Medical Abbreviations Starting With "C"

This page lists 568 medical abbreviations starting with "C", each with its full form and a plain-English meaning. Where one abbreviation has more than one common meaning, each meaning has its own row — context in the chart is what tells them apart. Terms flagged ⚠ Error-prone are on recognised error-prone lists and should be written out in full. Use the filter box to narrow this list, the search on the main guide to search all 5,715 entries, or jump to another letter:

A B D E F G H I J K L M N 0–9 O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Abbreviation	Full form	What it means	Used in
C	Celsius	Temperature scale where water freezes at zero degrees	Vitals & Assessment
C&S	culture and sensitivity	Test identifying germs and which antibiotics affect them	Laboratory Infectious Disease
C-arm	C-arm fluoroscopy	Mobile X-ray unit used in operating rooms	Radiology & Imaging Surgery
C-pep	C-peptide	Marker of the body's own insulin production	Endocrinology Laboratory
C-peptide	connecting peptide	Marker showing how much insulin the body itself makes	Laboratory Endocrinology
C-spine	cervical spine	The neck portion of the spine	Emergency & Critical Care Musculoskeletal
c-spine child	pediatric cervical spine (clearance)	Child neck clearance after injury	Pediatrics Emergency & Critical Care Radiology & Imaging
C-spine collar	cervical collar (device)	Neck immobilizing collar — device	Musculoskeletal Emergency & Critical Care Nursing
C-SSRS	Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale	Standard suicide risk assessment scale	Psychiatry Emergency & Critical Care
C. diff	Clostridioides difficile	Bacterium causing severe diarrhoea, often after antibiotics	Laboratory Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
C. diff precautions	Clostridioides difficile precautions	Soap-and-water and sporicidal cleaning precautions	Nursing Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
C. diff toxin	Clostridioides difficile toxin assay	Stool test for C. difficile infection	Laboratory Gastroenterology Infectious Disease
C/D ratio	cup-to-disc ratio	Optic nerve cupping measure in glaucoma	General Medical
C/O	complains of	Patient reports a symptom or problem	General Medical
C3	complement 3	Immune system protein measured in blood	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology
C3	complement C3	Immune protein consumed in many kidney and autoimmune diseases	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology
C3F8	perfluoropropane gas (retinal)	Long-acting gas bubble used in retinal surgery	Surgery
C4	complement 4	Immune system protein measured in blood	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology
C4	complement C4	Immune protein low in classic pathway activation	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology
C4d	C4d staining (rejection marker)	Complement footprint stain in graft biopsies	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
Ca	calcium	Mineral measured in blood, important for bones and nerves	Laboratory Endocrinology
CA 125	cancer antigen 125	Tumour marker associated with ovarian conditions	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Obstetrics & Gynecology
CA 15-3	cancer antigen 15-3	Tumor marker used in breast cancer monitoring	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
CA 19-9	cancer antigen 19-9	Tumour marker associated with pancreatic and bile conditions	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Gastroenterology
CA 27.29	cancer antigen 27.29	Breast cancer monitoring tumor marker	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
CA 72-4	cancer antigen 72-4	Tumor marker sometimes used in stomach cancer	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Gastroenterology
CA-MRSA	community-associated MRSA	MRSA strain arising outside hospitals	Infectious Disease
CAARMS	Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States	Psychosis risk assessment interview	Psychiatry
CAARS	Conners Adult ADHD Rating Scales	Adult ADHD rating scales	Psychiatry
CABG	coronary artery bypass graft	Surgery using a graft to bypass a blocked heart artery	Cardiology Surgery
CABG	coronary artery bypass grafting	Heart bypass surgery	Surgery Cardiology
cACT	childhood Asthma Control Test	Ages 4 to 11 asthma control questionnaire	Pediatrics Respiratory
CAD	cold agglutinin disease	Hemolysis driven by cold-reacting antibodies	Hematology & Oncology
CAD	coronary artery disease	Narrowing of the arteries that supply the heart muscle	Cardiology
CAD-RADS	coronary artery disease reporting system	Standard categories for coronary CT reports	Radiology & Imaging Cardiology
CADASIL	cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy	Inherited small-vessel brain disease causing strokes and dementia	Neurology
CAE	childhood absence epilepsy	School-age staring seizure syndrome	Neurology Pediatrics
cafe-au-lait	café-au-lait macules (count)	Coffee-colored spots counted in genetic checks	Pediatrics Neurology
caffeine citrate	caffeine citrate (apnea)	Stimulant preventing preterm apnea	Pediatrics Respiratory Prescription & Medication Orders
CAG repeat	CAG repeat (genetic)	Huntington gene expansion length	Neurology Laboratory
CAGE	CAGE questionnaire	Four-question alcohol screening tool, from its questions' initials	Psychiatry General Medical
CAH	congenital adrenal hyperplasia	Inherited condition affecting hormone production by the adrenal glands	Pediatrics Endocrinology
CAL	clinical attachment loss	Gum attachment loss in periodontal disease	General Medical
calcaneovalgus	calcaneovalgus foot (positional)	Upward bent newborn foot position	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal
call-out	call-out (absence)	Staff calling in unable to work	Nursing General Medical
callosotomy	corpus callosotomy	Cutting the brain bridge fibers for drop seizures	Surgery Neurology
CALM	counseling on access to lethal means	Training approach reducing access to self-harm methods	Psychiatry
calorics	caloric testing (vestibular)	Water-in-ear balance testing	Neurology
Calprotectin	faecal calprotectin	Stool test marker of gut inflammation	Gastroenterology Laboratory
CAM	Confusion Assessment Method	Bedside method detecting delirium	Neurology Emergency & Critical Care Nursing
CAM-ICU	Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU	Delirium detection method for intensive care patients	Emergency & Critical Care Neurology Nursing
CAMS	Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality	Therapeutic framework for suicidal patients	Psychiatry
Canadian CT Head Rule	Canadian CT Head Rule	Head CT decision rule for adults	Emergency & Critical Care Neurology Radiology & Imaging
canal femoral	femoral canal (anatomy)	Channel below the groin ligament	Surgery
canalith	c analith repositioning (procedure)	Moving ear crystals out of a canal	Neurology
canaloplasty	canaloplasty (ear)	Widening the ear canal surgically	Surgery
cannabis edibles child	cannabis edible ingestion (child exposure)	Accidental edible exposure in children	Pediatrics Emergency & Critical Care
Cap	capsule	Gel shell containing medicine, taken by mouth	Prescription & Medication Orders
CAP	community-acquired pneumonia	Lung infection caught outside hospital	Respiratory Infectious Disease
CAP	controlled attenuation parameter	Fat-in-liver measure from elastography	Gastroenterology Radiology & Imaging
CAP consult	child abuse pediatrics consult	Specialist team evaluating suspected abuse	Pediatrics
CAPD	continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis	Manual peritoneal dialysis exchanges through the day	Renal & Nephrology
CAPE	capecitabine (chart shorthand)	Oral chemotherapy shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Hematology & Oncology
Capgras	Capgras delusion (impostor)	Belief a familiar person was replaced	Psychiatry Neurology
capno	capnography (device)	Exhaled CO2 monitoring — device	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
CAPOX	capecitabine oxaliplatin	Colon cancer combination, also called XELOX	Hematology & Oncology Prescription & Medication Orders Gastroenterology
CAPS-5	Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale	Gold-standard PTSD interview	Psychiatry
car seat	car seat safety (guidance)	Child restraint guidance	Pediatrics Nursing Emergency & Critical Care
car seat test	car seat tolerance screening (preterm)	Monitoring a preterm baby seated before discharge	Pediatrics Nursing Emergency & Critical Care
CAR-T	chimeric antigen receptor T-cell	Engineered immune cell therapy for blood cancers	Hematology & Oncology Prescription & Medication Orders
carb counting	carbohydrate counting	Matching insulin to carbohydrate intake method	Endocrinology Nursing
Carcinoid	carcinoid tumour	Slow-growing hormone-producing tumour, usually in gut	Endocrinology Gastroenterology Hematology & Oncology
carcinoid crisis	carcinoid crisis (perioperative)	Hormone surge during tumor handling	Emergency & Critical Care Endocrinology Surgery Hematology & Oncology
caries risk	caries risk assessment (dental)	Cavity likelihood evaluation	Pediatrics
carina	carina (anatomy)	Ridge where the windpipe splits	Respiratory
carotid bulb	carotid bulb (bifurcation)	Widening where the carotid splits	Neurology Radiology & Imaging
carotid sinus	carotid sinus syncope (hypersensitivity)	Fainting from neck pressure sensitivity	Cardiology Neurology
carotid stent	carotid artery stenting	Stent opening a narrowed neck artery	Surgery Neurology Cardiology Radiology & Imaging
carotid web	carotid web (shelf lesion)	Membrane shelf in the neck artery causing strokes	Neurology Radiology & Imaging
carpal tunnel release	carpal tunnel release (procedure)	Cutting the wrist ligament freeing the nerve	Surgery Neurology Musculoskeletal
CARS	Childhood Autism Rating Scale	Autism severity rating scale	Pediatrics Psychiatry
CAS	caspofungin (chart shorthand)	Echinocandin antifungal chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
CAS	childhood apraxia of speech	Speech motor planning disorder	Pediatrics Neurology
CASPR2	CASPR2 antibody (encephalitis)	Autoimmune encephalitis antibody target	Neurology Laboratory
CAT	COPD Assessment Test	Questionnaire measuring how COPD affects daily life	Respiratory
CAT score	COPD Assessment Test	Symptom questionnaire for COPD	Respiratory Vitals & Assessment
cataract congenital	congenital cataract (finding)	Cloudy lens at birth needing early surgery	Pediatrics Surgery
cataract extraction	cataract extraction (general)	Surgical removal of a cloudy lens	Surgery
catatonia	catatonia (psych)	Motor-behavior syndrome with mutism or posturing — psychiatric	Psychiatry Neurology
catch-down	catch-down growth (term)	Slowing growth toward a genetic channel	Pediatrics
catch-up growth	catch-up growth (term)	Accelerated growth after a setback resolves	Pediatrics
Category I	category I (fetal tracing)	Reassuring fetal heart pattern class	Obstetrics & Gynecology Nursing
Category II	category II (fetal tracing)	Indeterminate fetal heart pattern class	Obstetrics & Gynecology Nursing
Category III	category III (fetal tracing)	Abnormal fetal heart pattern needing action	Obstetrics & Gynecology Nursing
Cath	cardiac catheterization	Tube procedure imaging and treating heart arteries	Radiology & Imaging Cardiology
cauda equina anatomy	cauda equina (anatomy)	Bundle of nerve roots below the cord — anatomy	Neurology
caudate	caudate nucleus (anatomy)	Curved basal ganglia structure	Neurology
caudate lobe	caudate lobe (liver)	Small back lobe of the liver	Gastroenterology Radiology & Imaging
causalgia	causalgia (CRPS type II)	Burning pain after a nerve injury	Neurology Musculoskeletal
CAUTI	catheter-associated urinary tract infection	Urine infection linked to a urinary catheter	Renal & Nephrology Infectious Disease Nursing
CAV	cardiac allograft vasculopathy	Transplant heart artery disease over time	Cardiology Surgery
cav sinus	cavernous sinus (venous)	Vein network beside the pituitary	Neurology
cavernous thrombosis	cavernous sinus thrombosis (infection)	Infected clot in the eye-side vein network	Neurology Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care
Cawthorne	Cawthorne-Cooksey exercises (vestibular)	Vestibular rehabilitation exercise set	Neurology Nursing
CAZ	ceftazidime (chart shorthand)	Third-generation cephalosporin chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
CBC	complete blood count	Blood test counting red cells, white cells and platelets	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
CBCL	Child Behavior Checklist	Achenbach parent-report behavior scale	Pediatrics Psychiatry
CBCT	cone beam computed tomography	3D imaging used in dentistry and image-guided procedures	Radiology & Imaging
CBD	common bile duct	Main tube carrying bile to the intestine	Gastroenterology
CBD anatomy	common bile duct (anatomy)	Main bile channel to the duodenum — anatomy	Gastroenterology
CBD neuro	corticobasal degeneration (diagnosis)	Asymmetric Parkinson-plus degeneration	Neurology
CBDCA	carboplatin (chart shorthand)	Platinum chemotherapy shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Hematology & Oncology
CBI	continuous bladder irrigation	Constant fluid washing through the bladder	Renal & Nephrology Nursing
CBR	complete bed rest	Staying in bed at all times	Nursing
CBT	cognitive behavioral therapy	Talking therapy linking thoughts, feelings and behaviours	Psychiatry
CBT-E	enhanced cognitive behavioral therapy (eating)	Transdiagnostic eating disorder therapy	Psychiatry
CBT-I	CBT for insomnia	Structured sleep therapy program	Psychiatry Neurology
CBZ level	carbamazepine level (monitoring)	Blood level check for carbamazepine	Neurology Laboratory Prescription & Medication Orders
CC	chief complaint	Main reason a patient seeks care, in their own words	General Medical
CC anatomy	corpus callosum (anatomy)	Bridge connecting the brain halves	Neurology
CCA	common carotid artery	Main neck artery before it splits into two branches	Cardiology
CCB	calcium channel blocker	Medicine relaxing blood vessels and slowing the heart	Cardiology
CCHD	critical congenital heart disease	Serious heart defect present from birth requiring early treatment	Pediatrics Cardiology
CCHD screen	critical congenital heart disease screening	Pulse oximetry screening of newborns	Pediatrics Cardiology Nursing
CCHF	Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever	Tick-borne hemorrhagic fever virus	Infectious Disease Laboratory
CCHR	Canadian CT Head Rule	Decision rule for head CT after minor head injury	Emergency & Critical Care Radiology & Imaging Neurology
CCI	corrected count increment	Measure of platelet transfusion response	Hematology & Oncology Laboratory
CCNU	lomustine (chart shorthand)	Nitrosourea chemotherapy shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Hematology & Oncology
CCPD	continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis	Night cycler peritoneal dialysis	Renal & Nephrology
CCR	Canadian C-Spine Rule	Decision rule for neck imaging after injury	Emergency & Critical Care Radiology & Imaging
CCS	Causative Classification of Stroke	Refined stroke cause system	Neurology
CCS class	Canadian Cardiovascular Society angina class	Angina severity grading	Cardiology Vitals & Assessment
CCT	central corneal thickness	Cornea thickness affecting pressure readings	General Medical
CCT	controlled cord traction	Gentle cord pulling delivering the placenta	Obstetrics & Gynecology
CCU	coronary care unit	Specialist unit for serious heart conditions	Cardiology
CD	conduct disorder	Childhood pattern violating rules and the rights of others	Psychiatry Pediatrics
CD	Crohn's disease	Inflammatory disease affecting any part of the gut	Gastroenterology
CD34	CD34 (stem cell marker)	Surface marker counting stem cells for transplant	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
CD4	CD4 T cell	Immune cell counted in HIV care	Laboratory Infectious Disease
CDAI	Clinical Disease Activity Index	Rheumatoid arthritis activity score without labs	Musculoskeletal
CDC	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention	United States public health agency	General Medical Infectious Disease
CDC chart	CDC growth charts (child)	United States growth reference charts	Pediatrics
CDC crossmatch	complement-dependent cytotoxicity crossmatch	Classic donor compatibility test	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory Surgery
CDDP	cisplatin (chart shorthand)	Platinum chemotherapy shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Hematology & Oncology
CDH	congenital diaphragmatic hernia	Birth defect where abdominal organs enter the chest through the diaphragm	Respiratory Pediatrics
CDI	Children's Depression Inventory	Child depression self-report scale	Psychiatry Pediatrics
CDI	Clostridioides difficile infection	Bowel infection with the C. difficile bacterium	Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
CDK4/6i	CDK4/6 inhibitor	Breast cancer pill class slowing cell division	Prescription & Medication Orders Hematology & Oncology
CDP	computerized dynamic posturography	Balance platform testing	Neurology Musculoskeletal
CDR	Clinical Dementia Rating	Dementia severity staging scale	Neurology Psychiatry
CDR-SB	Clinical Dementia Rating Sum of Boxes	Dementia severity total used in trials	Neurology Psychiatry
CDRS-R	Children's Depression Rating Scale Revised	Clinician-rated child depression scale	Psychiatry Pediatrics
CDUS	color Doppler ultrasound	Flow-imaging ultrasound	Radiology & Imaging
CDV	cidofovir (chart shorthand)	Broad antiviral chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
CEA	carcinoembryonic antigen	Tumour marker measured in blood	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Gastroenterology
CEA	carotid endarterectomy	Surgery to remove plaque from the neck artery	Cardiology Surgery
CEC	cefaclor (chart shorthand)	Oral second-generation cephalosporin shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
CECT	contrast-enhanced computed tomography	CT with intravenous contrast	Radiology & Imaging
cEEG	continuous electroencephalogram	Ongoing brain wave recording over a long period	Neurology
Ceftriax	ceftriaxone	Cephalosporin antibiotic medicine	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
celiac	celiac artery (trunk)	First belly branch feeding liver, stomach and spleen	Gastroenterology Radiology & Imaging
celiac child	celiac disease (childhood)	Gluten-triggered bowel disease — childhood	Pediatrics Gastroenterology
cellulitis child	periorbital cellulitis (childhood)	Eyelid infection of children	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care
CEM	contrast-enhanced mammography	Mammography with contrast dye	Radiology & Imaging
census	patient census (count)	Number of patients on a unit	Nursing General Medical
central DI	central diabetes insipidus (type)	Brain hormone lack type of water-losing disease	Emergency & Critical Care Endocrinology Renal & Nephrology
Central line	central venous line	Catheter in a large central vein	Emergency & Critical Care Nursing
central line kit	central line kit (equipment)	Sterile kit for central catheter placement	Nursing Emergency & Critical Care
central pain	central post-stroke pain	Pain from stroke-damaged pathways	Neurology
central stenosis	central venous stenosis (access complication)	Narrowed chest veins from past catheters	Renal & Nephrology Radiology & Imaging
cephalomedullary	cephalomedullary nail (hip fracture)	Rod into the thigh bone extending into the ball	Surgery Musculoskeletal
cerclage types	cerclage (McDonald/Shirodkar types)	Stitch holding the cervix closed	Obstetrics & Gynecology Surgery
cerebellar vermis	vermis (cerebellar anatomy)	Midline strip of the cerebellum	Neurology
cerebral edema child	cerebral edema (head injury)	Brain swelling after head injury	Pediatrics Neurology Emergency & Critical Care
cervical ADR	cervical artificial disc replacement	Motion-preserving neck disc implant	Surgery Neurology Musculoskeletal
CETUX	cetuximab (chart shorthand)	EGFR antibody shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Hematology & Oncology
CEUS	contrast-enhanced ultrasound	Ultrasound using microbubble contrast	Radiology & Imaging
CF	counting fingers	Vision level where only counting fingers is possible	General Medical Vitals & Assessment
CF	cystic fibrosis	Inherited disease causing thick mucus in lungs and gut	Respiratory
CFA	common femoral artery	Main groin artery to the leg	General Medical Cardiology Radiology & Imaging
CFCS	Communication Function Classification System	Cerebral palsy communication level system	Pediatrics Neurology
cfDNA	cell-free DNA	DNA fragments in blood used in prenatal and cancer testing	Laboratory Obstetrics & Gynecology Hematology & Oncology
CFM	cefixime (chart shorthand)	Oral third-generation cephalosporin shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
CFS	Clinical Frailty Scale	Score grading fitness and frailty in older people	General Medical Vitals & Assessment
CFTR	CFTR gene (cystic fibrosis)	Salt channel gene of cystic fibrosis	Pediatrics Laboratory Respiratory
CFTR	cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator	Gene and channel affected in cystic fibrosis	Laboratory Respiratory Pediatrics
CFTR modulator	CFTR modulator therapy	Channel-correcting cystic fibrosis drugs	Pediatrics Respiratory Prescription & Medication Orders
CFU	colony-forming unit	Count of viable bacteria or fungi in a sample	Laboratory Infectious Disease
CFZ	carfilzomib (chart shorthand)	Proteasome inhibitor for myeloma shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Hematology & Oncology
cg score	transplant glomerulopathy (cg lesion)	Chronic antibody injury pattern in grafts	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
CgA	chromogranin A	Marker released by neuroendocrine tumors	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Endocrinology
CGI	Clinical Global Impression	Overall illness severity and improvement scale	Psychiatry
CGM	continuous glucose monitor	Wearable sensor tracking glucose continuously	Endocrinology
cGVHD	chronic graft-versus-host disease	Late, long-lasting graft-versus-host disease	Hematology & Oncology
cGy	centigray	One hundredth of a gray of radiation dose	Radiology & Imaging
CH	cluster headache	Severe one-sided headache occurring in repeated clusters	Neurology
CH50	total hemolytic complement	Overall complement pathway activity test	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology
CHA	common hepatic artery	Artery to the liver	Gastroenterology Radiology & Imaging
CHA2DS2-VASc	CHA2DS2-VASc score	Stroke risk score in atrial fibrillation, from its factor initials	Cardiology
Chaddock	Chaddock sign (reflex)	Side-of-foot stroke eliciting an upgoing toe	Neurology
chain donation	nondirected chain (donation)	One altruistic donor starting a transplant chain	Renal & Nephrology Surgery
chair alarm	chair alarm (safety device)	Alarm for unsafe chair exits	Nursing
channelopathy	channelopathy (ion channel group)	Diseases of electrical membrane channels	Neurology Cardiology
CHARGE	CHARGE syndrome (association)	Eye, heart, nose, growth and ear defect pattern	Pediatrics Cardiology
CHARGE ear	CHARGE association (ear/hearing)	Defect pattern including ear anomalies	Pediatrics
Charleston brace	Charleston bending brace (nighttime)	Night-only scoliosis brace	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal
CHB	complete heart block	No signal passing between upper and lower heart chambers	Cardiology
CHD	congenital heart disease	Heart problem present from birth	Pediatrics Cardiology
CHD	coronary heart disease	Heart disease caused by narrowed heart arteries	Cardiology
cheilectomy	cheilectomy (joint spur removal)	Shaving bone spurs from a stiff joint	Surgery Musculoskeletal
CHEK2	checkpoint kinase 2	Inherited cancer risk gene	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
chelation	chelation therapy (lead)	Lead-removing treatment — lead	Pediatrics Prescription & Medication Orders Emergency & Critical Care
chemical burn child	chemical burn (drain cleaner)	Caustic contact burn	Pediatrics Surgery Emergency & Critical Care
Chemo	chemotherapy	Cancer treatment using cell-killing medicines	Hematology & Oncology
chemodenervation	chemodenervation (procedure)	Chemical nerve block relaxing muscles — procedure	Neurology Musculoskeletal
Chest tube	chest drain	Tube draining air or fluid from around the lung	Surgery Respiratory
chest tube	tube thoracostomy (procedure)	Chest drain insertion	Respiratory Surgery Emergency & Critical Care
CHF	congestive heart failure	Heart failure with fluid build-up in lungs or body	Cardiology
CHIKV	chikungunya virus	Mosquito-borne virus causing fever and joint pain	Infectious Disease Laboratory
child life	child life services (support)	Specialists easing children's hospital stress	Pediatrics Nursing
Child SCAT	Child SCAT (concussion tool)	Under-13 concussion evaluation tool	Pediatrics Neurology
CHL	conductive hearing loss	Hearing loss from sound blocked in outer or middle ear	General Medical
CHO diet	consistent carbohydrate diet	Fixed carbohydrate per meal for diabetes	Nursing Endocrinology
choanal atresia	choanal atresia (diagnosis)	Blocked back of the nose at birth — diagnosis	Pediatrics Respiratory Surgery Emergency & Critical Care
choking hazards	choking hazard foods/objects (guidance)	Foods and objects risking airway blockage	Pediatrics Nursing Emergency & Critical Care
Chol	cholesterol	Fatty substance measured in blood	Laboratory Cardiology
Chole	cholecystectomy	Operation to remove the gallbladder	Gastroenterology Surgery
choledochal	choledochal cyst (bile duct)	Bile duct cystic widening	Pediatrics Gastroenterology Surgery Radiology & Imaging
cholesteatoma	cholesteatoma (ear)	Skin growth in the middle ear	Pediatrics Surgery Infectious Disease
CHOP	cyclophosphamide doxorubicin vincristine prednisone	Common lymphoma chemotherapy combination	Hematology & Oncology Prescription & Medication Orders
Chopart	Chopart injury (midfoot joint)	Midfoot joint fracture-dislocation	Musculoskeletal Surgery
chorea	chorea (finding)	Flowing dance-like movements — finding	Neurology
chorea Sydenham	Sydenham chorea (rheumatic)	Jerky movements of rheumatic fever	Pediatrics Neurology
chorio	chorioamnionitis (shorthand)	Infection of the waters and membranes shorthand	Obstetrics & Gynecology Infectious Disease
choroid plexus anatomy	choroid plexus (anatomy)	Tissue making spinal fluid — anatomy	Neurology
CHR	clinical high risk (psychosis)	At-risk state for developing psychosis	Psychiatry
chronic allograft	chronic allograft dysfunction (older term)	Slow graft decline, older umbrella term	Renal & Nephrology Surgery
chronic migraine	chronic migraine (frequency)	Headache on 15 or more days a month — frequency	Neurology
cHTN	chronic hypertension (pregnancy shorthand)	Pre-existing hypertension in pregnancy	Obstetrics & Gynecology
CI	cardiac index	Cardiac output adjusted for body size	Cardiology
CI	confidence interval	Range likely containing the true value of a result	General Medical
CICO	can't intubate can't oxygenate (emergency)	Worst-case airway emergency declaration	Emergency & Critical Care Respiratory Surgery
CICU	cardiac intensive care unit	Intensive care unit for critically ill heart patients	Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
CIDP	chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy	Long-term immune damage to peripheral nerve coverings	Neurology
CIN	cervical intraepithelial neoplasia	Pre-cancerous change in cervix cells	Hematology & Oncology Obstetrics & Gynecology
CIN grades	cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (grades)	Precancer grades of the cervix	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
cingulate	cingulate cortex (anatomy)	Midline brain region for emotion and pain	Neurology
CIP	ciprofloxacin (chart shorthand)	Fluoroquinolone antibiotic chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
Cipro	ciprofloxacin	Fluoroquinolone antibiotic medicine	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
circumcision adult	adult circumcision (procedure)	Foreskin removal in an adult	Surgery Renal & Nephrology
circumoral pallor	circumoral pallor (scarlet fever sign)	Pale ring around the mouth in scarlet fever	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
CIS	clinically isolated syndrome	First single episode suggesting possible multiple sclerosis	Neurology
CIS neuro	clinically isolated syndrome (MS)	First demyelinating event — MS	Neurology
CISNE	Clinical Index of Stable Febrile Neutropenia	Risk score for apparently stable febrile neutropenia	Hematology & Oncology Infectious Disease
CISS	constructive interference in steady state	High-resolution MRI of cisterns and cranial nerves	Radiology & Imaging Neurology
CIT	cold ischemia time	Time an organ is kept cold before transplant	Surgery
citrate anticoag	regional citrate anticoagulation (CRRT)	Calcium-binding filter anticoagulation for CRRT	Renal & Nephrology Emergency & Critical Care Prescription & Medication Orders
CIWA	Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment	Score measuring alcohol withdrawal severity	Psychiatry Emergency & Critical Care
CIWA benzodiazepine	CIWA-B (benzodiazepine withdrawal)	Benzodiazepine withdrawal scale	Psychiatry
CIWA-Ar	Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol, Revised	Scale measuring severity of alcohol withdrawal	Psychiatry
CJD	Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease	Rare fatal prion disease causing rapid dementia	Neurology Infectious Disease
CK	creatine kinase	Enzyme released from damaged muscle	Laboratory Cardiology
CK-MB	creatine kinase MB fraction	Heart-related fraction of a muscle enzyme	Laboratory Cardiology
CK-MB	creatine kinase-MB	Blood enzyme marker of heart muscle injury	Cardiology Laboratory
CKC	cold knife conization	Surgical cone biopsy of the cervix	Obstetrics & Gynecology Surgery
CKD	chronic kidney disease	Long-term loss of kidney function	Renal & Nephrology
CKD-EPI	Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation	Standard kidney function estimation equation	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory
CL	cervical length (measurement)	Cervix length on ultrasound — measurement	Obstetrics & Gynecology Radiology & Imaging
Cl	chloride	Electrolyte measured with other blood salts	Laboratory
CLABSI	central line-associated bloodstream infection	Blood infection linked to a central line	Infectious Disease Emergency & Critical Care Nursing
CLAD	chronic lung allograft dysfunction	Long-term decline after lung transplant	Respiratory Surgery
CLAD	cladribine (chart shorthand)	Hairy cell leukemia drug shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Hematology & Oncology
CLAG-M	cladribine cytarabine G-CSF mitoxantrone	Salvage leukemia chemotherapy combination	Hematology & Oncology Prescription & Medication Orders
classical CS	classical cesarean section	Vertical womb incision cesarean	Obstetrics & Gynecology Surgery
clavicle child	clavicle fracture (childhood)	Collarbone break of childhood	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal
CLD	chronic lung disease (prematurity)	Lung disease of premature babies	Pediatrics Respiratory
CLD	clear liquid diet	Only transparent liquids allowed as food	Nursing Gastroenterology
cleft	cleft lip and palate (diagnosis)	Lip and palate split — diagnosis	Pediatrics Surgery
CLI	clindamycin (chart shorthand)	Lincosamide antibiotic chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
CLI	critical limb ischemia	Severe leg artery blockage threatening the limb	Cardiology
CLIA	chemiluminescent immunoassay	Light-based automated antibody test method	Laboratory General Medical
CLIF-C	Chronic Liver Failure Consortium score	Acute-on-chronic liver failure scoring	Gastroenterology Emergency & Critical Care
clipping	aneurysm clipping (surgical)	Metal clip closing a brain aneurysm neck	Surgery Neurology
CLL	chronic lymphocytic leukemia	Slow-growing cancer of lymphocytes	Hematology & Oncology
cloacal	cloacal malformation (combined)	Single shared channel birth defect	Pediatrics Surgery
clock draw	clock drawing test (cognitive)	Drawing task screening for cognitive problems	Neurology Psychiatry
clonic seizure	clonic seizure (type)	Rhythmic jerking seizure type	Neurology
clonus	clonus (finding)	Rhythmic reflex bouncing — finding	Neurology
cloudy effluent	cloudy effluent (PD peritonitis sign)	Milky drained fluid signaling PD infection	Renal & Nephrology Nursing Infectious Disease
clozapine REMS	clozapine REMS (monitoring program)	Mandatory blood monitoring program for clozapine	Psychiatry Prescription & Medication Orders
CLP	cleft lip with or without palate (classification)	Cleft grouping abbreviation	Pediatrics Surgery
CLR	clarithromycin (chart shorthand)	Macrolide antibiotic chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
CLTI	chronic limb-threatening ischemia	Long-term severe limb artery disease threatening the limb	Cardiology
clubfoot surgery	clubfoot surgery (posteromedial release)	Correcting a congenital foot deformity	Surgery Musculoskeletal Pediatrics
clue cells	clue cells (microscopy)	Cells coated with bacteria in BV — microscopy	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
cluster	cluster headache (diagnosis)	Excruciating grouped one-sided headache — diagnosis	Neurology
clustered care	clustered care (NICU practice)	Grouping care tasks to protect sleep	Pediatrics Nursing
cm	centimeter	Unit of length, one hundredth of a meter	General Medical
CMA	chromosomal microarray	Genetic test detecting small chromosome gains and losses	Laboratory Pediatrics Obstetrics & Gynecology
CMAI	Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory	Agitation measure in dementia care	Psychiatry Nursing
CMAI-SF	Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory Short Form	Brief agitation scale	Psychiatry Neurology
CMD	congenital muscular dystrophy	Muscle disease present from birth	Pediatrics Neurology Musculoskeletal
CMF	cyclophosphamide methotrexate fluorouracil	Older breast cancer chemotherapy combination	Hematology & Oncology Prescription & Medication Orders
CML	chronic myeloid leukemia	Slow-growing cancer of myeloid white cells	Hematology & Oncology
CMO	comfort measures only	Care focused entirely on comfort at end of life	Nursing Emergency & Critical Care General Medical
CMP	comprehensive metabolic panel	Broader blood panel including liver tests	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology Gastroenterology
CMS genetic	congenital myasthenic syndromes	Inherited junction weakness group	Neurology Pediatrics
CMT	Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease	Inherited nerve disease weakening feet, legs and hands	Neurology
CMV	cytomegalovirus	Common herpes-family virus, serious in weak immunity	Infectious Disease
CMV colitis	cytomegalovirus colitis	CMV infection of the colon in immunocompromised patients	Infectious Disease Gastroenterology
CMV congenital	congenital CMV (infection)	Cytomegalovirus infection at birth	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Neurology
CMV transplant	CMV (transplant monitoring)	Cytomegalovirus watching after transplant	Renal & Nephrology Infectious Disease Laboratory
CMV vent	controlled mechanical ventilation (mode)	Fully machine-controlled breathing mode	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
CN II-XII	cranial nerves two through twelve (exam phrase)	Cranial nerve examination summary phrase	Neurology Nursing
CNA	certified nursing assistant	Assistant helping patients with daily care tasks	Nursing
CNI	calcineurin inhibitor (class)	Main anti-rejection drug class — class	Renal & Nephrology Prescription & Medication Orders Surgery
CNV	copy number variant	Gain or loss of a DNA segment	Laboratory General Medical
CO	carbon monoxide (safety)	Odorless toxic gas monitored in homes and units	General Medical Emergency & Critical Care
CO	cardiac output	Amount of blood the heart pumps each minute	Cardiology
CO detector	carbon monoxide detector (home safety)	Alarm for the odorless gas in homes	Pediatrics Nursing General Medical
CO poisoning	carbon monoxide poisoning (diagnosis)	Smoke and exhaust gas poisoning — diagnosis	Emergency & Critical Care
co-sleeping	bed-sharing (sleep arrangement term)	Sleeping with the baby in bed, a risk discussed in guidance	Pediatrics Nursing
co-testing	co-testing (Pap plus HPV)	Combined cervical screening strategy	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
CO2	carbon dioxide	Waste gas removed from the body by breathing	Respiratory
CoA	coarctation of the aorta	Narrowing of the main artery from the heart	Cardiology
coaptation	coaptation splint (humerus)	U-shaped upper arm splint	Musculoskeletal
Cobb	Cobb angle (measurement)	Spine curvature measurement — measurement	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal Radiology & Imaging
COC	combined oral contraceptive	Birth control pill containing estrogen and progestin	Obstetrics & Gynecology Prescription & Medication Orders
Cocci Ab	Coccidioides antibody	Test for valley fever	Laboratory Infectious Disease Respiratory
cochlear implant surgery	cochlear implant surgery (procedure)	Implanting a hearing device in the inner ear	Surgery Pediatrics
cocooning	cocooning (pertussis protection strategy)	Vaccinating contacts around a newborn	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Obstetrics & Gynecology
COCP	combined oral contraceptive pill	Birth control pill containing oestrogen and progestogen	Prescription & Medication Orders Obstetrics & Gynecology
code blue	code blue (cardiac arrest call)	Hospital emergency call for cardiac arrest	Nursing Emergency & Critical Care
code team	code team (resuscitation team)	Team responding to cardiac arrest	Nursing Emergency & Critical Care
COHb	carboxyhemoglobin (level)	Carbon-monoxide-bound hemoglobin — level	Emergency & Critical Care Laboratory
cohorting	cohorting (infection control)	Grouping patients with the same infection together	Nursing Infectious Disease
coiling	aneurysm coiling (endovascular)	Platinum coils filling a brain aneurysm via catheter	Surgery Neurology Radiology & Imaging
coin ingestion	coin ingestion (foreign body)	Swallowed coin	Pediatrics Gastroenterology Emergency & Critical Care Radiology & Imaging
cold calorics	cold caloric testing (brainstem)	Ice water ear test of brainstem reflexes	Neurology Emergency & Critical Care
cold ischemia	cold ischemia time (organ)	Cold storage time of an organ	Renal & Nephrology Surgery
cold knife cone	cold knife conization (cervix)	Scalpel cone removal of cervix tissue	Obstetrics & Gynecology Surgery
colic	infant colic (crying)	Excessive unexplained baby crying	Pediatrics
collaterals	collateral circulation (stroke imaging)	Backup blood routes around a blockage	Neurology Radiology & Imaging
Colo	colonoscopy	Camera examination of the large intestine	Gastroenterology Surgery
coloboma	coloboma (eye defect)	Gap in eye structures from birth	Pediatrics
colpocleisis	colpocleisis (obliterative prolapse repair)	Closing the vagina to fix prolapse in older patients	Obstetrics & Gynecology Surgery
colporrhaphy	colporrhaphy (prolapse repair)	Vaginal wall tightening for prolapse	Obstetrics & Gynecology Surgery
COM	chronic otitis media (diagnosis)	Longstanding middle ear disease	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Surgery
combined ADHD	combined presentation (ADHD)	Both attention and activity ADHD patterns	Pediatrics Psychiatry
comfort positioning	comfort positioning (holding)	Therapeutic holds easing procedures for children	Pediatrics Nursing
compartment child	compartment syndrome (childhood)	Tight muscle pressure emergency — childhood	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal Emergency & Critical Care Surgery
complementary feeding	complementary feeding (solids introduction)	Adding foods alongside milk from about six months	Pediatrics Nursing
concussion	sports concussion (management)	Head impact brain injury — sports	Pediatrics Neurology Musculoskeletal Emergency & Critical Care
condom cath	condom catheter (external)	External urine collection device for men	Nursing Renal & Nephrology
conductive loss child	conductive hearing loss (childhood)	Sound-blocking hearing loss — childhood	Pediatrics
condyloma child	condyloma (wart)	Genital wart finding needing evaluation in children	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Obstetrics & Gynecology
confirm placement	tube confirmation (waveform capnography)	Proving tube position by exhaled CO2	Emergency & Critical Care Respiratory
congenital glaucoma	primary congenital glaucoma (diagnosis)	High eye pressure from birth — diagnosis	Pediatrics Surgery
conj	conjunctivitis (shorthand)	Inflammation of the eye surface membrane shorthand	General Medical Infectious Disease
Conn	Conn's syndrome	Adrenal condition causing excess aldosterone	Endocrinology
Conners-3	Conners 3rd Edition (ADHD ratings)	ADHD rating scale edition	Pediatrics Psychiatry
CoNS	coagulase-negative staphylococci	Skin staph species that often contaminate cultures but can infect devices	Laboratory Infectious Disease
conscious sedation	moderate sedation (procedural)	Drug-induced relaxation for procedures, formerly conscious sedation	Nursing Surgery Emergency & Critical Care
conservative kidney	conservative kidney management (pathway)	Symptom-focused care without dialysis	Renal & Nephrology Nursing
constipation child	functional constipation (childhood)	Common childhood stool withholding pattern	Pediatrics Gastroenterology
constitutional delay	constitutional growth delay (pattern)	Late-bloomer growth pattern	Pediatrics Endocrinology
contact burn	contact burn (mechanism)	Touching a hot object burn	Pediatrics Surgery
Contact prec	contact precautions	Measures against germs spread by touch	Infectious Disease Nursing
contact precautions	contact precautions (isolation)	Gowns and gloves for germs spread by touch	Nursing Infectious Disease
continuous feed	continuous tube feeding	Slow round-the-clock tube feeds	Nursing Gastroenterology
controller	controller therapy (asthma maintenance)	Daily preventive asthma treatment	Pediatrics Respiratory Prescription & Medication Orders
conus	conus medullaris (anatomy)	Tapered end of the spinal cord	Neurology
conversion	conversion disorder (functional neurological)	Neurological symptoms from brain function change	Psychiatry Neurology
convulsive syncope	convulsive syncope (mimic)	Fainting with brief jerking movements	Neurology Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
Coombs	Coombs test	Test detecting antibodies against red blood cells	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
COP	cryptogenic organizing pneumonia	Lung inflammation pattern with plugs in small airways, cause unknown	Respiratory
COPD	chronic obstructive pulmonary disease	Long-term lung disease causing airflow blockage and breathing difficulty	Respiratory
copeptin	copeptin (vasopressin marker)	Stable marker used when assessing water balance disorders	Laboratory Endocrinology
cord blood	cord blood (sampling)	Blood from the cord at birth — sampling	Pediatrics Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
cord gas	cord blood gas (delivery)	Cord vessel acid-base at birth	Pediatrics Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
cord sign	cord sign (sinus thrombosis)	Dense clot line on a brain scan	Neurology Radiology & Imaging
core	ischemic core (imaging)	Dead tissue area on stroke imaging	Neurology Radiology & Imaging Emergency & Critical Care
core biopsy	core needle biopsy (procedure)	Hollow-needle tissue cores for diagnosis	Surgery Radiology & Imaging
core measures	core measures (quality)	Standardized quality metrics for common conditions	Nursing General Medical
Cormack	Cormack-Lehane grade	Grade of view of the voice box during intubation	Emergency & Critical Care Surgery
Cormack grade	Cormack-Lehane grade (view)	Intubation view grade	Emergency & Critical Care Surgery
corneal reflex exam	corneal reflex (examination)	Blink reflex testing the brainstem — exam	Neurology
corner fracture	corner fracture (metaphyseal)	Growth-end chip fracture	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal Radiology & Imaging
corpectomy	corpectomy (vertebral body removal)	Removing a vertebral body and rebuilding the column	Surgery Neurology
corrected calcium	corrected calcium (albumin-adjusted)	Calcium value adjusted for albumin level	Laboratory Endocrinology
corrected sodium	corrected sodium (glucose-adjusted)	Sodium value adjusted for high blood sugar	Laboratory Endocrinology Emergency & Critical Care
costophrenic	costophrenic angle (anatomy)	Corner where ribs meet diaphragm on X-ray	Respiratory Radiology & Imaging
Cotard	Cotard delusion (nihilistic)	Belief of being dead or nonexistent	Psychiatry Neurology
Cotton-Myer	Cotton-Myer grading (subglottic)	Airway narrowing grade scale	Pediatrics Respiratory Surgery
cough headache	primary cough headache (type)	Headache triggered by coughing or straining	Neurology
cough reflex exam	cough reflex (examination)	Cough response testing the brainstem — exam	Neurology Emergency & Critical Care
cough syncope	cough syncope (situational)	Fainting after hard coughing	Cardiology Neurology Respiratory
counts correct	counts correct (documentation)	Note that all surgical counts matched	Nursing Surgery
COVID-19	coronavirus disease 2019	Illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, often affecting the lungs	Respiratory Infectious Disease
COWS	Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale	Score measuring opioid withdrawal severity	Psychiatry Emergency & Critical Care
CP	cerebral palsy	Group of conditions affecting movement and posture from early brain injury	Pediatrics Neurology
CP	chest pain	Pain or discomfort felt in the chest	Cardiology General Medical
CP	chronic pancreatitis	Long-term inflammation and damage of the pancreas	Gastroenterology
CPAP	continuous positive airway pressure	Machine keeping airways open with constant air pressure	Respiratory
CPAP trial	CPAP trial (weaning)	Low-support spontaneous breathing weaning test	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
CPC	choroid plexus cauterization	Burning fluid-producing tissue in infant hydrocephalus	Surgery Neurology Pediatrics
CPE	carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales	Bacteria making enzymes that destroy carbapenem antibiotics	Infectious Disease Laboratory
CPET	cardiopulmonary exercise test	Exercise test measuring heart and lung responses together	Cardiology Respiratory
CPM	central pontine myelinolysis	Damage to the nerve covering in the central pons	Neurology
CPM	continuous passive motion	Machine slowly moving a joint after surgery	Musculoskeletal Nursing
CPM pontine	central pontine myelinolysis (older term)	Brainstem form of osmotic injury	Neurology Renal & Nephrology
CPN	common peroneal nerve (common fibular)	Nerve wrapping the fibula head, causing foot drop when injured	Neurology Musculoskeletal
CPOE	computerized provider order entry	Electronic entry of clinical orders	Nursing General Medical
CPOT	Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool	Pain score for patients unable to self-report	Emergency & Critical Care Nursing Vitals & Assessment
CPP	central precocious puberty	Brain-driven early puberty	Pediatrics Endocrinology
CPP	cerebral perfusion pressure	Pressure pushing blood through the brain	Neurology Emergency & Critical Care
CPPD	calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease	Crystal arthritis causing joint pain, often in the knee	Musculoskeletal
CPR	cardiopulmonary resuscitation	Chest compressions and rescue breaths for cardiac arrest	Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
CPR fetal	cerebroplacental ratio (fetal)	Brain-to-placenta flow ratio in growth restriction	Obstetrics & Gynecology Radiology & Imaging
CPR status	code status (documentation)	Documented resuscitation preference	Nursing Emergency & Critical Care
cPRA	calculated panel reactive antibody (allocation)	Sensitivity percentage for allocation	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory Surgery
CPS report	child protective services report (process)	Mandatory report of suspected abuse	Pediatrics Nursing General Medical
CPSC	Consumer Product Safety Commission (recalls)	Product safety recall authority referenced in guidance	Pediatrics General Medical
CPT	ceftaroline (chart shorthand)	Anti-MRSA cephalosporin chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
CPT	Current Procedural Terminology	Coding system for medical procedures	General Medical
CPT def	carnitine palmitoyltransferase deficiency	Fat transport metabolic disorder	Pediatrics Laboratory
CPT therapy	cognitive processing therapy	Trauma therapy restructuring stuck thoughts	Psychiatry
CPVT	catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia	Inherited rhythm disorder triggered by exercise or emotion	Cardiology Pediatrics
CQC	Care Quality Commission	Regulator of health and social care in England	General Medical
CR	complete remission	No detectable disease after treatment	Hematology & Oncology
Cr	creatinine	Waste product in blood reflecting kidney function	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology
CRAB	carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii	Bacteria resistant to carbapenem antibiotics	Infectious Disease Laboratory
crackles	crackles (sound)	Popping lung sounds	Pediatrics Respiratory Nursing
CRAFFT	CRAFFT screening tool	Adolescent substance use screen	Pediatrics Psychiatry
CrAg	cryptococcal antigen	Rapid test for cryptococcal infection	Laboratory Infectious Disease Neurology
craniectomy	decompressive craniectomy	Removing skull bone to relieve brain swelling	Surgery Neurology Emergency & Critical Care
craniopharyngioma	craniopharyngioma (diagnosis)	Pituitary-area child tumor	Pediatrics Neurology Endocrinology Hematology & Oncology
cranioplasty	cranioplasty (skull reconstruction)	Rebuilding a skull defect	Surgery Neurology
craniotabes	craniotabes (soft skull sign)	Ping-pong soft skull of rickets	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal
CRAO	central retinal artery occlusion	Blocked main artery supplying the retina	General Medical Emergency & Critical Care
CRB-65	CRB-65 score	Community version of the pneumonia severity score	Respiratory Infectious Disease
CRC	colorectal cancer	Cancer of the colon or rectum	Hematology & Oncology Gastroenterology
CRE	carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales	Gut bacteria resistant to carbapenem antibiotics	Infectious Disease Laboratory
Creat	creatinine	Waste product in blood reflecting kidney function	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology
CRH	corticotropin-releasing hormone	Brain hormone that triggers the stress hormone pathway	Laboratory Endocrinology
cric	cricothyrotomy (procedure)	Emergency airway through the front of the neck	Emergency & Critical Care Surgery Respiratory
CRIES	Crying Requires oxygen Increased vital signs Expression Sleeplessness	Neonatal pain score	Pediatrics Nursing Vitals & Assessment
CRIF	closed reduction and internal fixation	Bone realignment without opening, fixed with hardware	Musculoskeletal Surgery
CRIZ	crizotinib (chart shorthand)	ALK blocker pill shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Hematology & Oncology
CRL	crown-rump length	Ultrasound measurement of a baby from head to bottom	Obstetrics & Gynecology Radiology & Imaging
CRO	ceftriaxone (chart shorthand)	Third-generation cephalosporin chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
crossing percentiles	crossing percentiles (growth concern)	Falling across growth chart lines	Pediatrics
croup	laryngotracheitis (croup diagnosis)	Barky cough airway illness — diagnosis	Pediatrics Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
CRP	C-reactive protein	Blood protein that rises with inflammation	Laboratory General Medical
CRP	canalith repositioning procedure ()	Crystal-moving vertigo procedure	Neurology
CRPP	closed reduction percutaneous pinning	Aligning and pinning a fracture without opening it	Surgery Musculoskeletal
CRPS	complex regional pain syndrome	Long-lasting limb pain after injury, with colour and temperature changes	Neurology Musculoskeletal
CRRT	continuous renal replacement therapy	Slow continuous dialysis used in intensive care	Renal & Nephrology Emergency & Critical Care
CRRT filter	CRRT filter (hemofilter)	Continuous therapy blood filter	Renal & Nephrology Emergency & Critical Care
CRS	chronic rhinosinusitis	Long-lasting sinus inflammation	General Medical Infectious Disease
CRS	congenital rubella syndrome	Birth defects caused by rubella infection during pregnancy	Infectious Disease Obstetrics & Gynecology Pediatrics
Crs	respiratory system compliance	Stiffness measure of lungs and chest together	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
CRT	capillary refill time	Time for colour to return after pressing the nail bed	Vitals & Assessment Emergency & Critical Care
CRT	cardiac resynchronization therapy	Pacing therapy that coordinates both lower heart chambers	Cardiology
CRT-D	cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator	Coordinating pacemaker that can also deliver a shock	Cardiology
CRT-D device	cardiac resynchronization defibrillator (device)	Biventricular pacing and shocking device	Cardiology
CRT-P	cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemaker	Coordinating pacemaker without a shock function	Cardiology
CRVO	central retinal vein occlusion	Blocked main vein draining the retina	General Medical
Cryo	cryoprecipitate	Blood product rich in clotting factors	Hematology & Oncology
cryobiopsy	cryobiopsy (transbronchial)	Frozen-probe lung tissue sampling	Respiratory Surgery
cryosurgery	cryosurgery (lesion freezing)	Destroying a lesion with extreme cold	Surgery General Medical
cryptogenic	cryptogenic stroke (term)	Stroke without a found cause	Neurology Cardiology
CS	cesarean section	Surgical delivery of a baby through the abdomen	Surgery Obstetrics & Gynecology
CS anatomy	coronary sinus (anatomy)	Large vein collecting the heart's own blood	Cardiology
CSA	central sleep apnea	Pauses in breathing during sleep from reduced brain signals	Respiratory
CSA	cyclosporine (transplant shorthand)	Immune-suppressing drug after transplant	Prescription & Medication Orders Hematology & Oncology Renal & Nephrology
CSA level	cyclosporine level (monitoring)	Anti-rejection drug level check	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory Prescription & Medication Orders
CSC	coordinated specialty care (psychosis)	Team-based early psychosis care model	Psychiatry
csDMARD	conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug	Traditional medicine slowing arthritis damage	Prescription & Medication Orders Musculoskeletal
CSE	combined spinal-epidural	Anaesthesia combining a spinal injection and epidural catheter	Surgery
CSE	convulsive status epilepticus	Continuous convulsing seizure emergency	Neurology Emergency & Critical Care
CSF	cerebrospinal fluid	Clear fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord	Neurology Laboratory
CSF analysis	CSF analysis (profile)	Spinal fluid test panel — profile	Neurology Laboratory
CSF VDRL	CSF Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test	Spinal fluid syphilis test	Laboratory Infectious Disease Neurology
CSI	craniospinal irradiation	Radiation to brain and spine	Hematology & Oncology Radiology & Imaging Neurology
CSII	continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion	Insulin delivery by a wearable pump	Endocrinology
CSM	circulation, sensation, movement	Checks of blood flow, feeling and motion in a limb	Emergency & Critical Care Musculoskeletal
CSOM	chronic suppurative otitis media	Long-term middle ear infection with discharge	General Medical Infectious Disease
CSR	central serous retinopathy	Fluid collecting under the centre of the retina	General Medical
CST	contraction stress test	Test of how the baby's heart rate responds to contractions	Obstetrics & Gynecology
CSU	catheter specimen of urine	Urine sample taken from a catheter	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory Nursing
CSVT	cerebral sinus venous thrombosis	Clot in a major brain vein channel	Neurology
CSWS	continuous spike-wave in sleep (epilepsy)	Sleep-activated EEG epilepsy syndrome	Neurology Pediatrics
CT	computed tomography	Cross-sectional X-ray imaging of the body	Radiology & Imaging
CT KUB	computed tomography of kidneys, ureters and bladder	CT scan of the urinary tract, often for stones	Renal & Nephrology Radiology & Imaging
Ct value	cycle threshold value	PCR cycles needed for detection, reflecting viral amount	Laboratory Infectious Disease
CTA	computed tomography angiography	CT scan using contrast to image blood vessels	Cardiology Radiology & Imaging
CTC	computed tomography colonography	CT imaging of the colon, a virtual colonoscopy	Radiology & Imaging Gastroenterology
CTCAE	Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events	Standard grading of treatment side effects	Hematology & Oncology
CTDI	computed tomography dose index	Radiation dose metric for CT	Radiology & Imaging
ctDNA	circulating tumor DNA	Tumor DNA fragments measured in blood	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
CTE	chronic traumatic encephalopathy (concern)	Repetitive impact brain degeneration	Neurology Psychiatry
CTEPH	chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension	High lung pressure caused by old blood clots in lung arteries	Cardiology Respiratory
CTG	cardiotocography	Recording of the baby's heart rate and uterine contractions	Obstetrics & Gynecology
CTH	computed tomography head	CT scan of the head and brain	Radiology & Imaging Neurology
cTn	cardiac troponin	Blood protein released when heart muscle is injured	Cardiology Laboratory
cTnI	cardiac troponin I	Heart muscle protein released after heart injury	Laboratory Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
cTnT	cardiac troponin T	Heart muscle protein released after heart injury	Laboratory Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
CTO	cervicothoracic orthosis	Neck and chest brace	Musculoskeletal Surgery
CTP	Child-Turcotte-Pugh score	Score grading liver disease severity	Gastroenterology
CTP	computed tomography perfusion	CT mapping of tissue blood flow, used in stroke	Radiology & Imaging Neurology Emergency & Critical Care
CTPA	computed tomography pulmonary angiography	CT scan with contrast to look for lung artery clots	Cardiology Respiratory Radiology & Imaging
CTR open	open carpal tunnel release	Traditional incision wrist release	Surgery Musculoskeletal
CTS	carpal tunnel syndrome	Hand numbness and tingling from a compressed wrist nerve	Musculoskeletal Neurology
CTSI	CT Severity Index (Balthazar)	Imaging severity score for pancreatitis	Gastroenterology Radiology & Imaging
CTU	computed tomography urography	CT imaging of the urinary tract	Radiology & Imaging Renal & Nephrology
CTV	clinical target volume	Tumor plus margin treated in radiation planning	Radiology & Imaging Hematology & Oncology
CTV	computed tomography venography	CT imaging of veins	Radiology & Imaging
CTX	C-terminal telopeptide	Bone breakdown marker	Laboratory Endocrinology Musculoskeletal
CTX	cefotaxime (chart shorthand)	Third-generation cephalosporin chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
CTX	cyclophosphamide (chart shorthand)	Alkylating chemotherapy and immune drug shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Hematology & Oncology
cubital release	cubital tunnel release	Freeing the elbow's ulnar nerve	Surgery Musculoskeletal Neurology
CUD	cannabis use disorder	Problematic pattern of cannabis use causing impairment	Psychiatry
cuff leak	cuff leak test (extubation)	Air leak around the deflated tube cuff predicting airway swelling	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
Cullen	Cullen's sign	Bruising around the navel suggesting internal bleeding	Gastroenterology Emergency & Critical Care
cup feeding	cup feeding (method)	Open-cup baby feeding method	Pediatrics Nursing
CURB-65	CURB-65 score	Pneumonia severity score, from its factor initials	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
Curosurf	Curosurf (poractant brand)	Pig-derived surfactant brand	Pediatrics Prescription & Medication Orders
currant jelly	currant jelly stool (sign)	Bloody mucus stool of intussusception	Pediatrics Gastroenterology Emergency & Critical Care
Cushing	Cushing's syndrome	Body exposed to too much cortisol	Endocrinology
Cushing triad	Cushing triad (sign)	High pressure, slow pulse, irregular breathing — sign	Neurology Emergency & Critical Care
CV	cardiovascular	Relating to the heart and blood vessels	Cardiology
CV2	CV2/CRMP5 antibody (paraneoplastic)	Paraneoplastic antibody target	Neurology Laboratory
CVA	cerebrovascular accident	A stroke, interrupted blood flow to the brain	Neurology
CVC	central venous catheter	Line in a large vein, also used for dialysis access	Renal & Nephrology Emergency & Critical Care
CVC child	central venous catheter (childhood)	Central line — childhood	Pediatrics Nursing Emergency & Critical Care
CVD	cardiovascular disease	Disease of the heart and blood vessels	Cardiology
cVEMP	cervical vestibular evoked myogenic potential	Balance organ test using neck muscle response	General Medical Neurology
CVP	central venous pressure	Pressure in the large vein near the heart	Cardiology
CVP	cyclophosphamide vincristine prednisone	Lymphoma chemotherapy combination	Hematology & Oncology Prescription & Medication Orders
CVS	cardiovascular system	The heart and blood vessels, as in examination	Cardiology Vitals & Assessment
CVS	chorionic villus sampling	Placental tissue sampling test in pregnancy	Obstetrics & Gynecology Laboratory
CVS	cyclic vomiting syndrome (episodes)	Recurrent intense vomiting episodes with well intervals	Pediatrics Gastroenterology Neurology Emergency & Critical Care
CVT	cerebral venous thrombosis	Blood clot in a vein draining the brain	Neurology
CVT	sinovenous thrombosis (cerebral)	Clot in the brain's vein channels	Neurology Radiology & Imaging
CVVH	continuous venovenous hemofiltration	Continuous blood filtration therapy in intensive care	Emergency & Critical Care Renal & Nephrology
CVVHD	continuous venovenous hemodialysis	Continuous dialysis therapy in intensive care	Emergency & Critical Care Renal & Nephrology
CVVHDF	continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration	Combined continuous therapy	Renal & Nephrology Emergency & Critical Care
CW	continuous-wave Doppler	Doppler measuring high-velocity flow	Radiology & Imaging Cardiology
CWD	canal wall down mastoidectomy	Mastoid surgery removing the canal wall	Surgery
CWP	coal worker's pneumoconiosis	Lung scarring from long-term coal dust inhalation	Respiratory
CWU	canal wall up mastoidectomy	Mastoid surgery preserving the ear canal wall	Surgery
CXL	cross-linking (corneal collagen)	Cornea-strengthening treatment for keratoconus	General Medical Surgery
CXR	chest X-ray	X-ray image of the chest, heart and lungs	Respiratory Radiology & Imaging
CY	cyclophosphamide (conditioning shorthand)	Transplant conditioning shorthand in regimen names	Hematology & Oncology Prescription & Medication Orders
CY-BOCS	Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale	Child OCD severity scale	Psychiatry Pediatrics
cyanide	cyanide toxicity (smoke)	Cell poison in fire smoke — toxicology	Emergency & Critical Care Prescription & Medication Orders
cyanotic	cyanotic heart defects (group)	Heart defects causing blue discoloration	Pediatrics Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
cyanotic spells child	cyanotic breath-holding spells	Anger-triggered blue breath-holding of toddlers	Pediatrics Neurology
CyBorD	cyclophosphamide bortezomib dexamethasone	Myeloma and amyloidosis combination	Hematology & Oncology Prescription & Medication Orders
CYC	cyclophosphamide	Immune-suppressing and chemotherapy medicine	Prescription & Medication Orders Hematology & Oncology
CYFRA 21-1	cytokeratin 19 fragment	Lung cancer tumor marker	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Respiratory
CYP	cytochrome P450	Liver enzyme family breaking down many medicines	Laboratory Prescription & Medication Orders
cystectomy partial	partial cystectomy	Removing part of the bladder	Surgery Renal & Nephrology
cystic art	cystic artery	Small artery to the gallbladder	Gastroenterology Surgery
cystic hygroma	lymphatic malformation (neck)	Fluid-filled lymph channel growth	Pediatrics Surgery Radiology & Imaging
cysto	cystoscopy (shorthand)	Scope inspection of the bladder	Surgery Renal & Nephrology
cytoreduction	debulking surgery (ovarian cancer)	Removing as much cancer as possible	Obstetrics & Gynecology Surgery Hematology & Oncology

Educational reference only. This guide is for learning and quick reference. Abbreviations vary between hospitals, countries and specialties, and some are discouraged because they can be misread. Always write and interpret orders using your own institution’s approved abbreviation list, and check anything unclear with the prescriber or your local policy.

Medical Abbreviations Starting With "C"

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