Abbreviations
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
(Bold 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-Posterior (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) |