Patients and carers
Print

Abbreviations

General

This section contains a list of abbreviations for various imaging procedures compiled by the Patients' Liaison Groups of The Royal College of Radiologists.

Abbreviations encountered in imaging procedures
Abbreviations encountered in health literature
Other useful terms

 

Abdo abdomen
Abdo E&S abdomen erect and supine (lying face upwards)
Angio angiogram (shows blood vessels)
Arthrogram contrast injected into a joint cavity to outline it
AP antero-posterior view
AXR abdominal X-ray
Barium a substance opaque to X-rays
Ba E barium enema
Ba Sw barium swallow
Ba M barium meal
Ba FT barium follow through
Ca cancer
C B (WNCB) core biopsy (wide needle core biopsy). Small samples of tissue are taken using a special needle
Chole cholecystogram (for the gall bladder) (rarely if ever performed today)
Contrast media the substance injected into spaces to outline them as it is radio-opaque.
Often called 'dye' but it is colourless
C C cranio-caudal view. Often used in mammography for the view taken from above to below
CXR chest X-ray
Doppler in ultrasound, the Doppler principle is used to detect and measure flow in vessels
ERCP endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatogram. Using a side-viewing endoscopy, the common bile and pancreatic ducts are cannulated and contrast medium is injected to outline the ducts
FFD focus film distance
FNA (c) fine needle aspiration cytology. Cells are taken by a fine needle
H S G hystero-salpingogram. An investigation to outline the uterine cavity and the fallopian tubes
I A M internal auditory meatus. The point in the skull where the nerves enter the inner ear
IVP intravenous pyelogram (same as IVU). Contrast media is injected into a vein and is excreted by the kidney, outlining the urinary system
IVU intravenous urogram (same as IVP)
KUB kidneys, ureters and bladder
LAT lateral view
LO lateral oblique view (often called oblique/obl view)
Mammo mammogram
MCU (G) micturating cysto-urethrogram. Investigation of the urinary tract by direct needle puncture, often before insertion of a drainage catheter
NOF neck of femur
Obstretic AFI amniotic fluid index
CRL crown rump length (measurement of fetus)
ET endometrial thickness (of the uterine cavity)
FH fetal heart
MSD mean sac diameter (measurement of fetal sac)
PA postero-anterior view
PCN Percutaneous nephrostomy. Investigation of the urinary tract by direct needle puncture, often before insertion of a drainage catheter
PNS postnasal space
PT (H)C Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram. Investigation of the biliary system inside the liver via direct needle puncture
Protogram Investigation of the rectum. Defaecating proctogram is conducted during defaecation
R Lat right lateral (or L Lat - left lateral) view
S I Js Sacro-iliac joints
Spine : C sp cervical spine
L sp lumbar spine
LS sp lumbo-sacral spine
T sp thoracic spine
SXR Skull X-ray
Tib & Fib tibia and fibula
T M J temperomandibular joint
TV Scan transvaginal ultrasound scan
Urodynamics The study of bladder function
US ultrasound
XR plain X-ray

back to top


Abbreviations encountered in health literature

ALARA As low as reasonably achievable. Principle for a radiation dose
ALARP As low as reasonably possible. Principle for a radiation dose
BMUS British Medical Ultrasound Society
www.bmus.org
BNMS British Nuclear Medicine Society www.bnms.org.uk/
BSIR British Society of Interventional Radiology www.bsir.org/
CIRIS A professions-led membership programme for delivering clinical governance in radiological imaging services. It was developed by the RCR, the College of Radiographers and a software company www.cirishealthcare.com/
CNS Cancer Nurse Specialist
CR computed radiography. Instead of the radiation being detected by a film, it is detected by a special plate which is read by a laser and a digital image produced
CSC Cancer Services Collaborative, part of the Modernisation Agency in the Department of Health
www.cancerimprovement.nhs.uk/
DMSA imaging that enables the assessment of size and position of the kidneys
DR digital radiography. Instead of the radiation being detected by a film, it is detected by a special detector and a digital image produced
HIS Hospital Information System. The system which integrates the PAS with departmental systems
IR(ME)R Ionising Radiation Medical Exposure Regulations
NHSBSP NHS Breast Screening Programme
www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/breastscreen
NRPB National Radiological Protection Board. The authority which advises on the safe limits of radiation
PACS Picture Archiving and Communication System. A computer system for providing filmless radiology
RIS Radiology Information System. A computer system for the administration of a radiology service, providing facilities for booking and managing patients' radiology examinations and results
RRS Remote Requesting System (also known as Order-Comms)

back to top


Other useful terms

CVA cerebrovascular accident; stroke
DVT deep vein thrombosis
DXR/DXT radiotherapy
FB foreign body
FOOSH fall on outstretched hand
GI (T) gastrointestinal tract
HRT hormone replacement therapy
MI myocardial infarction (heart attack)
MUA manipulation under anaesthesia
NAD nothing abnormal discovered
NAI non-accidental injury
NBI no bone injury
PSA prostate-specific antigen
SOL space-occupying lesion
TIA transient ischaemic attack
UTI urinary tract infection

back to top