Medical abbreviations and acronyms (A)
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This article contains a list of commonly used medical abbreviations and acronyms that start with the letter A and may be encountered in medicine and radiology (please keep both the main list and any sublists in alphabetic order).
A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L -M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z - misc
- A
- adenine (DNA nucleotide)
- adenosine
- alanine (single letter amino acid code)
- ampere/amp (SI unit of current)
- artery
- blood type (ABO system)
- vitamin A (retinol)
- A1-A5: annular pulleys
- AA
- alleged assault
- alcoholics anonymous
- amino acid
- amyloid A
- anaplastic astrocytoma
- aplastic anaemia
- arachidonic acid
- AAA
- abdominal aortic aneurysm
- achalasia-addisonianism-alacrima syndrome
- acute anxiety attack
- American Association of Anatomists
- anti-actin antibodies
- AAC
- adenocystic carcinoma
- Advisory Appointment Committee (UK)
- AACG: acute angle-closure glaucoma
- AAL: anterior axillary line
- AARF: atlantoaxial rotatory fixation
- AAS
- AAST: American association for the surgery of trauma
- AAU: acute anterior uveitis
- AB
- abortion
- antibiotics
- antibody
- blood type (ABO system)
- ABC
-
airwaysairway, breathing, circulation - aneurysmal bone cyst
- antigen-binding capacity
- atomic, biological, chemical (warfare)
-
- ABER: abduction and external rotation position
- ABG: arterial blood gas
- ABI
- acquired brain injury
- ankle-brachial index
- ABO: a blood type system
- ABPA: allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
- ABPI: ankle-brachial pressure index
- ABR
- American Board of Radiology
- auditory brainstem response
- abs
- absent
- absolute
- muscles of the abdomen
- rectus abdominis muscle
- ABx: antibiotics
- AC
- abdominal circumference
- acromioclavicular (joint)
- amniocentesis
- anterior commissure
- anticoagulant
- arachnoid cyst
- ascending colon
- axillary clearance
- before meals (L: ante cibum)
- Ac: actinium
- ACA
- anterior cerebral artery
-
anti-cardiolipinanticardiolipin antibody
- ACDA: anterior cervical disc arthroplasty
- ACDF: anterior cervical discectomy and fusion
- ACE
- acetylcholine esterase
- angiotensin-converting enzyme
- ACE-i: angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor
- ACGME: Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
- ACh: acetylcholine
- AChE: acetylcholinesterase
- ACJ: acromioclavicular joint
- ACL: anterior cruciate ligament
- ACLS: advanced cardiac life support
- ACOM: anterior communicating artery
- AC-PC line: anterior commissure - posterior commissure line
- ACP: Amplatzer cardiac plug
- ACR: American College of Radiology
- ACS
- abdominal compartment syndrome
- acute coronary syndrome
- altered conscious state
- ACTH: adrenocorticotropic hormone
- AD
- addict
- alcohol dehydrogenase
- Alzheimer disease
- antidepressant
- atopic dermatitis
- autosomal dominant
- axillary dissection
- ADC
- apparent diffusion coefficient
- analogue-to-digital converter
- ADD-RS: aortic dissection detection risk score
- ADEM: acute disseminating encephalomyelitis
- ADH: antidiuretic hormone
- ADHD: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- ADHF: acute decompensated heart failure
- ADI: atlantodental interval
- ADL: activities of daily living
- ADP: adenosine diphosphate
- ADR: adverse drug reaction
- A&E: accident and emergency (department)
- A/E: accident and emergency (department)
- AE: air entry
- AF
- amniotic fluid
- atrial fibrillation
- AFB: acid-fast bacillus
- AFE: amniotic fluid embolism
- AFF: atypical femoral fracture
- AFI: amniotic fluid index
- AFP: alpha fetoprotein
- AFS: allergic fungal sinusitis
- AG
- anion gap
- antiglobulin (test)
- Ag
- silver (Latin: argentum)
- antigen
- A/G: albumin-globulin ratio
- AI
- artificial insemination
- assisted insemination
- artificial intelligence
- autoimmune
- AICA: anterior inferior cerebellar artery
- AICD: automated implantable cardiac defibrillator
- AIDS: acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
- AIIS: anterior inferior iliac spine
- AIN: acute interstitial nephritis
- AIP: acute interstitial pneumonitis
- AIP: average intensity projection
- AJL: anterior junctional line
- AJNR: American Journal of Neuroradiology
- AJR: American Journal of Roentgenology
- AKA: above knee amputation
- AKI: acute kidney injury
- AKU: alkaptonuria
- Al: aluminium
- Ala: alanine
- ALARA: as low as reasonably achievable
- ALARP: as low as reasonably practicable
- ALCAPA: anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery
- ALD
- adrenoleukodystrophy
- alcoholic liver disease
- ALHE: angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia
- ALI: acute lung injury
- ALIF: anterior lumbar interbody fusion
- ALL
- ALND: axillary lymph node dissection
- ALOC: altered level of consciousness
- ALP: alkaline phosphatase
- ALPSA: anterior labroligamentous periosteal sleeve avulsion
- ALS
- ALT
- alanine transaminase
- anterolateral thigh free flap
- ALTE: acute life-threatening event
- AM
- Am: americium
- AMA:
- American Medical Association
- Australian Medical Association
- advanced maternal age (obstetrics)
- AmE: American English
- AMI
- acute myocardial infarct
- acute mitral insufficiency
- A-mode: amplitude mode (ultrasound)
- AMP: adenosine monophosphate
- AMPA: α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid
- AN
- ANA: antinuclear antibodies
- anat: anatomy
- ANED: alive no evidence of disease
- ANOH: anatomic neck of humerus
- Ao: aorta
- AOD: atlanto-occipital dissociation injury
- AOM: acute otomastoiditis
- AP: anterior-posterior or anteroposterior
- APLA: antiphospholipid antibodies
- APML: acute promyelocytic leukaemia
- APO: acute pulmonary oedema
- APR: abdominoperineal resection
- APRV: airway pressure release ventilation
- APS
- APT: antiplatelet therapy
- APTT: activated partial thromboplastin time
- APUD: amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation
- APW: aortopulmonary window
- AR
- aortic regurgitation
- augmented reality
- autosomal recessive
- Ar: argon
- ARDS: acute respiratory distress syndrome
- ARF: acute renal failure
- Arg: arginine
- ARRS: American Roentgen Ray Society
- ARS: American Radium Society
- ART: assisted reproductive technology
- AS
- ankylosing spondylitis
- aortic sclerosis
- aortic stenosis
- associate specialist (UK)
- As: arsenic
- ASA: acetylsalicylic acid
- ASB: anatomical snuff box
- ASD
- atrial septal defect
- autistic spectrum disorder
- aSDH: acute subdural haemorrhage
- ASIS: anterior superior iliac spine
- Asn: asparagine
- ASNR: American Society of Neuroradiology
- ASP triad: anorectal malformation or congenital anorectal stenosis, sacrococcygeal osseous defect, presacral mass
- Asp: aspartic acid
- ASPECTS: Alberta stroke program early CT score
- ASR: atraumatic splenic rupture
- AST: aspartate transaminase
- ASUC: acute severe ulcerative colitis
- AT: atrial tachycardia
- At: astatine
- ATA: anterior tibial artery
- ATECO: auto-triggered elliptic centric-ordered (MRV)
- ATG: antithymocyte globulin
- ATFL: anterior talofibular ligament
- ATL: anterior temporal lobectomy
- ATLS: advanced trauma life support
- ATOR: at time of review
- ATP: adenosine triphosphate
- ATRA: all-trans retinoic acid
- ATRT: atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumour
- Au: gold (Latin: aurum)
- AUB: abnormal uterine bleeding
- AUR: acute urinary retention
- AV
- AVF: arteriovenous fistula
- AVM: arteriovenous malformation
- AVNRT: AV nodal re-entry tachycardia
- AVR: aortic valve replacement
- AVSD: atrioventricular septal defect
- Ax
- AXR: abdominal X-ray
- AZ: apical zone
- AZT: azidothymidine (HIV drug) (a.k.a. zidovudine)
-<li>airways, breathing, circulation</li>- +<li>airway, breathing, circulation</li>
-<li>anti-cardiolipin antibody</li>- +<li>anticardiolipin antibody</li>
-<li>AZT: azidothymidine (HIV drug)</li>- +<li>AZT: azidothymidine (HIV drug) (a.k.a. zidovudine)</li>
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