Version:

Item Search:

APPENDIX G:

RECOMMENDED ABBREVIATIONS FOR ABSTRACTORS

Even in the age of computerized abstracts with coded fields, text is still required to supplement and support coded information. In writing this text, registrars rely on abbreviations, especially in response to time and record space constraints. Abbreviations can generate confusion, however, as they may vary among different institutions and different specialties. Because abbreviations should be understood by any reader, only those that are clear and precise should be used. The NAACCR Recommended Abbreviations Lists, below, were compiled for cancer abstractors and the agencies to which they submit their data.

These consist of two main lists of over 600 words/terms and their recommended abbreviations/symbols, as well as a special table of context-sensitive abbreviations. The first list is ordered by the words/terms for which an abstractor seeks an abbreviation, and the second is ordered by abbreviation/symbol, paired with the complete word or term. The context-sensitive abbreviations table consists of a subset of the abbreviations, for which a different context for the same abbreviation conveys a different meaning (for example, CA may mean calcium or carcinoma, and ML may mean milliliter or middle lobe). For these context-sensitive abbreviations, the meaning of the abbreviation should be readily apparent from its context.

NAACCR RECOMMENDED ABBREVIATION LIST
ORDERED BY WORD/TERM(S)

 

NAACCR RECOMMENDED ABBREVIATION LIST
ORDERED BY ABBREVIATION/SYMBOL

 

ABBREVIATION/SYMBOL WORD/TERM(S)
^ Above or elevated
&
And

Approximately
@
At
=
Equals
>
Greater than, more, or more than
Less or less than
- Negative or minus
# Number or pound(s)
+ Plus or positive
X Times
  A  
A FIB Atrial fibrillation
A FLUTTER Atrial flutter
A&P Auscultation & percussion
A/P
Abdomen/Pelvis
AA
African American
AB
Antibody
ABD Abdomen (abdominal)
ABG Arterial blood gases
ABN
Abnormal
ABNL
Abnormal
ABS Absent/Absence
ABST Abstract/Abstracted
ABX
Antibiotics
AC Adrenal cortex
ACBE Air contrast barium enema
ACH Adrenal cortical hormone
ACID PHOS Acid phosphatase
A-COLON
Ascending Colon
ACTH Adrenocorticotrophic hormone
ADENOCA Adenocarcinoma
ADENOP
Adenopathy
ADH Antidiuretic hormone
ADJ Adjacent
ADL Activities of daily living
ADM Admission/Admit
ADR
Adverse drug reaction
AFF Affirmative
AFP Alpha-fetoprotein
AG Antigen
AGL Acute granulocytic leukemia
AIAromatase inhibitor
AI Atrial stenosis/insufficiency/incompetence
AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
AIHA Autoimmune hemolytic anemia
AIN III or AIN 3
Anal intraepithelial neoplasia, grade III
AK(A) Above knee (amputation)
AKA Also known as
ALB Albumin
ALK PHOS Alkaline phosphatase
ALL Acute lymphocytic leukemia
ALND
Axillary Lymph node dissection 
ALS Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
AM Before noon
AMA Against medical advice
AMB Ambulatory
AMI Acute myocardial infarction
AML Acute myelogenous leukemia
AMP Amputation
AMT Amount
ANAP Anaplastic
ANGIO Angiography/Angiogram
ANS Autonomic nervous system
ANT Anterior
AODM Adult-onset Diabetes Mellitus
AP Abdominal perineal
A-P Anteroposterior
APC Atrial premature complexes
APP Appendix
APPL’Y Apparently
ARC AIDS-related condition (complex)
ARD AIDS-related disease
ARDS Acute Respiratory Distress (Disease) Syndrome
ARF Acute renal failure
ARRHY Arrhythmia
ART Artery (ial)
AS Arteriosclerosis/Arteriosclerotic
ASA Aspirin, Acetylsalicylic acid
ASAP As soon as possible
ASCVD Arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease
ASHD Arteriosclerotic heart disease
ASP Aspiration
ASPVD Arteriosclerotic Peripheral Vascular Disease
ASSOC
Associated
A-STEN
Aortic stenosis
ATN Acute tubular necrosis
ATP Adenosine triphosphate
ATR Achilles tendon reflex
AUT Autopsy
AV Arteriovenous
AVG Average
AVM Arteriovenous malformation
AX Axilla(ry)
AXLND
Axillary Lymph node dissection
  B  
B/F
Black female
B/L
Bilateral
B/M
Black male
BA Barium
BAD Bipolar affective disorder
BCC Basal cell carcinoma
BCG Bacillus Calmette-Guerin
BD Bile duct
BE Barium enema
BF
Black female
BID Twice a day (daily)
BIL
Bilateral
BK(A) Below knee (amputation)
B/L
Bilateral
BM
Black Male
BM Bone marrow
BM Bowel movement
BMBX
Bone marrow biopsy
BMI
Body mass index
BMT Bone marrow transplant
BOT
Base of tongue
BP Blood pressure
BPH Benign prostatic hypertrophy/hyperplasia
BR
Bloom-Richardson
BRACHY
Brachytherapy
BRBPR
Bright red blood per rectum
BRCA 1 and BRCA 2
Breast cancer susceptibility gene
BRM Biological response modifier
BRO Brother
BSA
Body surface area
BSC
Bone scan
BSO Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy
BT Bladder tumor or Brain tumor
BUN Blood urea nitrogen
BUS Bartholin's, Urethral & Skene's
BV Blood volume
BX Biopsy
  C
 
C/A/P
Chest, abdomen, pelvis
C/O Complaint (-ning) of
C/W Consistent with
C1-C7 Cervical vertebrae
CA Calcium
CA Carcinoma
CA 125
Cancer antigen 125
CA 19-9
Carbohydrate antigen 19-9
CA++
Calcification(s)
CABG Coronary artery bypass graft
CAD Coronary artery disease
CALC(S)
Calcification(s)
CAP(S) Capsule(s)
CBC Complete blood count
CC Chief complaint or Cubic centimeter
CCU Coronary care unit
CEA Carcinoembryonic antigen
CF Cystic fibrosis
CFN
Centimeters from nipple
CGA
Serum chromogranin A
CGL Chronic granulocytic leukemia
CGYCentigray
CHD Congenital heart disease
CHEMO Chemotherapy
CHF Congestive heart failure
CHG Change
CHR Chronic
CIG Cigarettes
CIN Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia
CIN III or CIN 3
Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, grade III
CIS Carcinomain situ
CISHChromogenic in situ hybridization
CLL Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
CLR Clear
CM Centimeter
CML Chronic myeloid (myelocytic) leukemia
CNS Central nervous system
CO60 Cobalt 60
COLD Chronic obstructive lung disease
CONT Continue/continuous
CONTRA Contralateral
COPD Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CRF Chronic renal failure
CRM
Circumferential resection margin
CS Collaborative stage
CSF Cerebrospinal fluid
C-SF Colony stimulating factor
C-SPINE Cervical spine
CT CAT/CT scan/Computerized axial tomography
CTC
Circulating tumor cells
CUC Chronic ulcerative colitis
CVA Cerebrovascular accident
CVD Cardiovascular disease
CXR Chest X-ray
CYSTO Cystoscopy
CYTO Cytology
  D  
D&C Dilatation and curettage
D/C
Discharge
D/T
Due to
DC Discontinue(d)
DCIS Ductal carcinoma in situ
D-COLON
Descending colon
DDX
Differential diagnosis
DECR Decrease(d)
DERM Dermatology
DES Diethylstilbestrol
DIAM Diameter
DIC Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy
DIFF Differentiated/differential
DISCH
Discharge
DJD
Degenerative joint disease
DK
Don't/Doesn't know
DM Diabetes mellitus
DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid
DOA Dead on arrival
DOB Date of birth
DOD Date of death
DOE Dyspnea on exertion
DRE Digital rectal examination
DTC
Disseminated tumor cells
DTR Deep tendon reflex
DVT Deep vein thrombosis
DX Diagnosis
DZ Disease
 E  
E.G. For example
E/O
Evidence of
EBRT
External beam radiotherapy
ECG/EKG Electrocardiogram
ED
Emergency department
EEG Electroencephalogram
EENTEye, ear, nose, throat
EGD Esophagogastro-duodenoscopy
EGFR
Epidermal growth factor receptor
ELEV
Elevated
EMG Electromyogram
ENL
Enlarged
ENLGD
Enlarged
ENT Ears, nose, and throat
ER Emergency room
ER(A) Estrogen receptor (assay)
ERCP Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
ESRD End stage renal disease
ETOH Alcohol
EUA
Exam under anesthesia
EV
Electron volt
EVAL Evaluation
EXAM Examination
EXC(D) Excision/excised
EXP Expired
EXP LAP
Exploratory laparotomy
EXPL Exploratory
EXPL LAP
Exploratory laparotomy
EXT Extend/extension
  F  
FAPFamilial adeomatous polyposis
FCOT
First course of treatment
FHXFamily History
FISHFluorescence in situ hybridization
FL Fluid
FLIPIFollicular lymphoma international prognostic index
FLOW CYTOFlow cytometry
FLURO Fluoroscopy
FNA Fine needle aspiration
FNAB Fine needle aspiration biopsy
FOM Floor of mouth
FREQ Frequent/Frequency
FS Frozen section
FTSG Full thickness skin graft
FU Follow-up
FUO Fever of unknown origin
FX Fracture
FX(S)Fractions(s)
  G  
GB Gallbladder
GE Gastroesophageal
GEN General/Generalized
GERD Gastroesophageal reflux disease
GI Gastrointestinal
GISTGastrointestinal stromal tumors
GR Grade
GU Genitourinary
GYGray
GYN Gynecology
  H  
H&EHematoxylin and Eosin
H&P History and physical
H/HHemoglobin and hematrocrit
H/O History of
HAV
Hepatitis A (virus)
HBV
Hepatitis B (virus)
HCG Human chorionic gonadotropin
HCT Hematocrit
HCV
Hepatitis C (virus)
HCVD Hypertensive cardiovascular disease
HDR
High dose rate
HDV
Hepatitis D (virus)
HEM/ONC
Hematology/Oncology (ist)
HEP A
Hepatitis A (virus)
HEP BHepatitis B (virus)
HEP C
Hepatitis C (virus)
HEP D
Hepatitis D (virus)
HER2Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2
HFHispanic female
HGB Hemoglobin
HGSILHigh grade squamous intraepithelial lesion
HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus
HMHispanic male
HORM Hormone
HOSP Hospital
HPIHistory of present illness
HPV Human Papilloma Virus
HR(S) Hour/Hours
HRTHormone replacement therapy
HSM Hepatosplenomegaly
HTLV Human T-Lymphotrophic Virus, (Type III)
HTN Hypertension
HVD Hypertensive vascular disease
HX History
HYST Hysterectomy
  I  
I&D Incision & drainage
I-131Iodine 131
IBD Inflammatory bowel disease
ICBIntracavitary brachytherapy
ICM Intercostal margin
ICS Intercostal space
ICU Intensive care unit
IDCInfiltrating/invasive ductal carcinoma
IDDM Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus
IG Immunoglobulin
IHC Immunohistochemical
IHSS Idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis
ILD Interstitial lung disease
IM Intramuscular
IMP Impression
IMRTIntensity modulated radiation therapy
INCL Includes/Including
INCR Increase(d)
INF Inferior
INFIL
Infiltrating
INFILT
Infiltrating
INPT
Inpatient
INT Internal
INV Invade(s)/invading/invasion
INVL Involve(s)/involvement/involving
IP
Inpatient
IPIInternational prognostic index (for lymphoma)
IPPB Intermittent positive pressure breathing
IPSInternational prognostic score
IPSI Ipsilateral
IRREG Irregular
IT Intrathecal
ITCIsolated tumor cells
ITP Idiopathic thrombocytopenia
IV Intravenous
IVC Inferior vena cava
IVCA Intravenous cholangiogram
IVP Intravenous pyelogram
 J  
JAK2Janus kinase 2
JRA Juvenile rheumatic arthritis
JVD Jugular venous distention
  K  
KG Kilogram
KS Kaposi sarcoma
KUB Kidneys, ureters, bladder
KV Kilovolt
  L  
L1-L5 Lumbar vertebra
LAB Laboratory
LAD
Lymphadenopathy
LAN
Lymphadenopathy
LAP Laparotomy
LAT Lateral
LAV Lymphadenopathy-associated virus
LB(S) Pound(s)
LBBB Left bundle branch block
LCISLobular carcinoma in situ
LCM Left costal margin
LDH Lactic dehydrogenase
LDRLow dose rate
LE Lower extremity
LFTLiver function test
LINLaryngeal intraepithelial neoplasia
LINAC Linear accelerator
LIQ Lower inner quadrant
LLE Left lower extremity
LLL Left lower lobe
LLQ Left lower quadrant
LMP Last menstrual period
LN(S) Lymph node(s)
LND Lymph node dissection
LOQ Lower outer quadrant
LPN Licensed practical nurse
LRG Large
LS Lumbosacral
LSO
Left salpingo-oophorectomy
L-SPINE
Lumbar spine
LS SCAN Liver/spleen scan
LT Left
LUE Left upper extremity
LUL Left upper lobe
LUOQ Left upper outer quadrant
LUQ Left upper quadrant
LVI  
Lymph/vascular invasion / Lymphovascular invasion
  M  
M/DIFFModerately differentiated 
MAL
Malignant
MALIG
Malignant
MAMMO
Mammogram
MAND Mandible/mandibular
MAT Multifocal atrial tachycardia
MAX Maximum
MC Medical center
MC(H) Millicurie (hours)
MCG Microgram
MCID Mixed combined immunodeficiency
M-CSFMacrophage colony-stimulating factor 
MCNMucinous cystic neoplasm
MCTD Mixed connective tissue disease
MD
Moderately differentiated
MDSMyelodysplastic syndrome
MED Medication
MED ONC
Medical oncology (ist)
METS Metastatic/Metastasis
MEV Million electron volts
MG Myasthenia gravis
MG(H) Milligram (hours)
MGFMaternal grandfather
MGM
Maternal grandmother
MGUS
Monoclonal gammaopathy of uncertain significance
MI Myocardial infarction
MIBBMinimally invasive breast biopsy
MICRO Microscopic
MIN Minimum
MIN Minute
MISMelanoma in situ
ML Middle lobe
ML Milliliter
MM Millimeter
MMGMammogram
MO(S)
Months
MOD Moderate(ly)
MOD DIFF Moderately differentiated
MPVC Multifocal premature ventricular contraction
MRCP Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography
MRI Magnetic resonance imaging
MRM Modified radical mastectomy
MRSA Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
MS Multiple sclerosis
MSB Main stem bronchus
MSIMicrosatellite instability
MULT Multiple
MVMegavolt
MVP Mitral valve prolapse
  N
 
N&VNausea and vomiting
N/A
Not applicable
N/V
Nausea and vomiting
NA Not applicable
NENo evidence
NECNot elsewhere classified
NED No evidence of disease
NEG Negative
NEOPL Neoplasm
NETNeuroendocrine tumor
NEURO Neurology
NH Nursing home
NHL Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
NIDDM
Non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
NL Normal
NML
Normal
NORM
Normal
NOS Not otherwise specified
NR Not recorded
NRNot reportable
NSCCA Non small cell carcinoma
NSCLCNon small cell lung carcinoma
NSF No significant findings
NVD Neck vein distention
  O  
OB Obstetrics
OBS Organic brain syndrome
OBST Obstructed (-ing, -ion)
ONCOncology (ist)
OP Outpatient
OP RPT Operative report
OR Operating room
ORTHO Orthopedics
OTO Otology
OUTPTOutpatient
OZ Ounce
  P  
P/DIFF
Poorly differentiated
P32 Phosphorus 32
PAC Premature atrial contraction
PALP Palpated (-able)
PAP Papanicolaou smear
PAP Papillary
PATH Pathology
PBSCTPeripheral blood stem cell transplant
PCPPrimary care physician
PCVPolycythemia vera
PD Poorly differentiated
PE Physical examination
PEDS Pediatrics
PERC Percutaneous
PET Positron emission tomography
PGFPaternal grandfather
PGM
Paternal grandmother
PID Pelvic inflammatory disease
PIN III or PIN 3
Prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, grade III
PLT Platelets
PMH Past/personal (medical) history
PMP Primary medical physician
PNSPeripheral nervous sytem
POOR DIFF Poorly differentiated
POS Positive
POSS Possible
POST Posterior
POST OP Postoperative(-ly)
PPD Packs per day
PR
Per rectum
PR(A) Progesterone receptor (assay)
PRE OP Preoperative(-ly)
PREV Previous
PROB Probable (-ly)
PROCTO Proctoscopy
PSPerformance status
PSA Prostatic specific antigen
PT Patient
PT Physiotherapy/Physical therapy
PTA Prior to admission
PTC Percutaneous transhepatic cholecystogram
PTCCPapillary transitional cell carcinoma
PUD Peptic ulcer disease
PULM Pulmonary
PVD Peripheral vascular disease
P VERAPolycythemia vera
PYPack years
 Q 
Q Every
QD Every day
QUAD Quadrant
  R  
R/O Rule out
RA Rheumatoid arthritis
RAD Radiation absorbed dose
RAD ONCRadiation Oncology
RAEB
Refractory anemia with excess blasts
RAI
Radioactive iodine
RAIU
Radioactive iodine uptake
RAL
Robotic assisted laparoscopy
RARP
Robotic assisted radical prostatectomy
RBBB Right bundle branch block
RBC Red blood cells (count)
RCCRenal cell carcinoma
RCM Right costal margin
RCSReticulum cell sarcoma
RE Regarding
REC
Recommend
REC’D Received
REFRACT ANEMRefractory anemia
REGRegional
REG Regular
RESEC Resection (ed)
RHD Rheumatic heart disease
RIA Radioimmunoassay
RIQ Right inner quadrant
RLE Right lower extremity
RLL Right lower lobe
RLQ Right lower quadrant
RMC Regional medical center
RML Right middle lobe
ROF Review of outside films
RONCRadiation Oncology
ROQ Right outer quadrant
ROS Review of outside slides
RRP
Radical retropubic prostatectomy
RSO Right salpingo-oophorectomy
RSR Regular sinus rhythm
RT Radiation therapy
RT Right
RUE Right upper extremity
RUL Right upper lobe
RUQ Right upper quadrant
RX Prescription
RXTRadiation therapy
  S  
S/P Status post
S1-S5 Sacral vertebra
SATIS Satisfactory
SB Small bowel
SCC Squamous cell carcinoma
SCFSupraclavicular fossa
SCID Severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome
S-COLON
Sigmoid colon
SCTStem cell transplant
SCVSupraclavicular
SGOT Serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase
SGPT Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase
SH
Social history
SHX
Social history
SIADH Syndrome of inappropriate ADH
SIG COLON Sigmoid colon
SIN III or SIN 3
Squamous intraepithelial neoplasia
SLE Systemic lupus erythematosus
SLLSmall lymphocytic lymphoma
SLNSentinel lymph node
SLNBXSentinel lymph node biopsy
SM Small
SmCCSmall cell carcinoma
SO Salpingo-oophorectomy
SOB Short(ness) of breath
SPEC Specimen
SPEPSerum protein electrophoresis
SQ Squamous
SS Summary stage
S-SPINE
Sacral spine
SSS Sick sinus syndrome
STSG Split thickness skin graft
SQCCSquamous cell carcinoma
SUBCU Subcutaneous
SUBQSubcutaneous
SUGGSuggestive
SURG Surgery/Surgical
SUSP Suspicious/suspected
SVC Superior vena cava
SX Symptoms
  T  
T1-T12
Thoracic vertebra
TAH Total abdominal hysterectomy
TAH-BSO Total abdominal hysterectomy- bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy
TB Tuberculosis
TBTumor board
TCC Transitional cell carcinoma
T-COLON
Transverse colon
TIA Transient ischemic attack
TNM
Tumor, node, metastatis
TOBTobacco
TRANS-COLON Transverse colon
TRUSTransrectal ultrasound
TSTumor size
T-SPINE
Thoracic spine
TTP Thromboticthrombocytopenia purpura
TUR Transurethral resection
TURB Transurethral resection bladder
TURP Transurethral resection prostate
TVC True vocal cord
TVH Total vaginal hysterectomy
TX Treatment
  U  
UE Upper extremity
UGI Upper gastrointestinal (series)
UIQ Upper inner quadrant
UNDIFF Undifferentiated
UNK Unknown
UOQ Upper outer quadrant
URI Upper respiratory infection
US Ultrasound
UTI Urinary tract infection
  V  
VAG Vagina/Vaginal
VAG HYST Vaginal hysterectomy
VAIN III or VAIN 3
Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (grade III)
VIN III or VIN 3
Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (grade III)
VGP
Vertical growth phase
VGR
Vertical growth rate
VSVital signs
  W  
W/ With
W/DIFF
Well differentiated
W/F White female
W/M White male
W/O Without
W/U Work-up
WBC White blood cells (count)
WD Well differentiated
WELL DIFF Well differentiated
WFWhite female
WK(S)
Week(s)
WLWeight loss
WMWhite male
WNL Within normal limits
WPW Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
WTWeight
  X  
XR Xray
XRTExternal radiation therapy
  Y  
Y/OYear old
YOYear old
YR(S) Year(s)

NAACCR RECOMMENDED ABBREVIATION LIST
CONTEXT-SENSITIVE ABBREVIATIONS

 

ABBREVIATION/SYMBOL WORD/TERM(S)
AI 
Aromatase inhibitor 
AI
Atrial stenosis/insufficiency/incompetence
AP Abdominal perineal
AP Anteroposterior
BM
Black male
BM Bone marrow
BM Bowel movement
BT
Bladder tumor
BT
Brain tumor
CA Calcium
CA Carcinoma
CC
Chief complaint
CC
Cubic centimeter
ER    Emergency room
ER
Estrogen receptor
FX
Fraction
FX
Fracture
MIN Minimum
MIN Minute
ML Middle lobe
ML Milliliter
NR
Not recorded
NR
Not reportable
PAP Papanicolaou smear
PAP Papillary
PT Patient
PT Physiotherapy/Physical therapy
REG
Regional
REG
Regular
RT Radiation therapy
RT Right
TB
Tuberculosis
TB
Tumor board