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) |
