTc Technetium 99m (also known as Tc-99m)

 

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Undergraduate Diagnostic Imaging Fundamentals Copyright © 2017 by Brent Burbridge is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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