Medical Terminology and Cancer

© Copyright 1996-2000

15: Abbreviations and Acronyms for Oncology


Contents

Combined List of Abbreviations and Acronyms

Shortcuts: ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

3DCRT

3 Dimensional Conformal Radiotherapy

5-FU

5-Fluorouracil (anti cancer drug)

6-MP

6-Mercaptopurine (anti cancer drug)

6-TG

6-Thioguanine (anti cancer drug)

AA

Anaplastic Anaemia

AACR

American Association for Cancer Research

ABC

Advanced Breast Cancer

ABMT

Autologous bone marrow transplant

ABPI

Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry

ABTA

American Brain Tumour Association

ACDM

Association for Clinical Data Management

ACRPI

Association of Clinical Research for the Pharmaceutical Industry

ACS

American Cancer Society

ADR

Adverse Drug Reaction

AE

Adverse event

AFP

Alphafetoprotein - eg. expressed by germ cell tumours and other cancers

AIDS

Acquired immune deficiency syndrome

AIOM

Italian Association for Medical Oncology

AIRO

Associazione Italiana di Radioterapia Oncologica

AJCC

American Joint Committee on Cancer

ALAT

Alanine aminotransferase / alinine transaminase

ALCL

Anaplastic Large-cell Lymphoma

ALL

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

ALT

Alanine Aminotransferase

AMKL

acute megakaryocytic leukemia

AML

Acute Myeloid leukaemia

ANC

Absolute neutrophil count

ANED

Alive no evidence of disease

ANLL

Acute non-lymphatic leukaemia

ARMS

Alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma

ASCO

American Society of Clinical Oncology

ASH

American Society for Hematology

ASR

Age Standardised Rate (Incidence)

ASTRO

American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology

AUC

Area under the curve

B-ALL

B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia

BACR

British Association for Cancer Research

BAER

Brainstem Auditory Evoked Responce

BASO

British Association of Surgical Oncologists

BCC

Basal Cell Carcinoma

BID / BD

Twice a day (bis in die)

BM

Bone Marrow

BM

Blood Monitoring (eg for glucose)

BMA

British Medical Association

BMJ

British Medical Journal

BMR

Basal Metabolic Rate

BMT

Bone Marrow Transplant

BNF

British National Formulary

BNLI

British National Lymphoma Investigation

BOA

British Oncology Association

BODMA

British Oncology Data Managers Association (UK)

BP

Blood pressure

BRM

Biological Response Modifier

BSA

Body Surface Area

BSE

Breast Self Examination

Bx

Biopsy

C/O

Complaining of

C/W

Continue With

C1 - C7

Cervical vertebrae (spine eg. C7 = seventh cervical vertebra)

Ca

Cancer; carcinoma

Ca

Calcium

CALGB

Cancer and Leukemia Group B (USA)

cALL

Common ALL

CAT

Computerised axial tomography (scan)

cc

Cubic centimeter

CCF

Congestive Cardiac Failure

CCG

Children's Cancer Group (USA)

CCR

Continuous complete remission

CCRG

Children's Cancer Research Group (Oxford, UK)

CCS

Canadian Cancer Society

CEA

Carcinoembryonic Antigen (tumour marker)

CGH

Comparative Genomic Hybridisation - cytogenetics method

CGL

Chronic Granulocytic Leukaemia

cGy

Centi Gray (unit of radiation)

CHF

Congestive heart failure

CLL

Chronic lymphocytic Leukaemia

cm

centimeter - 0.01 meters

CML

Chronic myeloid leukaemia

CMML

chronic myelomonocytic leukemia

CMV

Cytomegalo virus

CNS

Central nervous system - the brain and spine

COS

Canadian Oncology Society

CPM

Cyclophosphamide (anti cancer drug)

CPR

Cardio pulmonary resuscitation

CR

Complete remission / complete response

CRA

Clinical Research Associate

CRC

Cancer Research Campaign (UK)

CRC

Colorectal carcinoma

CRF

Case Report Forms

CRF

Chronic renal failure

CRO

Contract Research Organisation

CSF

Cerebro spinal fluid

CSF

Colony-stimulating Factor

CSM

Committee on Safety of Medicines (UK)

CT

Computerised axial tumography (scan)

CT

Chemotherapy

CTC

Common Toxicity Criteria

CTCL

Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma

CTO

Clinical Trials Office

CTX

Clinical Trials Exemption

CVA

Cardiovascular Accident (stroke)

CVC

Central venous catheters

CVP

Central Venous Pressure

CXR

Chest X-Ray

D/C

Discharge

D/H

Drug History

D/W

Discussed With

DCIS

Ductal Carcinoma In Situ - type of breast cancer

DDAVP

Desmopressin test for urine osmolality

DDx

Differential diagnosis

DFI

Disease Free Interval

DFS

Disease Free Survival - time without disease prior to relapse or last follow-up

DI

Diabetes Incipidus

dl

deciletre - 0.01 litres

DLBCL

Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma

DLCL

Diffuse large-cell lymphoma

DLS

Date last seen

DLT

Dose limiting toxicity - determined by phase 1 studies

DMC

Data Monitoring Commitee

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid

DNA

Did Not Attend (clinic)

DNR

Do Not Resusitate

DOA

Dead on Arival

Dx

Diagnosis

EACR

European Association for Cancer Research

EANO

European Association for NeuroOncology

EBM

Evidence-Based Medicine

EBMT

European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation

EBV

Epstein-Barr Virus

ECG

Electrocardiogram - heart scan

ECOG

Eastern Cooperative Group (USA)

EDTA

ethylendiaminetetraacetic acid - used in measuring kidney function

EEG

Electroencephalogram - brain scan

EFS

Event Free Survival - time from diagnosis to defined events (eg relapse or deat

EICESS

European Intergroup Ewing's Sarcoma Study

EJC

European Journal of Cancer

EMUO

Early Morning Urine Osmolality (evaluating urine concentration)

ENSG

European Neuroblastoma Study Group

ENT

Ear nose throat

EOI

European Osteosarcoma Intergroup

EORTC

European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer

ESO

European School of Oncology

ESR

Erythrocyte Sedimentation rate

ESTRO

European Society for Therapeutic Radiation and Oncology

ETS

Environmental Tobacco Smoke

F/H

Family history

FAB

French American and British classification scheme for leukaemia

FBC

Full Blood Count

FDA

Food and Drug Administration (USA)

FECS

Federation of European Cancer Societies

FEV

Forced expectorant volume (a lung test)

FFA

For Further Appointment

FIGO

Federation Internat. Gyn. Obst. (FIGO Gynaecological staging system)

FISH

Flourescence in situ Hybridisation

FMTC

Familial Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma

FNA

Fine Needle Aspiration - a type of biposy using a thin needle (or FNAB)

FU

Follow up

FVC

Forced Vital Capacity

g

gram - unit of weight

G-CSF

Granulocyte colony stimulating factor promotes production of white blood cells

GA

General Anaesthetic

GCP

Good Clinical Practice (guidelines)

GCT

Germ Cell Tumour

GCT

Giant Cell Tumour Context: bone tumours

GFR

Gromerular filtration rate

GI

Gastrointestinal

GM-CSF

Granulocyte and macrophage colony stimulating factor

GMC

General Medical Council (UK)

GPOH

Gesellschaft fur Padiatrische Onkologie und Hamatologie (German Paed. Onc Group)

GPR

Good Partial Remission

GU

Genito-urinary

GvHD

Graft versus Host Disease

Gy

Grays (units of radiation)

H&E

Hematoxylin and Eosin (stain)

H/O

History of

Hb

Haemoglobin

HCC

Hepatocellular Carcinoma

HCG

Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hormone)

HCL

Hairy Cell Leukaemia

HCO3

Bicarbonate

HD

Hodgkin's Disease (lymphoma)

HD

High dose

HDC

High Dose Chemotherapy

HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virus

HL-A

Human Leukocyte Associated antigens (HL-A matching for BMT)

HNPCC

Hereditary NonPolyposis Colorectal Cancer

HPV

Human Papilloma Virus - implicated in some gynacological cancers

HR

High risk

HRT

Hormone replacement therapy

HTLV

Human T-cell leukemia-lymphoma virus

I-131

Radioactive Iodine

IACR

International Association of Cancer Registries

IARC

International Agency for Research on Cancer

IASLC

International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer

ICARE

International Cancer Alliance for Research and Education (ICARE)

ICCCPO

International Confederation of Childhood Cancer Parent Organisations

ICCG

International Collaborative Cancer Group

ICCPO

Icelandic Childhood Cancer Parent Organisation

ICD

International Classification of Diseases (coding system)

ICDO

International Classification of Diseases for Oncology (coding system)

ICF

Intercellular fluid

ICH

International Conference on Harmonization (GCP)

ICRF

Imperial Cancer Research Fund (UK)

ICU

Intensive Care Unit

IESS

Intergroup Ewing's Sarcoma Study (USA)

IL2

Interleukin2

IM

Intramuscular - into a muscle

IMF

International Myeloma Foundation

IMRT

Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy

INFA

International Neurofibromatosis Association

INSS

International Neuroblastoma Staging System

IPSO

International Society of Pediatric Surgical Oncology

ITU

Intensive Therapy Unit

IU

International units

IV

Intravenous - into a vein

IVP

Intravenous Pyelogram - type of Xray after injection with iodine dye

IWMF

International Waldenstrom's Maroglubulinemia Foundation

JCO

Journal of Clinical Oncology

K+

Potassium

kg

Kilogram - a thousand grams

l

liter - unit of volume

L1 - L5

Lumbar vertebrae 1 - 5 (spine eg. L1 = 1st lumbar vertebra)

LCH

Langerhans cell histiocytocis

LCIS

Lobular Carcinoma In Situ - type of breast cancer

LDH

Lactic dehydrogenase -high levels correlate with tumour volume in some cancers

LMM

Lentigo Maligna Melanoma

LMP

Low Malignant Potential (context: ovarian tumours)

LN

Lymph Node

LP

Lumbar puncture

LREC

Local Research Ethics Committee (UK)

LRF

Leukaemia Research Fund (UK)

LRFA

Lymphoma Research Foundation of America

LVEF

Left Ventricular Fjection Fraction - a heart function test

LVSF

Left Ventricular Shortening Fraction - a heart function test

Lx

Lumpectomy

m

meter (unit of length)

M/H

Medical history

MAB - mAb

Monoclonal antibody

MCA

Medicines Control Agency (UK)

MDR

Multi drug resistant

MDS

Myelo dysplastic syndrome

MEN

Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia - (familial) a.k.a. FMEN

mEq/l

milliequivalent per liter

mets

Metastases (where the tumour has spread to secondary sites)

Mg

Magnesium

mg

milligram - 0.001 gram

MI

Miocardial Infarction

mIBG

Radioactive Iodine Metaidobenzoguanidine (mIBG scans or mIBG therapy).

ml

millilitre 0.001 liter

MM

Malignant Melanoma

mM

millimole

mm

millimeter - 0.001 meters

MM

Multiple Myeloma

mOsm

milliosmole

MPNST

Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumour

MPO

Medical and Pediatric Oncology (journal)

MRC

Medical Research Council (UK)

MREC

Multi-centre Research Ethics Committee (UK)

MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging (scan)

MRT

Malignant Rhabdoid Tumour

MSSU

Mid stream specimen urine

MTD

Maximum tolerated dose - phase 1 studies

MTX

Methotrexate (anti cancer drug)

MUD

Matched Urelated Donor - for bone marrow transplant

Mx

Mastectomy

N/V

Nausea and vomiting

Na+

Sodium

NAACCR

North American Association of Central Cancer Registries

NABCO

National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations

NAD

No Abnormality Detected

NBCCS

Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome

NBM

Nil by mouth

NCCF

National Childhood Cancer Foundation (USA)

NCI

National Cancer Institue (USA)

NCIC

National Cancer Institute of Canada

NCRA

National Cancer Registrars Association (USA)

NECCR

North of England Children's Cancer Research Unit

NED

No evidence of disease

ng

nanogram - 0.000000001 gram

NHL

Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma

NK

Natural Killer cells (large lymphocytes, part of the immune system)

NK

Not known

NKCA

National Kidney Cancer Association (USA)

NM

Nodular Melanoma

NMR

Nuclear magnetic resonance (scan)

NMSC

Non Melanoma Skin Cancer

NNFF

National Neurofibromatosis Foundation (USA)

NORD

National Organization for Rare Disorders (USA)

NOS

Not otherwise specified (see ICDO)

NPC

Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

NRCT

National Registry of Childhood Tumours (UK) held by the CCRG at Oxford

NRSTS

Non-Rhabdomyosarcoma Soft Tissue Sarcoma

NSCLC

Non-small cell lung cancer

NSE

Neuron-Specific Enolase - a neural marker

NSR

Non significant result

NSR

Normal Sinus Rhythem

O/E

On Examination

OECI

Organization of European Cancer Institutes

ONB

Olfactory Neuroblastoma

OS

Overall Survival

OS

Osteogenic sarcoma (context bone tumours)

PBSC

Peripheral Blood Stem Cell (see PBSCT)

PBSCH

Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Harvest

PBSCR

Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Rescue (transplant)

PBSCT

Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplant

PD

Progressive disease

PDQ

Physician's Data Query (CancerNet)

PET

Positron Emmission Tomography- a scan after a small radioactive injection.

PET

Pancreatic Endocrine Tumor

PFS

Progression Free Survival

pg

picogram - 0.000000000001 gram

pH

hydrogen-ion concentration - acid / alkaline

PH

Past History

PLB

Primary Lymphoma of Bone

PNET

Primitive neuroectodermal tumour Context: CNS tumours

PNET

Peripheral neuroectodermal tumour Context: Bone tumours - see Ewing's tu

PNS

Peripheral nervous system - nervous system outside the brain and spine.

POG

Pediatric Oncology Group (USA)

PONF

Paediatric Oncology Nurses Forum (UK)

PR

Partial Responce / Partial Remission

PR

per rectum

prn

as required

prn

whenever necessary (pro re nata)

PSA

prostate-specific antigen - PSA test used in screening for prostate cancer

PUD

Peri-Urethral Diathermy (associated with superficial bladder cancer)

QALY

Quality-Adjusted Life Year

qid

Four times a day (quater in die)

QoL

Quality of Life

RBC

Red blood cell / red blood count

RCT

Randomised Controlled Trial

RFS

Relapse free survival - Time from diagnosis to relapse or death.

RIGS

Radioimmunoguided surgery

RMS

Rhabdomyosarcoma

RNA

ribonucleic acid

RT

Radiotherapy

RTPCR

Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction

Rx

Treatment

SA

Surface area (see BSA)

SAE

Serious Adverse Event

SC

Subcutaneous

SCC

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

SCLC

Small cell lung cancer

SCTN

Scottish Cancer Therapy Network

SD

Stable Disease

SDV

Source Data Verification

SEER

Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (USA)

SFOP

French Paediatric Oncology Scociety

SGDM

Study Group on Data Management (EORTC)

SGO

Society of Gynecologic Oncologists

SGOT

Serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase - a liver function test

SGPT

Serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase - a liver function test

SH

Social history

SHO

Senior House Officer

SIADH

Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone

SIOP

International Society of Paediatric Oncology

SNLG

Scottish and Newcastle Lymphoma Group

SNP

Single Nucleotide Polymorphism

SOB

Short of breath

SPOHNC

Support for People with Oral and Head and Neck Cancer

SSM

Superficial Spreading Melanoma

SWOG

Southwest Oncology Group (USA)

T1 - T12

Thoracic vertebrae 1-12 (spine eg. T10 = tenth thoracic vertibra)

TBI

Total body irradiation

TCC

Transitional Cell Carcinoma (usually bladder cancer)

TCP

Thrombocytopenia

tds / tid

Three times a day (ter in die)

TNF

Tumour Necrosis Factor

TNM

Staging system - primary tumour

TPN

total parenteral nutrition

TRK

Transketolase

U&Es

Urea and Electrolites

UA

Urine analysis

ug

microgram - 0.000001 gram

UICC

Union Internationale Contre le Cancer - International Union Against Cancer

UKACR

UK Association of Cancer Registeries

UKCCCR

UK Coordinating Committee for Cancer Research

UKCCRG

UK Children's Cancer Research Group (Oxford)

UKCCSG

UK Children's Cancer Study Group (UK)

ULN

Upper Limits of Normal

URTI

Upper respiratory tract infection

US

Ultasound (scan)

UTI

Urinary Tract Infection

UVR

Ultra Violet Radiation

VEF

Ventricular ejection fraction (tests lung function)

VM-26

Teniposide (anti cancer drug)

VMA

Vanillylmandelic Acid

VP-16

Etoposide (anti cancer drug)

WBC

White blood cell count

WCC

White cell count

WHO

World Health Organisation

XRT

Radiotherapy (external)

YST

Yolk sac tumour - another name for germ cell tumour


This guide by Simon Cotterill
Department of Child Health
University of Newcastle upon Tyne
UK

First created 04/03/96
Last modified: 23/06/2000