Browse Medical Abbreviations
C
| C | Celsius (centigrade); cytosine; contact; Carbon (element); Calorie (kilocalorie) |
| c | calorie (small calorie); with |
| C&A | conscious and alert |
| C&C | confirmed and compatible |
| C&DB | cough and deep breath |
| C&P | crowning and pushing |
| C&S | culture and sensitivity |
| C-B | chest-back |
| C-collar | cervical collar |
| C-spine | cervical spine |
| c.m.s. | to be taken tomorrow morning (cras mane sumendus) |
| c.n. | tomorrow night (cras nocte) |
| c.n.s. | to be taken tomorrow night (cras nocte sumendus) |
| c/o | complains of |
| C/S | consult |
| C/TG | cholesterol/triglyceride ratio |
| C/w | consistent with; continue with |
| C1 | first cervical vertebra |
| C2 | second cervical vertebra |
| CA | cancer, carcinoma; cortical area; chronological age; coronary artery |
| Ca | Calcium (element) |
| ca. | about; approximately |
| CAB | compressions-airway-breathing |
| CABG | coronary artery bypass graft |
| CAC | Certified Addictions Counselor |
| CaCO3 | calcium carbonate |
| CACT | carnitine acylcarnitine translocase (deficiency) |
| CAD | computer-aided detection; coronary artery disease |
| CAE | complement activity enzyme |
| CAF | cytoxan, adriamycin, fluorouracil |
| CAGE | controlling, anger/annoyance, guilt, eye opener (questions) |
| CAH | chronic active hepatitis; congenital adrenal hyperplasia |
| CAI | computer assisted instruction |
| Cal | Calorie (kilocalorie) |
| cal | calorie |
| CAM | complementary and alternative medicine |
| cAMP | cyclic adenosine monophosphate |
| CAO | conscious, alert, and oriented |
| CAOX3 | conscious, alert, oriented to person, place, time |
| cap | capillary; capsule |
| CAP | community acquired pneumonia |
| CAPD | continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis; central auditory processing disorder |
| caps | capsules |
| CARP | confluent and reticulated papillomatosis |
| CAST | cardiac arrhythmia suppression trial |
| CAT | computerized axial tomography; crisis assessment and treatment |
| cath | cathartic; catheter(ization) |
| CAU | child and adolescent unit; clinical assessment unit |
| cauc | Caucasian |
| CAUTI | catheter-associated urinary tract infection |
| cav | cavity |
| CAVP | continuous arterial venous pressure |
| CB | carotid bruit |
| CBC | complete blood count |
| CBD | common bile duct; cannabidiol |
| CBE | clinical breast exam; charting by exception |
| CBF | cerebral blood flow |
| CBG | capillary blood gas; corticosteroidbinding globulin |
| CBI | continuous bladder irrigation |
| CBLL | capillary blood lead level |
| CBO | community based organization |
| CBP | chronic bacterial prostatitis |
| CBRNE | chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive agents |
| CBS | casual blood sugar |
| CBSC | cord blood stem cells |
| CBT | computer-based training; cognitive behavioral therapy |
| CBW | chemical and biological warfare |
| cc | cubic centimeter |
| CC | current complaint; chief complaint; care coordinator; cardiac catheterization |
| CCA | calcium channel antagonist; common carotid artery |
| CCB | calcium channel blocker; change control board |
| CCC | chronic care clinic |
| CCCA | central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia |
| CCE | clubbing, cyanosis edema |
| CCF | congestive cardiac failure |
| CCH | care closer to home |
| CCK | cholecystokinin |
| CCMS | clean catch midstream (specimen) |
| CCNU | lomustine |
| CCP | clinical care pathway |
| CCPD | continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis |
| CCRA | cardiac cath recovery area |
| CCT | certificate of completion of training; controlled cord traction |
| CCU | critical care unit; coronary/cardiac care unit |
| CCW | counterclockwise |
| CD | chemical dependency; cycle day; current diagnosis; Crohn's disease; controlled drug(s); conduct disorder; cluster of differentiation; cesarean delivery; cardiovascular disease; communicable disease |
| Cd | Cadmium (element) |
| CD-ROM | compact disc read-only memory |
| CD4 | helper T lymphocytes |
| CD8 | cytotoxic T lymphocytes |
| CDA | Certified Dental Assistant |
| CDAD | Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea |
| CDC | Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
| CDH | congenital dislocation hip |
| CDHF | chronic diastolic heart failure |
| CDMI | Clinical Digital Maturity Index |
| cDNA | complementary DNA |
| CDT | Clostridium difficile toxin; Certified Dental Technician |
| CDU | chemical dependency unit |
| Ce | Cerium (element) |
| CE | continuing education |
| CEA | carcinoembryonic antigen; cultured epithelial autografts; carcinoembryonic disease; carotid endarterectomy |
| CEH | continuing education hour |
| CEN | Certified Emergency Nurse |
| cert | certified, certificate |
| cerv | cervix/cervical |
| CETR | care, education and treatment review |
| CEU | continuing education unit |
| CF | cystic fibrosis |
| CFC | chlorofluorocarbon |
| CFR | Certified First Responder; child fatality review; Code of Federal Regulations; case fatality ratio |
| CFS | chronic fatigue syndrome |
| CFTR | cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator |
| CFU | colony forming unit |
| cg | centigram (one hundredth of a gram) |
| CG | chorionic gonadotropin |
| CGA | contact guard assist; comprehensive geriatric assessment |
| Cgm | centigram (one hundredth of a gram) |
| cGMP | cyclic guanine monophosphate |
| CGN | chronic glomerulonephritis |
| cGy | centigray |
| ch | chest; child |
| CH | congenital hypothyroidism; clinical hold |
| ch px | chicken pox |
| CHADS | congestive heart failure, hypertension, age, diabetes mellitus, prior stroke or TIA |
| CHB | complete heart block |
| CHC | community health center; continuing health care |
| CHD | congenital heart disease; coronary heart disease |
| ChE | cholinesterase |
| chem | chemical, chemistry |
| chemo | chemotherapy |
| CHF | congestive heart failure |
| CHHA | certified home health aide/agency |
| CHI | closed head injury |
| CHL | conductive hearing loss |
| CHO | carbohydrate |
| chol | cholesterol |
| Chr | chronic |
| CHT | closed head trauma |
| CI | cardiac index; cochlear implant; confidence interval |
| Ci | curie |
| CIA | collagen-induced arthritis |
| CIBH | change in bowel habits |
| CIC | circulating immune complex; certified infection control; crisis intervention center |
| CICU | coronary intensive care unit |
| cig | cigarette |
| CIN | cervical intraepithelial neoplasia |
| CIP | clean in place; cost/continuous improvement plan/process |
| circ | circulate; circumference; circumcision |
| CIS | carcinoma in situ |
| CISM | critical incident stress management |
| CJD | creutzfeldt-jakob disease |
| CK | creatine kinase; creatinine phosphokinase |
| CK-MB | serum creatine kinase, myocardial-bound |
| CKC | cold knife conization; closed kinetic chain |
| CKD | chronic kidney disease |
| Cl | Chlorine (element) |
| cl | centiliter |
| Cl- | Chloride |
| CLA | certified laboratory assistant |
| CLcr | creatinine clearance |
| CLD | chronic liver disease |
| CLI | critical limb ischemia |
| CLIA | clinical laboratory improvement amendments |
| clin | clinic |
| CLL | chronic lymphocytic leukemia |
| CLN | clinical lead/liaison nurse |
| CLOD | clinical lead for organ donation |
| CLR | clear |
| CLTC | citizens for long-term care |
| CM | cervical mucus; case/care management |
| cm | centimeter |
| cm2 | square centimeter |
| CMA | Certified Medical Assistant |
| CMC | carpo metacarpal |
| CME | continuing medical education |
| CMF | cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil |
| CMG | cystometrogram |
| CMHC | community mental health center |
| CML | chronic myeloid leukemia; chronic myelogenous leukemia |
| CMO | care management organization; chief medical officer; comfort measures only |
| cmp | cardiomyopathy |
| CMP | comprehensive metabolic panel |
| CMS | Centers for Medicare and Medicaid |
| CMT | cervical motion tenderness; certified medication technician |
| CMTC | cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita |
| CMV | controlled mechanical ventilator; cytomegalovirus |
| CN | cognitively normal; cranial nerve; child nutrition |
| CNA | Certified Nurse Aide |
| CNE | chronic nervous exhaustion |
| CNH | chondrodermatitis nodularis helices |
| CNM | Certified Nurse Midwife |
| CNO | Chief Nursing Officer |
| CNR | closed nasal reduction |
| CNS | Clinical Nurse Specialist; central nervous system |
| CNSC | certified nutrition support clinician |
| CO | Certified Orthotist; carbon monoxide; cardiac output |
| Co | Cobalt (element) |
| CO2 | carbon dioxide |
| COA | coarctation of the aorta; Certified Ophthalmic Assistant |
| CoA | Coenzyme A |
| COAD | chronic obstructive airways disease |
| coag | coagulation |
| COB | coordination of benefits; close of business |
| COC | cauterization of the cervix; Certificate of Coverage; combined oral contraceptive |
| COCs | combined oral contraceptives (estrogen and progestin) |
| COG | center of gravity |
| COH | carbohydrate; controlled ovarian hyperstimulation |
| COLD | chronic obstructive lung disease |
| COM | chronic otitis media |
| COMP | cartilage oligomeric matrix protein |
| comp. | compound; complication; compounded of |
| COMT | catechol-o-methyltransferase |
| conc | concentrated |
| cond | condition |
| cong | congenital |
| const | constant |
| cont | continue(d) |
| contras | contraindications |
| contrx | contractions |
| COO | chief operating officer |
| COP | conditions of participation (Medicare) |
| COPD | chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |
| COPE | chronic obstructive pulmonary emphysema |
| CORE | coordinated outbreak response and evaluation |
| corr | correct, correction |
| COT | Nicotine/Cotinine (COT test) |
| COTA | certified occupational therapy assistant |
| CoV | coronavirus |
| COWS | clinical opiate withdrawal scale |
| COX | cyclooxygenase |
| COX-2 | cyclooxygenase 2 (inhibitors) |
| cP | centipoise unit |
| CP | cleft palate; chest pain; cerebral palsy; cicatricial pemphigoid; cardiopulmonary |
| CPA | cerebellopontine angle; costophrenic angle |
| CPAP | continuous positive airway pressure |
| CPB | competitive protein binding |
| CPC | clinicopathologic conference |
| CPD | congenital polycystic disease; chronic pulmonary disease; cephalopelvic disproportion |
| CPE | chronic pulmonary emphysema |
| CPHSS | Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale |
| CPhT | Certified Pharmacy Technician |
| CPK | creatinine phosphokinase; creatine phosphokinase |
| CPM | counts per minute; care plan meeting; central pontine myelinolysis; continuous passive mobilizer; continuous passive motion |
| CPMI | chronic and persistent mental illness |
| CPP | cerebral perfusion pressure |
| CPPV | continuous positive pressure ventilation |
| CPR | cardiopulmonary resuscitation |
| CPS | Child Protective Services |
| CPT | chest physiotherapy; current procedural terminology; carnitine palmitoyl transferase |
| CQI | continuous quality improvement; clinical quality indicator |
| CR | conditioned reflex; creatinine; complete remission; controlled release (medication); crown-rump length |
| Cr | Chromium (element) |
| CRA | clinical research associate |
| CRB | clinical reference board; change review board |
| CRC | Certified Rehabilitation Counselor |
| CrCl | creatinine clearance |
| CRD | chronic respiratory disease |
| crea | creatinine |
| creat | creatinine |
| CREST | calcinosis, Raynaud's phenomenon, esophageal dysmotility, sclerodactyly, telangiectasias |
| CRF | chronic renal failure; cardiac risk factors; case report form; corticotropin-releasing factor |
| CRH | corticotropin-releasing hormone |
| CRI | constant rate infusion; catheter-related infection; chronic renal insufficiency |
| CRIF | closed reduction-internal fixation |
| crit | Hematocrit |
| CRNA | certified registered nurse anesthetist |
| cRNA | chromosomal RNA |
| CRNH | certified registered nurse hospice |
| CRNP | Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner |
| CRO | clinical research organization |
| CRP | C-reactive protein |
| CRPS | complex regional pain syndrome |
| CRR | consult review request |
| CRRT | continuous renal replacement therapy |
| CRS | congenital rubella syndrome; chronic rhinosinusitis |
| CRS-R | Conners Rating Scales-Revised |
| CRT | Certified Respiratory Therapist; capillary refill time; cardiac resynchronization therapy |
| Crt | creatinine |
| CRTT | Certified Respiratory Therapy Technician |
| CRU | coronary rehabilitation unit |
| cryo | cryosurgery; cryoprecipitate |
| CS | culture and sensitivity; completed stroke; close supervision; clinically significant; chondroitin sulfate; cesarean section; cardiogenic shock; cardiac sphincter |
| cs | conditioned stimulus |
| Cs | Cesium (element) |
| CSA | cyclosporin A; central sleep apnea; Controlled Substances Act |
| CSF | colony-stimulating factor; cerebrospinal fluid |
| CSH | combat support hospital |
| CSHF | chronic systolic heart failure |
| CSIC | cervical spine immobilization collar |
| CSII | continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion |
| CSM | cervical spondylotic myelopathy; circulation, sensory, and motor |
| CSO | chief scientific officer |
| CSP | carotid sinus pressure |
| CSR | central supply room; Cheyne-Stokes respiration |
| CSS | central service supply |
| CST | contraction stress test; Certified Surgical Technologist |
| CSU | catheter specimen of urine |
| CT | chest tube; clinical trial; cognitive therapy; computed/computerized tomography |
| CT scan | computed tomography scan |
| CT/GC | Chlamydia Trachomatis/Neisseria Gonorrhea |
| CTA | computerized tomography angiography; clear to auscultation |
| CTAB | clear to auscultation bilaterally |
| CTB | cease to breathe; chronic tuberculosis |
| CTC | computed tomographic colonography; circulating tumor cell; common toxicity criteria; chlortetracycline |
| CTCL | Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma |
| CTD | connective tissue disease; cumulative trauma disorder |
| CTE | chronic traumatic encephalopathy |
| CTG | cathepsin G |
| CTLSO | cervical thoracic lumbar sacral orthosis |
| cTnI | cardiac troponin I |
| cTnT | cardiac troponin T |
| CTO | clinical trial outline |
| CTP | color, temperature, pulse |
| CTPA | computed tomography pulmonary angiogram |
| ctr | control |
| CTR | carpal tunnel release |
| CTS | carpal tunnel syndrome |
| ctx | contraction |
| CTZ | chemoreceptor trigger zone |
| Cu | Copper (element) |
| CU | case unknown |
| CUC | chronic ulcerative colitis |
| CUD | carnitine uptake defect |
| CUm | cubic micron |
| cur | current |
| CV | cardiovascular; curriculum vitae |
| CVA | cerebrovascular accident; cardiovascular accident; cerebral vascular accident; costovertebral angle |
| CVAT | costovertebral angle tenderness |
| CVB | coxsackievirus B |
| CVC | central venous catheter |
| CVD | cardiovascular disease; cerebrovascular disease |
| CVI | chronic venous insufficiency |
| CVL | central venous line |
| CVOU | cardiovascular outpatient unit |
| CVP | central venous pressure |
| CVRB | critical value read back |
| CvS | cardiovascular system |
| CVS | chorionic villus sampling; chronic villus sampling; clean-voided specimen; computer vision syndrome |
| CVX | cervix |
| CWD | canal wall down |
| CWR | canal wall reconstruction |
| CWU | canal wall up |
| Cx | cancel; cervix/cervical; conscious; culture |
| CX | circumflex |
| Cx Bx | cervical biopsy |
| CXR | chest x-ray |
| CY | calendar year |
| Cy | cyanosis |
| CYS | children and youth services |
| cysto | cystoscopy |
| cytol | cytology |
Return to: Medical Abbreviations & Acronyms
This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Abbreviations vary by context and institution. Many abbreviations have alternate or newer meanings not reflected in this set. The abbreviations on this page should not be considered complete.