Abbreviations

TERM MEANING
123I Isotope of radioactive iodine
131I Isotope of radioactive iodine
18F-FDG Fluorodeoxyglucose
201Tl Thallium-201
99TC Radioactive technetium
a.c., ac Before meals
ACE Angiotensin-converting enzyme
ad lib Freely, as desired
Angio Angiography
AP Anteroposterior
APAP Acetaminophen
ARB Angiotensin II receptor blocker
b.i.d., bid Two times a day
Ba Barium
BE Barium enema
c- With
Caps Capsules
Cc Cubic centimeter
C-spine Cervical spine films
CT Computed tomography
CXR Chest x-ray (film)
Decub Decubitus – lying down
DI Diagnostic imaging
DICOM Digital image communication in medicine
DSA Digital subtraction angiography
ECHO Echocardiography
EUS Endoscopic ultrasonography
FDA U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Gd Gadolinium
gm, g Gram
gtt Drops
h Hour
h.s., hs At bedtime
H2 blocker Histamine h2 receptor antagonist
HRT Hormone replacement therapy
IM Intramuscular
INH Isoniazid-antituberculosis agent
IV Intravenous
IVP Intravenous pyelogram
KUB Kidneys, ureters, bladder (series)
LAT Lateral
LS films Lumbosacral (spine) films
L-spine Lumbar spine
MAOI Monoamine oxidase inhibitor
MDCT Multidetector CT scanner
mg Milligram
ml, mL Milliliter
 Abbreviations
TERM MEANING
MR, MRI Magnetic resonance, magnetic resonance imaging
MRA Magnetic resonance angiography
MRV Magnetic resonance venography
MUGA Multiple-gated acquisitions (scan)
NPO Nothing by mouth
NSAID Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
p- After
p.c., pc After meals
p.r.n., prn As needed, as necessary
PA Posteroanterior
PACS Picture archival and communications system
PCA Patient-controlled analgesia
PDR Physicians’ Desk Reference
PET Positron emission tomography
PET/CT Positron emission tomography/computed tomography
PO, p.o. po By mouth
Pt Patient
q Every
q.h., qh Every hour
q.i.d., qid Four times a day
q.s.,qs Sufficient quantity
q2h Every 2 hours
qAM Every morning
qPM Every evening
RAIU Radioactive iodine uptake (test)
RFA Radiofrequency ablation
Rx Prescription
s- Without
s.o.s. If it is necessary
SBFT Small bowel follow-through
SERM Selective estrogen receptor modulator
Sig. Directions – how to take medication
SL Sublingual
SPECT Singe photon emission computed tomography
SQ Subcutaneous
SSRI Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
t.i.d.,tid Three times daily
tab Tablet
TCA Tricyclic antidepressant
T-spine Thoracic spine
UGI Upper gastrointestinal (series)
US, U/S Ultrasound; ultrasonography
V/Q scan Ventilation-perfusion scan of the lungs
 Combining Forms
TERM MEANING
aer/o air
alges/o sensitivity to pain
bronch/o bronchial tube
chem/o drug
cras/o mixture
cutane/o skin
derm/o skin
erg/o work
esthes/o feeling, sensation
fluor/o luminous
hist/o tissue
hypn/o sleep
iatr/o treatment
is/o same
lingu/o tongue
myc/o mold, fungus
narc/o stupor
or/o mouth
pharmac/o drug
pharmaceut/o drug
prurit/o itching
pyret/o fever
radi/o x-rays
roentgen/o x-rays
son/o sound
thec/o sheath (of brain and spinal cord)
therapeut/o treatment
tox/o poison
toxic/o poison
vas/o vessel
ven/o vein
vit/o life
vitr/o glass
viv/o life
 Prefixes & Suffixes
TERM MEANING
ana- upward, excessive
anti- against
cine- movement
contra- against, opposite
echo- a repeated sound
par- other than, apart
syn- together, with
ultra- beyond
-gram record
-graphy process of recording
-lucent to shine
-opaque obscure
 Medical Term
TERM MEANING
addiction Physical and psychological dependence on and craving for a drug
Drug action in which the combination of two similar drugs in equal to the sum of the
additive action effects of each
aerosol Particles of drug suspended in air
Exaggerated hypersensitivity reaction to a previously encountered drug or foreign
anaphylaxis protein
antagonistic action Combination of two drugs gives less than an additive effect
antidote Agent given to counteract an unwanted effect of a drug
brand name Commercial name for a drug; trademark or trade name
chemical name Chemical formula for a drug
Diagnostic x-ray procedure that produces a cross-sectional image of a specific body
computed tomography (CT) segment
contraindications Factors that prevent the use of a drug or treatment
Radiopaque materials are injected to obtain contrast with surrounding tissue when
contrast studies shown on x-ray film
Drugs that produce tolerance and dependence and have potential for abuse or
controlled substances addiction
dependence Prolonged use of a drug that may lead to a physiologic need for its actions in the body
dose Amount of drug administered
Food and Drug U.S. government agency with legal responsibility to enforce proper drug manufacture
Administration (FDA) and clinical use
gamma camera Machine to detect gamma rays emitted from radiopharmaceuticals
gamma rays High-energy rays emitted by radioactive substances in tracer studies
generic name Legal noncommercial name for a drug
Time required for a radioactive substance to lose half its radioactivity by
half-life disintegration
iatrogenic Condition caused by treatment given by physicians or medical personnel
Unexpected effect produced in a particularly sensitive patient, but not seen in most
idiosyncratic reaction people
Process, test, or procedure performed, measured, or observed outside a living
in vitro organism
Process, test, or procedure is performed, measured, or observed within a living
in vivo organism
inhalation Administration of drugs in gaseous or vapor form through the nose or mouth
interventional radiology Therapeutic or diagnostic procedures performed by a radiologist
ionization Transformation of electrically neutral substances into electrically charged particles
magnetic resonance Use of magnetic field and radio waves to produce sagittal, coronal, and axial images of
imaging (MRI) the body
medicinal chemistry Study of new drug synthesis
molecular pharmacology Study of interaction of drugs and their target molecules
nuclear medicine Medical specialty that studies uses of radioactive substances in diagnosis of disease
oral administration Drugs are given by mouth
parenteral administration Drugs are given by injection into the skin, muscles, or veins
pharmacist Specialist in preparing and dispensing drugs
pharmacodynamics Study of drug effects within the body
pharmacokinetics Study of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion over time
pharmacologist Specialist in the study of properties, uses, and side effects of drugs
pharmacology Study of the preparation, properties, uses, and side effects of drug
 Location for preparing and dispensing drugs; also the study of preparing and
pharmacy dispensing drugs
Physicians’ Desk Reference
(PDR) Reference book that lists drug products
positron emission Use of positron-emitting radioactive substances given intravenously to create a cross-
tomography (PET) sectional image of cellular metabolism
Test that combines radioactive chemicals and antibodies to detect minute quantities
radioimmunoassay of substances in a patient’s blood
radioisotope Radioactive form of an element ; radionuclide
radiolabeled compound Radiopharmaceutical; used in nuclear medicine studies
Medical specialty concerned with the study of x-rays and their use in diagnosis of
radiology disease
radiolucent Permitting the passage of x-rays
radionuclide Radioactive form of an element; radioisotope
radiopaque Obstructing the passage of x-rays
radiopharmaceutical Radioactive drug used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes
receptor Target substance with which a drug interacts in the body
rectal administration Drugs are inserted through the anus into the rectum
resistance Lack of beneficial response
response Desired and beneficial effect of a drug
Image of an area, organ or tissue of the body obtained from ultrasound, radioactive
scan tracer studies, CT, or MRI
schedule Exact timing and frequency of drug administration
Diagnostic nuclear medicine test using radiopharmaceuticals and gamma cameras to
scintigraphy create images
side effect Adverse reaction, usually minor, that routinely results from use of a drug
single photon emission
computed tomography Radioactive tracer is injected intravenously and a computer reconstructs a 3D-image
(SPECT) based on a composite of many views
sublingual administration Drugs are given by placement under the tongue
Combination of two drugs causes an effect that is greater than the sum of the
synergism individual effects of each drug alone
syringe Instrument for introducing or withdrawing fluids from the body
tagging Attaching a radionuclide to a chemical and following its path in the body
tolerance Larger and larger drug doses must be given to achieve the desired effect
topical application Drugs are applied locally on the skin or mucous membranes of the body
toxicity Harmful effects of a drug
toxicology Study of harmful chemicals and their effects on the body
Use of radionuclide tags attached to chemicals and followed as they travel through
tracer studies the body
transport Movement of a drug across a cell membrane into body cells
Diagnostic technique that projects and retrieves high-frequency sound waves as they
ultrasonography (US, U/S) echo off body parts
ultrasound transducer Handheld device that sends and receives ultrasound signals
United States Authoritative list of drugs, formulas, and preparations that sets a standard for drug
Pharmacopeia (USP) manufacturing and dispensing
uptake Rate of absorption of a radionuclide into an organ or tissue
ventilation-perfusion Ventilation and perfusion of a radiopharmaceutical followed by imaging its passage
studies through the respiratory tract
vitamin Substance found in foods and essential in small quantities for growth and good health