Dictionary of Abbreviations in Medical Sciences: With a list of the most important medical and scientific journals and their traditional abbreviations

293 Pages·1989·7.15 MB·English

by  Rolf Heister M. D. (auth.)

Rolf Heister
Dictionary
of Abbreviations in
Medical Sciences
With a list of the most important medical and scientific
journals and their traditional abbreviations
Foreword by Professor W. Forth
Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg New York
London Paris Tokyo
Rolf Heister, M. D.
Ginsterweg 11
5205 Sankt Augustin/Bonn
FRG
ISBN-13: 978-3-642-74246-0 e-ISBN-13: 978-3-642-74244-6
DOl: 10.1007/978-3-642-74244-6
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Heister, Rolf. Dictionary of abbreviations in medical sciences. 1. Medicine-Abbreviations.
2. Medical sciences-Abbreviations. 3. Medicine-Periodicals-Abbreviations of titles. I. Title.
[DNLM: 1. Medicine-abbreviations. W 13 H473d) R123.H35 1989 610.148 89-4380
ISBN 0-387-50487-7 (U.S.)
This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved, whether the whole or part of the
material is concemeq, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, re-use of illustrations,
recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in other ways, and storage in data
banks. Duplication of this publication or parts thereof is only permitted under the provisions of
the German Copyright Law of September 9, 1965, in its version of June 24, 1985, and a
copyright fee must always be paid. Violations fall under the prosecution act of the German
Copyright Law.
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1989
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1989
The use of registered names, trademarks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the
absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws
and regulations and therefore free for general use.
Product Liability: The publisher can give no guarantee for information about drug dosage and
application thereof contained in this book. In every individual case the respective user must
check its accuracy by consulting other pharmaceutical literature.
2127/3145-543210 - Printed on acid-free paper
Foreword
Not everyone is a friend of the manifold abbreviations that have by now
beCome a part of the scientific language of medicine. In order to avoid
misunderstanding these abbreviations, it is wise to refer to a reliable dic
tionary, such as this one prepared by Heister. The abbreviation ED
means, for instance, effective dose to the pharmacologist. However, it
might also stand for emetic dose. Radiologists use the same abbreviation
for erythema dose, and ED could also mean ethyl dichlorarsine. A com
mon meaning of ECU is European currency unit, a meaning that might
not be very often in scientific medical publications. ECU, however, also
means environmental control unit or European Chiropractic Union.
Hopefully, those making inventions and discoveries will make use of
Heister's dictionary before creating new abbreviations when preparing
manuscripts for scientific publications. It is a very worthwhile goal not to
use the same abbreviation for several different terms, especially if it is
already widely accepted to mean only one of them. It may be impossible,
however, to achieve this goal in different scientific disciplines. Therefore,
although it is wise for the abbreviations used in a publication to be
defined, it is also very helpful for readers and writers to use a dictionary
such as this one. The author deserves our warmest thanks since we know
that compiling such a comprehensive dictionary is based upon incredibly
hard effort.
Munich, January 1989 W.Forth
v
Preface
Both as a student and later as practising physician I kept on being tripped
up by medical and scientific abbreviations; sometimes this annoyed me. I
spent hours with books or in libraries trying to find out the meanings of
some of these abbreviations. At times, even recognized authorities had to
admit defeat on the meaning of an acronym that did not belong to their
immediate specialist field.
The proneness of our overseas colleagues to the use of abbreviations
that may confuse the novice, but in the end seem sensible, became clear to
me while I was working in the United States of America. In the meantime,
many of these expressions-have become part of day to day scientific and/
or clinical terminology.
Almost twenty years ago I started noting down all the abbreviations I
met in the medical-scientific sector. At first this was for my own use.
Then, thanks to the encouragement of some clinicians and scientists, I
published this private collection as a "Dictionary of Medical Abbrevia-
tions" in Germany a few years ago. It seemed to be highly welcomed by
the medical and related professions. I now present it as a thoroughly
updated English version, containing approximately 15000 items, for my
English-speaking colleagues throughout the world.
It was not my intention to put together the greatest possible number of
abbreviations. I limited them to those that are found most commonly in
the international literature, or that could cause difficulties when reading
scie~tific papers. Some important or internationally used acronyms from
other languages, such as Latin (L), French (F), German (G), Italian (I), or
Spanish (S), were also included. Little account was taken of common
abbreviations known to every student or of physical and chemical sym
bols and formulae. Some units of measurement were included, especially
where foreign or less well known terms were concerned. Usually, the
American way of spelling of terms was used, except where typical British
organizations and titles were mentioned.
Some abbreviations are written in capital letters and others not (e. g.
DOPA, Dopa); in such cases the most commonly used form was given, or
both. Where abbreviations can be joined together or separated by full
stops (e.g. EeG, E.c.G.), the simple form was usually chosen. Acronyms
for titles, degrees and diplomas were separated by full stops, since they
are usually seen in this format (e. g. M. D., D. V. H., etc.).
To make certain abbreviations better understood, an indication of the
VII
specialist area concerned was sometimes given, although it is almost
impossible to confine some terms to a single field, since disciplines like
chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacology, laboratory medicine, etc. are so
mixed up with one another. The indication given is only meant to indicate
the specialist area where the term is mainly used:
anat = anatomy neur = neurology
bact = bacteriology obst = obstetrics
biochem = biochemistry ophth = ophthalmology
card = cardiology orth = orthopedics
chern = chemistry otol = otorhinolaryngology,
chir = surgery ENT
clin = clinical pharm = pharmacology,
dent = dentistry pharmacy
derm = dermatology phys = physics
gen = genetics physiol = physiology
gyn = gynecology psych = psychiatry, psychology
hyg = ,hygiene rad = radiology
imm = immunology stat = statistics
lab = laboratory medicine urol = urology
mil = military medicine vet = veterinary medicine
By a number of colleagues, it was also suggested to add an appendix with
a list of the most important medical and scientific journals and their tradi
tional abbreviations, as there appears to be considerable confusion in this
area. This appendix with some 460 journal titles will be found on p.275.
For all the reasons mentioned, the dictionary lays no claim to being
complete; new abbreviations appear in the literature almost every day.
These will be taken into account in later, updating editions. Both the
author and the publisher would be grateful for advice and suggestions.
Bonn, January 1989 Rolf Heister, M. D.
VIII
AAA abdominal aortic aneu-
A
rysm
AAA acute anxiety attack
A absorbance (spectropho- AAA Alcoholics Anonymous
tometry) Association ("Triple A")
A acceleration AAA American Academy of All-
A acceptor ergists
A accommodation AAA American Association of
A acetum; vinegar Anatomists
A acid AAA American Anthropological
A adenine Association
A adenosine AAADS American Academy of
A adrenaline Applied Dental Science
A albumin AAALAC American Association for
A ampere Accreditation of Labora-
A amphetamine tory Animal Care
A ampicillin AAAN American Academy of
A androsterone Applied Nutrition
A anode AAAP American Association of
A argon Applied Psychology
A (ophth) aXIS AAAS American Association for
A total acidity the Advancement of
a annum; year Science
a ante (L); before, in front of AAB American Association of
a anterior Bioanalysts
a asymmetric AAB, AAb anti-antibodies
a axial AABB American Association of
A. aqua; water (also: Aq.) Blood Banks
A. arteria (L); artery AABF afferent arteriole blood
A- anion flow
A Angstrom unit AACC American Association of
Al, A2 aortic first (second) sound Clinical Chemists
AA achievement age AACCN American Association of
AA Alcoholics Anonymous Critical Care Nurses
(=AAA) AACHP American Association for
AA amino acid Comprehensive Health
AA amino acid arylamidase Planning
AA anticipatory avoidance AACP American Academy for
AA aortic area Cerebral Palsy
AA aplastic anemia AACP American Association of
AA application area Colleges of Pharmacy
AA Association of Anaesthe- AACPR American Association of
tists (UK) Cleft Palate Rehabilitation
Aa. arteriae (L); arteries AACR American Association for
A.a. alopecia areata Cancer Research
as. ana partes aequales (L); AACR American Association of
equal parts of each Clinical Research
AAD alloxazine adenine dinu- AAHM American Association of
cleotide (= FAD) the History of Medicine
AAD alpha-acetyldigoxin AAHP American Association of
AAD American Academy of Hospital Planning
Dermatology AAHPER American Academy for
AADM American Academy of Health, Physical Education
Dental Medicine and Recreation
AADN American Association of AAI American Association of
Doctor's Nurses Immunologists
AADP American Academy of AAID American Association of
Denture Prosthetics Implant Dentures
AADP aminopyridine adenine AAIIP Alfred Adler Institute for
dinucleotide phosphate Individual Psychology
AADR American Academy of (USA)
Dental Radiology AAIN American Association of
AADS American Academy of Industrial Nurses
Dermatology and Syphilol- AAIT American Association of
ogy Inhalation Therapists
AADS American Association of AAL anterior axillary line
Dental Schools AALAS American Association of
AAE active assistive exercise Laboratory Animal
AAE acute allergic encephalitis Science
AAE American Association of AAM American Academy of
Endodontists Microbiology
AAF acetic-alcohol-formalin AAMA American Association of
(fixing substance) Medical Assistants
AAF acetylaminofluorine AAMC American Association of
AAF (adrenal) ascorbic acid Medical Clinics
(depletion) factor AAMC American Association of
AAF anti-atelectasis factor Medical Colleges
(=LAS) AAME N-acetylarginine methyl-
AAFMC American Association of ester
Foundations for Medical AAMI Association for the Ad-
Care vancement of Medical
AAFP American Academy of Instrumentation (USA)
Family Practice AAMIH American Association for
AAG aortoarteriography Maternal and Infant
AAGL American Association of Health
Gynecological Laparo- AAMMC American Association of
scopists Medical Milk Commis-
AAGP American Academy of sioners
General Practice (now AAMPR American Association of
AAFP) Medico-Physical Research
AAGUS American Association of AAMRL American Association of
Genito-Urinary Surgery Medical Record Librarians
AAHD American Academy of the AAN American Academy of
History of Dentistry Neurology
2
AAN aminoacetonitril bisulfate AAPB American Association of
AANA American Association of Pathologists and Bacteri-
Nurse Anesthetists ologists
AAO Academy of Applied Oste- AAPCC American Association of
opathy (USA) Psychiatric Clinics for
AAO American Academy of Children
Otolaryngology AAPHD American Association of
AAO American Association of Public Health Dentists
Orthodontists AAPHP American Association of
AAO American Association of Public Health Physicians
Osteopathy AAPMR American Association of
AAO amino acid oxidase Physical Medicine and
(=DAAO) Rehabilitation
AAOC American Association of AAPS American Association of
Osteopathic Colleges Physicians and Surgeons
AAOG American Association of AAPS American Association of
Obstetricians and Gyne- Plastic Surgeons
cologists AAPT American Academy of
AAOGAS American Association of Physical Therapy
Obstetricians, Gynecolo- AAR antigen-antibody reaction
gists and Abdominal Sur- AART American Association for
geons Rehabilitation Therapy
AAOM American Academy of AART American Association for
Occupational Medicine Respiratory Therapy
AAOMS American Association of AAS alkyl aryl sulphonate
Oral and Maxillofacial AAS anthrax antiserum
Surgeons (Chicago) AAS aortic arch syndrome
AAOO American Academy of AAS atomic absorption spec-
Ophthalmology and Oto- trometry
laryngology AAS Australian Academy of
AAOP American Academy of Science (Canberra)
Oral Pathology AASLD American Academy for the
AAOS American Association of Study of Liver Diseases
Orthopedic Surgeons AASP American Association for
AAP alanine aminopeptidase Social Psychiatry
AAP alcohol-induced acute pan- AAST American Association for
creatitis the Surgery of Trauma
AAP American Academy of AAT alpha-1-antitrypsine
Pediatrics AAT aspartate aminotrans-
AAP American Academy of ferase
Pedodontics AATCC American Association of
AAP American Academy of Textile Chemists and
Periodontology Colorists
AAP American Academy of Psy- AATM American Academy of
chotherapists Tropical Medicine
AAPA American Association of AATP American Academy of
Physicians' Assistants Tuberculosis Physicians
3
AA-tRNA aminoacyl transport ribo- intervention regarding airways, breath-
nucleic acid ing and circulation (some-
AATS American Association for times referred to as ABC
Thoracic Surgery of Resuscitation: airways,
AAUS Associated Anesthetists of breathing, circulation,
the United States of Amer- drugs, ECG, fluids,
ica gauging, hypothermia,
AAV adeno-associated viruses intensive care)
AAV AIDS associated virus ABCP Association of Blind Char-
(=HIV) tered Physiotherapists
AAV Allgemeen Apothekers ABC plaster hyperemizing plaster (with
Verbond; General Associa- extracts of arnica, bella-
tion of Pharmacists (The donna and capsicum)
Netherlands) ABC solu- boric acid and carbolic
AAVC accessory atrioventricular tion acid solution
connection ( = AAV P) ABC test area-brightness compari-
AAVP accessory atrioventricular (ophth) son test
pathway ( = AAV C) ABC ABC, axiobuccocervical
AB abortion abc (dent)
AB Aid to the Blind ABD anastomose bilio-digestive
AB,Ab antibody (F); anastomosis between
AB apex beat bile duct and intestine
AB asthma bronchiale (L), ABE acute bacterial endocardi-.
asthmatic bronchitis tis
AB,ab axiobuccal ABERP accessory bundle effective
(dent) refractory period
A.B. Artium Baccalaureus (L); ( = APERP, ERP-AB,
Bachelor of Arts ERP-AP)
A>B air greater than bone (con- ABF androgen-binding fraction
duction) ABG arterial blood gases
ABA American Burn Associa- ABG, abg axiobuccogingival
tion (dent)
ABB antibody-coated bacteria ABJ anastomose bilio-jejunale
(test) ( = ACB) (F); anastomosis between
abbr. abbreviation, abbrevi- bile duct and jejunum
ated ABL, abl axiobuccolingual
ABC antigen-binding capacity (dent)
ABC atomic, biological, 'chemi- ABMP 2-amino-5-bromo-
cal (warfare) 6-methyl-4(3H)-pyrimidi-
ABC (imm) avidin biotin peroxidase none
complex ABO absent bed occupancy
ABCC Atomic Bomb Casualty ABO A-B-O system (of blood
Commission grouping)
ABC orthodontic device devel- ABOB anhydrous bis-hydroxy-
apparatus oped by E.H. Angle, H.A. ethyl biguanide
Baker and C.S. Case ABP acute biliary pancrea-
ABC reanimation procedures titis
4