Decoding Diagnosis Abbreviations: A Comprehensive Guide for Automotive and Healthcare Professionals

In the intricate fields of automotive repair and healthcare, efficiency and precision in communication are paramount. Diagnosis Abbreviations serve as a shorthand, enabling professionals to quickly and accurately convey complex information. Mastering these abbreviations is crucial for anyone working in these sectors, from seasoned mechanics diagnosing vehicle issues to medical practitioners charting patient conditions. This comprehensive guide aims to demystify common diagnosis abbreviations, providing an invaluable resource for both automotive and healthcare professionals looking to enhance their understanding and communication.

Understanding diagnosis abbreviations is more than just memorizing a list; it’s about grasping the context and ensuring clarity to avoid potentially critical misunderstandings. Whether you’re deciphering a vehicle diagnostic report or reviewing a patient’s medical chart, the ability to swiftly interpret these abbreviations can significantly improve workflow and accuracy. This article provides an extensive list of commonly used abbreviations, categorized alphabetically for easy navigation, ensuring you have a reliable reference at your fingertips.

Common Diagnosis Abbreviations A-Z

This section lists diagnosis abbreviations in alphabetical order, along with their full forms and context where applicable. While this list is extensive, it’s important to remember that the context always dictates the meaning, and in cases of ambiguity, clarity should always be prioritized.

A Abbreviations

A.A.R.O.M. – Active Assistive Range Of Motion
AAC – Augmentative and Alternative Communication
A.B.G – Arterial Blood Gas
a.c. – Before Meals (from Latin ante cibum)
A/C – Assist Control (Ventilation)
ADA Diet – American Diabetes Association Diet
A.D.L. – Activities of Daily Living
A.Fib. – Atrial Fibrillation
AKA – Above-Knee Amputation or Above-The-Knee Amputation
ALS – Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s Disease)
AMA – Against Medical Advice
A&O – Alert and Oriented
A/P – Anterior–Posterior
A.R.O.M. – Active Range Of Motion
ASAP – As Soon As Possible
ASD – Autism Spectrum Disorder
ASL – American Sign Language

B Abbreviations

b.i.d. – Twice A Day (from Latin bis in die)
BKA – Below-Knee Amputation
B/L – Bilateral
B.L.BS – Bilateral Breath Sounds
BMR – Basal Metabolism Rate
BP – Blood Pressure
BR – Bed Rest
bs – Bowel Sounds
BS – Breath Sounds
B/S – Bedside
bx – Biopsy

C Abbreviations

c̅ – With (from Latin cum)
C – Celsius, Centigrade
C1, C2, etc. – First Cervical Vertebrae, Second Cervical Vertebrae, etc.
CA – Cardiac Arrest, Cancer, Carcinoma (context dependent)
CA, ca – Cancer, Carcinoma
CABG – Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
CAD – Coronary Artery Disease
cal – Calorie
cath – Catheter
CBC – Complete Blood Count
cc – Cubic Centimeter
CC – Chief Complaint
CHF – Congestive Heart Failure, Chronic Heart Failure
CCU – Coronary Care Unit
CHI – Closed Head Injury
cm – Centimeter
CMT – Continuing Medication and Treatment
CN – Cranial Nerve
CNA – Certified Nursing Assistant
CNS – Central Nervous System
c/o – Complains Of
COTA – Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant
cont – Continue(d)
COPD – Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
CP – Cerebral Palsy
CPAP – Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
CPR – Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
CRF – Chronic Renal Failure
CRNP – Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner
CSF – Cerebrospinal Fluid
CT – Computerized Tomography
CV – Cardiovascular
CVA – Cerebral Vascular Accident (Stroke)
CXR – Chest X-Ray

D Abbreviations

d – Day
d/c – Discontinue
DC – Discharge
DM – Diabetes Mellitus
DNK – Do Not Know
DNKA – Did Not Keep Appointment
DNR – Do Not Resuscitate
DNT – Did Not Test
DOA – Dead On Arrival
DOB – Date Of Birth
DOE – Dyspnea On Exertion
d/t – Due To
Dx – Diagnosis

E Abbreviations

ECC, EKG – Electrocardiogram
ED – Emergency Department
EEG – Electroencephalogram
EENT – Eyes, Ears, Nose, Throat
EMG – Electromyogram
ENT – Ears, Nose, Throat
ER – Emergency Room
ETOH – Ethanol (Alcohol)
exam – Examination
ext – External, Exterior

F Abbreviations

F – Fahrenheit
FH – Family History
fib – Fibrillation
fl, fld – Fluid
FOB – Foot Of Bed
f/u – Follow-Up
FWB – Full Weight Bearing
Fx – Fracture

G Abbreviations

GB – Gall Bladder
GCS – Glasgow Coma Scale
GE – Gastroenterology
GERD – Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
G/E – Gastroenteritis
gen – General
gest. – Gestation
G.I. – Gastrointestinal
GNA – Geriatric Nursing Assistant
gluc – Glucose
GP – General Practitioner, General Paralysis
GSW – Gunshot Wound
GTT – Glucose Tolerance Test
Gt. tr. – Gait Training
GYN – Gynecology

H Abbreviations

h – Hour
H/A – Headache
HAV – Hepatitis A Virus
Hb. – Hemoglobin
HB – Heart Block
HBP – High Blood Pressure
h.d. – At Bedtime (from Latin hora decubitus)
HEENT – Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, Throat
HEP – Home Exercise Program
H2O – Water
h/o – History Of
HOB – Head Of Bed
H&P – History and Physical
HR – Heart Rate
HTN – Hypertension
HVD – Hypertensive Vascular Disease
Hx – History
Hz – Hertz (Cycles/Second)

I Abbreviations

ICCU – Intensive Coronary Care Unit
ICP – Intracranial Pressure
ICU – Intensive Care Unit
imp. – Impression
incr. – Increased(ing)
inf – Infusion, Inferior
inspire – Inspiration, Inspiratory
int. – Internal
I&O – Intake and Output
IPPB – Intermittent Positive Pressure Breathing
irreg. – Irregular
IV – Intravenous(ly)

J Abbreviations

J, jt. – Joint

K Abbreviations

K – Potassium, Kidney (context dependent)

L Abbreviations

L – Left, Liver, Liter, Lower, Light, Lumbar (context dependent)
L2, L3 – Second Lumbar Vertebrae, Third Lumbar Vertebrae
lab – Laboratory
lac. – Laceration
lat. – Lateral
LBW – Low Birth Weight
L.E. – Lower Extremities
liq. – Liquid
L.O.C. – Loss Of Consciousness, Level Of Consciousness, Laxative Of Choice (context dependent)
LOS – Length Of Stay
LP – Lumbar Puncture
LPN – Licensed Practical Nurse
LUE – Left Upper Extremity
Lx – Larynx
L&W – Living and Well

M Abbreviations

m, M – Married, Male, Mother, Murmur, Meter, Mass, Molar (context dependent)
max. – Maximum, Maxillary
MBC – Maximum Breathing Capacity
MBSS – Modified Barium Swallow Study
MCA – Middle Cerebral Artery
MD – Muscular Dystrophy, Medical Doctor (context dependent)
mdnt. – Midnight
med. – Medicine, Medical (context dependent)
mets. – Metastasis
MG – Myasthenia Gravis
MI – Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack)
min – Minute, Minimum (context dependent)
MICU – Medical Intensive Care Unit
mod – Moderate
MRI – Magnetic Resonance Imaging
MRSA – Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
mss – Massage
MVA – Motor Vehicle Accident

N Abbreviations

n. – Nerve
Na – Sodium
NaCl – Sodium Chloride
NAD – No Abnormality Detected, No Apparent Distress (context dependent)
neg. – Negative
neur. – Neurology
NG – Nasogastric
NIC – Neonatal Intensive Care
NICU – Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
NKA – No Known Allergies
no. – Number
NOS – Not Otherwise Specified
NPO – Nothing By Mouth (from Latin nil per os)
NSA – No Specific Abnormality
NST – Nonstress Test
N&V – Nausea and Vomiting
NVD – Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea
N&W – Normal and Well
NWB – Non–Weight Bearing
NYD – Not Yet Diagnosed

O Abbreviations

o – None, Without (from Latin omnis)
O – Oral
O2 – Oxygen
O2 cap. – Oxygen Capacity
O2 sat. – Oxygen Saturation
OA – Osteoarthritis
OB, OBG – Obstetrics
OB/GYN – Obstetrics and Gynecology
Obs – Observation
OBS – Organic Brain Syndrome
ODD – Oppositional Defiant Disorder
O/E – On Examination
OH – Occupational History
OHD – Organic Heart Disease
oint. – Ointment
O.M. – Otitis Media
O.M.E. – Otitis Media With Effusion
OOB, oob – Out Of Bed
Op. – Operation
ot. – Ear (from Greek otos)
Oto – Otolaryngology
OTC – Over-The-Counter (Pharmaceuticals)
O.T. – Occupational Therapy, Old Tuberculin (context dependent)
OR – Operating Room

P Abbreviations

PA – Physician’s Assistant
p&a – Percussion and Auscultation
PACU – Post Anesthesia Care Unit
PAF – Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation
palp. – Palpate, Palpated, Palpable
Path – Pathology
PA view – Posterior–Anterior View On X-Ray
p/c, p.c. – After Meals (from Latin post cibum)
PD – Parkinson’s Disease
pdr. – Powder
PDN – Private Duty Nurse
PE – Physical Exam, Pulmonary Embolism, Pressure Equalizer (Tubes) (context dependent)
Ped. – Pediatrics
PEEP – Positive End-Expiratory Pressure
PEG – Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy
PET – Positron Emission Tomography
PH – Past History
pharm – Pharmacy
PHYS. – Physical, Physiology
PI – Present Illness, Pulmonary Insufficiency (context dependent)
PICU – Pulmonary Intensive Care Unit
PID – Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
plts. – Platelets
P.M. – Afternoon, Postmortem
PMH – Past Medical History
PMR – Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
PN – Poorly Nourished, Practical Nurse (context dependent)
P&N – Psychiatry and Neurology
PNA – Pneumo, Pneumonia
PNI – Peripheral Nerve Injury
PNX – Pneumothorax
p.o. – By Mouth (from Latin per os)
p.o.d. – Postoperative Day
pos. – Positive
post. – Posterior
POSTOP. – Postoperative
pot. or potass. – Potassium
PR – Proctology
pre-op – Preoperative
prep. – Prepare For
p.r.m. – According To Circumstances (from Latin pro re nata)
p.r.n., PRN – As Often As Necessary, As Needed (from Latin pro re nata)
prod. – Productive
Prog. – Prognosis
PROM – Passive Range Of Motion
pron. – Pronator, Pronation
prosth. – Prosthesis
PSH – Past Surgical History
Psych. – Psychiatry
pt., Pt. – Patient
PT, P.T. – Physical Therapy
PTA – Prior To Admission, Posterior Tibial Artery (context dependent)
PTA pulse – Posterior Tibial Artery Pulse
PUD – Peptic Ulcer Disease
PVD – Peripheral Vascular Disease
PVT – Previous Trouble
PWB% – Partial Weight Bearing With Percent
Px, PX – Physical Examination

Q Abbreviations

q – Every (from Latin quaque)
q.h. – Every Hour (from Latin quaque hora)
q.i.d. – Four Times A Day (from Latin quater in die)
qt. – Quart
quad. – Quadriplegic

R Abbreviations

R, r – Right
R. – Rub, Rectal Temperature (context dependent)
RA – Rheumatoid Arthritis, Right Atrium (context dependent)
rad. – Radial, Radiation (context dependent)
r.a.m. – Rapid Alternating Movements
R.A.S. – Right Arm Sitting
RAtx – Radiation Therapy
rbc/RBC – Red Blood Cell, Red Blood Count
RCA – Right Coronary Artery
RCU – Respiratory Care Unit
RD – Respiratory Distress
RDS – Respiratory Distress Syndrome
RE – Reconditioning Exercise
reg. – Regular
rehab. – Rehabilitation
resp. – Respiratory, Respirations
RF – Rheumatic Fever, Renal Failure (context dependent)
RLAS – Rancho Los Amigos Scale
R to L&A – React To Light And Accommodation
RLE – Right Lower Extremity
RN – Registered Nurse
RND – Radical Neck Dissection
RO, R/O – Rule Out
ROM – Range Of Motion, Rupture Of Membranes, Right Otitis Media (context dependent)
ROS – Review Of Symptoms
Rt. – Right
RT – Radiation Therapy, Respiratory Therapy (context dependent)
RUE – Right Upper Extremity
RV – Residual Volume
RW – Rolling Walker
Rx – Therapy, Prescription

S Abbreviations

s – Without (from Latin sine)
S – Sensation, Sensitive, Serum (context dependent)
Sa. – Saline
s.c. – Subcutaneous(ly)
Scc – Squamous Cell Carcinoma
SCCA – Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen (context dependent)
SCD – Sudden Cardiac Death
SCI – Spinal Cord Injury
schiz – Schizophrenia
SCU – Special Care Unit
sec – Second
Sens. – Sensory, Sensation
sep. – Separated
SGA – Small For Gestational Age
s.gl. – Without Correction (Without Glasses) (from Latin sine glossa)
SH – Social History
SI – Stroke Index, Suicidal Ideation (context dependent)
sib. – Sibling
SICU – Surgical Intensive Care Unit
SIDS – Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
skel. – Skeletal
Sl. – Slightly
SL – Under The Tongue (Sublingual)
SLP – Speech-Language Pathologist
sm – Small
SNF – Skilled Nursing Facility
SOAP – Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan
SOB – Shortness Of Breath
S/P, s/p – Status Post (Previous Condition)
sp. cd. – Spinal Cord
spec. – Specimen
sp. fl. – Spinal Fluid
sp&H – Speech and Hearing
spin. – Spine, Spinal
spont. – Spontaneous
s/s – Signs and Symptoms
SS – Social Service
ST – Speech Therapy
stat., STAT – Immediately (from Latin statim)
STD – Sexually Transmitted Disease
subcut. – Subcutaneous
subling. – Sublingual
sup. – Superior
supin. – Supination
surg. – Surgery, Surgical
Sx – Symptoms, Surgery (context dependent)
sys. – System
Syst. – Systolic
Sz – Seizure

T Abbreviations

T – Temperature, Thoracic (context dependent)
T&A – Tonsils And Adenoids, Tonsillectomy And Adenoidectomy
tab. – Tablet
TAH – Total Abdominal Hysterectomy
TB – Tuberculosis
TBI – Traumatic Brain Injury
temp – Temperature
THERAP. – Therapy, Therapeutic
THR – Total Hip Replacement
TIA – Transient Ischemic Attack (Mini-Stroke)
TKR – Total Knee Replacement
TNM – Tumor, Nodes, And Metastases (Cancer Staging)
TO – Telephone Order
TPN – Total Parenteral Nutrition
TPR – Temperature, Pulse, Respiration
tr – Trace
trach – Tracheostomy
tsp. – Teaspoon
Tx – Treatment, Traction

U Abbreviations

U/A – Urinalysis
UCD, UCHD – Usual Childhood Diseases
UG – Upward Gaze
Unilat. – Unilateral
u/o – Under Observation
Ur. – Urine
URD – Upper Respiratory Disease
URI – Upper Respiratory Infection
Urol. – Urology
u/s, US – Ultrasound
UTI – Urinary Tract Infection

V Abbreviations

V – Vein, Volt (context dependent)
VA – Visual Acuity
vag – Vagina, Vaginal
VC, vit.cap. – Vital Capacity
VD – Venereal Disease
vent. – Ventilator
vert. – Vertical, Vertebra (context dependent)
VF – Visual Fields, Ventricular Fibrillation (context dependent)
VFSS – Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Study
Via – By Way Of
vit. – Vitamin, Vital (context dependent)
VN – Visiting Nurse
VO – Verbal Order
VS, V.S. – Vital Signs

W Abbreviations

w, wk – Week
W/C, wh.ch. – Wheelchair
WBT – Weight Bearing Tolerance
WFL – Within Functional Limits
w/n – Within
WNL – Within Normal Limits
WP – Whirlpool
wt. – Weight
w/u – Workup

X Abbreviations

x – Times

Y Abbreviations

y.o. – Years Old
yrs. – Years

The Importance of Context and Caution

While diagnosis abbreviations are incredibly useful for professionals, it’s crucial to remember that context is everything. Some abbreviations can have multiple meanings (e.g., CA can mean cardiac arrest or cancer). Therefore, clear communication and understanding the specific field (automotive or medical) are essential to avoid errors.

Caution: Always prioritize clarity over brevity. If there’s any chance of ambiguity, it’s best to spell out the term in full. This is especially important in critical situations within both automotive diagnostics and healthcare.

Conclusion

Mastering diagnosis abbreviations is a valuable skill for professionals in automotive repair and healthcare. This guide provides a comprehensive starting point for understanding and utilizing these abbreviations effectively. By using this resource and always prioritizing clarity, professionals can enhance their communication, improve efficiency, and ensure accuracy in their respective fields. Remember to continuously update your knowledge as new abbreviations emerge and context-specific meanings evolve within these dynamic industries.