5-FU |
5-Fluorouracil (anti cancer drug) |
6-MP |
6-Mercaptopurine (anti cancer drug) |
6-TG |
6-Thioguanine (anti cancer drug) |
AA |
Anaplastic Anaemia |
ABC |
Advanced Breast Cancer |
ABMT |
Autologous bone marrow transplant |
ADR |
Adverse Drug Reaction |
AE |
Adverse event |
AFP |
Alphafetoprotein – eg. expressed by germ cell tumours and other cancers |
AIDS |
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome |
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 |
ASR |
Age Standardised Rate (Incidence) |
AUC |
Area under the curve |
B-ALL |
B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia |
BAER |
Brainstem Auditory Evoked Responce |
BCC |
Basal Cell Carcinoma |
BID / BD |
Twice a day (bis in die) |
BM |
Bone Marrow |
BM |
Blood Monitoring (eg for glucose) |
BMJ |
British Medical Journal |
BMR |
Basal Metabolic Rate |
BMT |
Bone Marrow Transplant |
BNF |
British National Formulary |
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 |
cALL |
Common ALL |
CAT |
Computerised axial tomography (scan) |
cc |
Cubic centimeter |
CCF |
Congestive Cardiac Failure |
CCR |
Continuous complete remission |
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 |
CPM |
Cyclophosphamide (anti cancer drug) |
CPR |
Cardio pulmonary resuscitation |
CR |
Complete remission / complete response |
CRA |
Clinical Research Associate |
CRC |
Colorectal carcinoma |
CRF |
Case Report Forms |
CRF |
Chronic renal failure |
CRO |
Contract Research Organisation |
CSF |
Cerebro spinal fluid |
CSF |
Colony-stimulating Factor |
CT |
Computerised axial tumography (scan) |
CT |
Chemotherapy |
CTC |
Common Toxicity Criteria |
CTCL |
Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma |
CTO |
Clinical Trials Office |
CTX |
Clinical Trials Exemption |
CUP |
Cancer of Unknown Primary / Carcinoma of Unknown Primary |
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 |
EBM |
Evidence-Based Medicine |
EBV |
Epstein-Barr Virus |
ECG |
Electrocardiogram – heart scan |
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 |
EJC |
European Journal of Cancer |
EMC |
Extraskeletal Myxoid Chondrosarcoma |
EMUO |
Early Morning Urine Osmolality (evaluating urine concentration) |
ENT |
Ear nose throat |
ESR |
Erythrocyte Sedimentation rate |
ETS |
Environmental Tobacco Smoke |
F/H |
Family history |
FAB |
French American and British classification scheme for leukaemia |
FBC |
Full Blood Count |
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 |
GIST |
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours |
GM-CSF |
Granulocyte and macrophage colony stimulating factor |
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) |
HNSCC |
Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma |
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 |
ICD |
International Classification of Diseases (coding system) |
ICDO |
International Classification of Diseases for Oncology (coding system) |
ICF |
Intercellular fluid |
ICU |
Intensive Care Unit |
IL2 |
Interleukin2 |
IM |
Intramuscular – into a muscle |
IMRT |
Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy |
INSS |
International Neuroblastoma Staging System |
ITU |
Intensive Therapy Unit |
IU |
International units |
IV |
Intravenous – into a vein |
IVP |
Intravenous Pyelogram – type of Xray after injection with iodine dye |
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 |
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 |
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 |
Malignant Myelanoma |
MM |
Multiple Myeloma |
mOsm |
milliosmole |
MPNST |
Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumour |
MPO |
Medical and Pediatric Oncology (journal) |
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 |
NAD |
No Abnormality Detected |
NBCCS |
Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome |
NBM |
Nil by mouth |
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 |
NM |
Nodular Melanoma |
NMR |
Nuclear magnetic resonance (scan) |
NMSC |
Non Melanoma Skin Cancer |
NOS |
Not otherwise specified (see ICDO) |
NPC |
Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma |
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 |
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. |
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 |
RCC |
Renal Cell Carcinoma |
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 |
SD |
Stable Disease |
SDV |
Source Data Verification |
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 |
SNP |
Single Nucleotide Polymorphism |
SOB |
Short of breath |
SSM |
Superficial Spreading Melanoma |
T1 – T12 |
Thoracic vertebrae 1-12 (spine eg. T10 = tenth thoracic vertibra) |
TAMs |
tumour-associated macrophages |
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 |
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 |
WM |
Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia |
XRT |
Radiotherapy (external) |
YST |
Yolk sac tumour – (aka. germ cell tumour) |