Medical Abbreviations Starting With "T"

This page lists 334 medical abbreviations starting with "T", 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 C D E F G H I J K L M N 0–9 O P Q R S U V W X Y Z

Abbreviation	Full form	What it means	Used in
T	temperature	How hot or cold the body is	Vitals & Assessment
T&A	tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy	Operation removing tonsils and adenoids	Surgery Pediatrics
T&C	type and crossmatch	Blood test matching donor blood for a patient	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Surgery
T&S	type and screen	Blood test checking group and unexpected antibodies	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Surgery
T-piece	T-piece resuscitator (newborn device)	Controlled-pressure newborn breathing device	Pediatrics Emergency & Critical Care Respiratory
T-piece trial	T-piece trial (weaning)	Breathing unassisted through the tube as a weaning test	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
T1	T1-weighted imaging	MRI sequence type highlighting fat and anatomy	Radiology & Imaging
T1DM	type 1 diabetes mellitus	Diabetes from autoimmune destruction of insulin-making cells	Endocrinology
T1WI	T1-weighted imaging	MRI sequence where fat appears bright	Radiology & Imaging
T2	T2-weighted imaging	MRI sequence type highlighting fluid	Radiology & Imaging
T2*	T2 star (gradient echo susceptibility)	MRI effect highlighting blood products	Radiology & Imaging
T25FW	Timed 25-Foot Walk	MS walking speed test	Neurology
T2DM	type 2 diabetes mellitus	Diabetes from insulin resistance and reduced insulin	Endocrinology
T2WI	T2-weighted imaging	MRI sequence where fluid appears bright	Radiology & Imaging
T3	triiodothyronine	Active thyroid hormone measured in blood	Laboratory Endocrinology
T4	thyroxine	Main thyroid hormone measured in blood	Laboratory Endocrinology
TA muscle	tibialis anterior (muscle)	Front shin muscle lifting the foot	Musculoskeletal
TA-GVHD	transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease	Rare fatal reaction prevented by irradiating blood	Hematology & Oncology
TAA	thoracic aortic aneurysm	Bulging weak spot in the aorta in the chest	Cardiology Surgery
TAA	total ankle arthroplasty	Ankle joint replacement	Surgery Musculoskeletal
Tab	tablet	Solid form of medicine taken by mouth	Prescription & Medication Orders
TAB	therapeutic abortion	Medically induced ending of a pregnancy	Obstetrics & Gynecology
TAC	docetaxel doxorubicin cyclophosphamide	Breast cancer chemotherapy combination	Hematology & Oncology Prescription & Medication Orders
TAC	tacrolimus (transplant shorthand)	Immune-suppressing drug after transplant	Prescription & Medication Orders Renal & Nephrology Hematology & Oncology
TAC cervical	transabdominal cerclage	Stitch placed from above for a failed vaginal cerclage	Obstetrics & Gynecology Surgery
tac level	tacrolimus level (monitoring)	Anti-rejection drug level — monitoring	Renal & Nephrology Laboratory Prescription & Medication Orders
tac toxicity	calcineurin inhibitor nephrotoxicity (graft)	Drug-caused kidney injury in transplant care	Renal & Nephrology Prescription & Medication Orders
TACE	transarterial chemoembolization	Chemo and blocking particles delivered into liver tumors	Hematology & Oncology Radiology & Imaging Gastroenterology
tachysystole	uterine tachysystole (term)	More than five contractions in ten minutes	Obstetrics & Gynecology
TACO	transfusion-associated circulatory overload	Fluid overload from transfusion	Hematology & Oncology Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
TAH	total abdominal hysterectomy	Removal of the uterus through an abdominal cut	Surgery Obstetrics & Gynecology
TAM	tamoxifen (chart shorthand)	Breast cancer hormone pill shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Hematology & Oncology
TAMIS	transanal minimally invasive surgery	Local rectal tumor removal through the anus	Surgery Gastroenterology
tandem	TandemHeart (percutaneous VAD)	External pump drawing blood across the heart	Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
tandem lesion	tandem occlusion (stroke)	Neck plus brain artery blockages together	Neurology Radiology & Imaging
Tanner	Tanner staging (puberty)	Puberty development stages	Pediatrics Endocrinology Obstetrics & Gynecology
TAP block	transversus abdominis plane block	Numbing injection into the abdominal wall layers	Surgery
tap test	tap test (NPH)	Large-volume spinal tap predicting shunt response	Neurology Surgery
taper	dose taper (concept)	Gradual dose reduction schedule	Prescription & Medication Orders General Medical
TAPP	transabdominal preperitoneal (hernia repair)	Keyhole groin hernia repair through the abdomen	Surgery
TAPS	twin anemia polycythemia sequence	Slow blood imbalance between identical twins	Obstetrics & Gynecology
TAPSE	tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion	Echo measure of right heart function	Cardiology Radiology & Imaging
TAPVC alt	total anomalous pulmonary venous connection	Alternate phrasing for anomalous lung vein drainage	Pediatrics Cardiology
TAPVR	total anomalous pulmonary venous return	Birth defect where all lung veins connect to the wrong side	Cardiology Pediatrics
TARE	transarterial radioembolization	Radiation beads delivered into liver tumors	Hematology & Oncology Radiology & Imaging Gastroenterology
tarsal coalition	tarsal coalition (fusion)	Foot bones joined by a bar	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal Radiology & Imaging
tarsal release	tarsal tunnel release	Freeing the ankle's tibial nerve	Surgery Musculoskeletal
TAT	Thematic Apperception Test	Story-telling projective test	Psychiatry
TaTME	transanal total mesorectal excision	Rectal removal performed from below and above	Surgery Gastroenterology
TAUS	transabdominal ultrasound	Ultrasound scan through the abdomen	Radiology & Imaging Obstetrics & Gynecology
TAVI	transcatheter aortic valve implantation	Catheter placement of a new aortic valve	Cardiology
TAVR	transcatheter aortic valve replacement	Valve replacement done through a catheter, without open surgery	Cardiology
Tay-Sachs	Tay-Sachs disease (lysosomal)	Infantile nerve storage disorder	Pediatrics Laboratory Neurology
TB	tuberculosis	Bacterial infection that mainly affects the lungs	Respiratory Infectious Disease
TB risk questionnaire	tuberculosis risk assessment (questionnaire)	Exposure questions guiding TB testing	Pediatrics Infectious Disease
TBG	thyroxine-binding globulin	Protein that carries thyroid hormone in blood	Laboratory Endocrinology
TBI	toe-brachial index	Ratio comparing blood pressure at toe and arm	Cardiology Vitals & Assessment
TBI	total body irradiation (conditioning)	Whole-body radiation before transplant — distinct from traumatic brain injury	Hematology & Oncology Radiology & Imaging
TBI	traumatic brain injury	Brain injury caused by external force	Emergency & Critical Care Neurology
TBili	total bilirubin	Total yellow pigment level in blood	Laboratory Gastroenterology
TBLB	transbronchial lung biopsy	Lung tissue sample taken through a scope across the airway wall	Respiratory
TBSA	total body surface area	Percentage of skin area affected, used for burns	Emergency & Critical Care Surgery
tbsp	tablespoon	Household measure of about fifteen milliliters	Prescription & Medication Orders
TC	docetaxel cyclophosphamide	Breast cancer chemotherapy combination	Hematology & Oncology Prescription & Medication Orders
TCA	tricyclic antidepressant	Older class of antidepressant medicine	Prescription & Medication Orders Psychiatry
TCAR	transcarotid artery revascularization	Carotid stenting through a neck incision	Surgery Neurology
TcB	transcutaneous bilirubin (measurement)	Skin bilirubin estimate in newborns	Pediatrics Laboratory Nursing
TCD	transcranial Doppler	Ultrasound measuring blood flow in brain arteries	Neurology
TCDB	turn, cough, deep breathe	Routine to keep lungs clear after surgery	Nursing Respiratory
TCHP	docetaxel carboplatin trastuzumab pertuzumab	HER2-positive breast cancer combination	Hematology & Oncology Prescription & Medication Orders
TCI	target-controlled infusion	Computer-guided intravenous anaesthetic delivery	Surgery
TCI skin	topical calcineurin inhibitors (eczema)	Non-steroid eczema creams	Pediatrics Prescription & Medication Orders
TCMR	T cell-mediated rejection (type)	Cellular rejection of a transplant	Renal & Nephrology Surgery Laboratory
TCS skin	topical corticosteroids (eczema)	Steroid creams for eczema	Pediatrics Prescription & Medication Orders
TD	tardive dyskinesia	Involuntary repetitive movements appearing after long medicine use	Psychiatry Neurology
Tdap	Tdap (adolescent/adult formulation)	Tetanus diphtheria pertussis vaccine — formulation	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Obstetrics & Gynecology Prescription & Medication Orders
Tdap	tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis vaccine	Booster vaccine against tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough	Infectious Disease Pediatrics Obstetrics & Gynecology
Tdap pregnancy	Tdap in pregnancy (cocooning)	Pertussis vaccine each pregnancy	Obstetrics & Gynecology Pediatrics Infectious Disease Prescription & Medication Orders
tDCS	transcranial direct current stimulation	Weak current brain stimulation technique	Psychiatry Neurology
TDI	tissue Doppler imaging	Echo technique measuring heart muscle motion	Radiology & Imaging Cardiology
TDWB	touch-down weight bearing	Same as toe-touch loading restriction	Musculoskeletal Surgery Nursing
TE	transient elastography	Ultrasound-based stiffness scan of the liver	Gastroenterology Radiology & Imaging
TEA	total elbow arthroplasty	Elbow joint replacement	Surgery Musculoskeletal
TED	thromboembolism-deterrent hose	Elastic stockings that aid leg circulation	Nursing
TED	thyroid eye disease	Eye inflammation and bulging in Graves disease	General Medical Endocrinology
TED hose	thrombo-embolic deterrent stockings	Compression stockings	Nursing Surgery
TEE	transesophageal echocardiogram	Heart ultrasound done through the food pipe	Cardiology
TEE	transesophageal echocardiography	Heart ultrasound from the esophagus — imaging	Radiology & Imaging Cardiology
teething	teething (symptom attribution)	Tooth eruption and its blamed symptoms	Pediatrics
TEF	tracheoesophageal fistula	Abnormal connection between the windpipe and food pipe	Respiratory Pediatrics
TEG	thromboelastography	Whole-blood test of clot formation and strength	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology Emergency & Critical Care
telemetry box	telemetry transmitter (device)	Portable heart monitor box	Nursing Cardiology
telemetry unit	telemetry unit (monitored ward)	Ward with continuous heart monitoring	Nursing Cardiology
telephone order	telephone order (TO)	Order given by phone and documented	Nursing General Medical
TEM	transanal endoscopic microsurgery	Scope-based local rectal lesion removal	Surgery Gastroenterology
temp instability	temperature instability (newborn sign)	Inability to hold body temperature in newborns	Pediatrics Nursing
temporal lobe	temporal lobe (anatomy)	Side brain region for hearing and memory	Neurology
TEN	toxic epidermal necrolysis	Severe drug reaction causing widespread skin loss	Emergency & Critical Care
TEN-4	TEN-4 rule (bruising)	Bruising rule flagging possible abuse in young children	Pediatrics Emergency & Critical Care
teniae	teniae coli (anatomy)	Longitudinal muscle bands of the colon	Gastroenterology
tenotomy	tenotomy (tendon release)	Cutting a tendon to release contracture	Surgery Musculoskeletal
tenotomy Achilles	percutaneous Achilles tenotomy (clubfoot)	Small heel tendon cut in clubfoot treatment	Surgery Musculoskeletal Pediatrics
TENS	transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation	Skin electrodes delivering mild pulses for pain relief	Musculoskeletal Neurology
TENS labor	TENS (labor pain)	Electrical pad pain relief in labor	Obstetrics & Gynecology Nursing
tensilon	edrophonium test (historical myasthenia)	Former drug test for myasthenia	Neurology
tentorium	tentorium cerebelli (anatomy)	Tent-like fold over the cerebellum	Neurology
TEP	totally extraperitoneal (hernia repair)	Keyhole groin hernia repair outside the abdomen	Surgery
terbutaline	terbutaline (asthma infusion)	Injected bronchodilator for severe asthma	Pediatrics Respiratory Prescription & Medication Orders
terminal delirium	terminal delirium (end of life)	Delirium in the last days of life	Neurology Psychiatry Nursing
testicular volume	testicular volume (Prader orchidometer)	Bead-compared testicle size in puberty checks	Pediatrics Endocrinology
Testo	testosterone	Main male sex hormone	Endocrinology Laboratory
tet spell	tet spell (hypercyanotic episode)	Sudden blue episode in tetralogy	Pediatrics Cardiology Emergency & Critical Care
TETRAS	The Essential Tremor Rating Assessment Scale	Standard tremor rating scale	Neurology
TEVAR	thoracic endovascular aortic repair	Stent-graft repair of a chest aorta aneurysm	Surgery Cardiology
TF-CBT	trauma-focused CBT	Child trauma therapy model	Psychiatry Pediatrics
TFL	tensor fasciae latae (muscle)	Small hip muscle tensing the thigh band	Musculoskeletal
Tg	thyroglobulin	Thyroid protein used as a marker after thyroid cancer	Endocrinology Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
TG	triglycerides	A type of fat measured in the blood	Cardiology Laboratory
TGA	transposition of the great arteries	Birth defect where the two main arteries are swapped	Cardiology Pediatrics
TgAb	thyroglobulin antibody	Antibody against a thyroid protein	Endocrinology Laboratory
TGC	tigecycline (chart shorthand)	Glycylcycline antibiotic chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
TH	paclitaxel trastuzumab	Breast cancer chemo-antibody combination shorthand	Hematology & Oncology Prescription & Medication Orders
THA	total hip arthroplasty	Operation replacing the whole hip joint	Surgery Musculoskeletal
THA ant	anterior approach total hip arthroplasty	Hip replacement from the front	Surgery Musculoskeletal
THAL	thalidomide (chart shorthand)	Myeloma immune drug shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Hematology & Oncology
thalamus	thalamus (anatomy)	Brain relay station for sensation	Neurology
Thebesian	Thebesian veins (cardiac)	Tiny veins draining directly into heart chambers	Cardiology
thelarche	premature thelarche (isolated)	Early breast development alone	Pediatrics Endocrinology
thenar	thenar muscles (thumb group)	Thumb base muscle group	Musculoskeletal
therapeutic hypothermia	therapeutic hypothermia (cooling)	Whole-body cooling after birth brain injury — treatment	Pediatrics Neurology Emergency & Critical Care
third nerve palsy	third nerve palsy (finding)	Down-and-out eye with droopy lid and large pupil	Neurology Emergency & Critical Care
third ventricle	third ventricle (anatomy)	Midline fluid space between the thalami	Neurology
thoracentesis procedure	thoracentesis (procedure)	Needle drainage of chest fluid — procedure	Respiratory Surgery Emergency & Critical Care
thoracotomy	thoracotomy (procedure)	Open chest operation	Respiratory Surgery
thought content	thought content (mental status element)	What the patient is thinking about, including delusions	Psychiatry
thought process	thought process (mental status element)	How thoughts connect, such as loose or tangential	Psychiatry
THR	total hip replacement	Operation replacing the whole hip joint	Surgery Musculoskeletal
thrill	thrill (access examination)	Buzzing vibration of a working fistula — exam	Renal & Nephrology Nursing
thrombectomy access	access thrombectomy (dialysis)	Clot removal from a dialysis access	Radiology & Imaging Renal & Nephrology
thrombectomy stroke	mechanical thrombectomy (stroke)	Catheter removal of a brain clot in stroke	Neurology Emergency & Critical Care Radiology & Imaging
thrombotic micro tx	thrombotic microangiopathy (graft)	Small vessel clotting injury in grafts	Renal & Nephrology Hematology & Oncology Laboratory
thrush	candidal infection (nipple/infant mouth)	Yeast infection of nursing	Obstetrics & Gynecology Pediatrics Infectious Disease
ThuLEP	thulium laser enucleation of the prostate	Laser prostate procedure variant	Surgery Renal & Nephrology
thumb sucking	nonnutritive sucking habits (thumb)	Thumb or finger sucking habit	Pediatrics
thumbprint sign	thumbprint sign (epiglottitis imaging)	Swollen epiglottis shape on a neck X-ray	Pediatrics Radiology & Imaging Emergency & Critical Care
thunderclap	thunderclap headache (descriptor)	Instant peak severe headache descriptor	Neurology Emergency & Critical Care
thyroglossal	thyroglossal duct cyst (diagnosis)	Midline neck cyst — diagnosis	Pediatrics Surgery Endocrinology
thyroid lobectomy	thyroid lobectomy (hemithyroidectomy)	Removal of one thyroid lobe	Surgery Endocrinology
thyroid storm	thyroid storm (crisis)	Extreme overactive thyroid emergency — crisis	Emergency & Critical Care Endocrinology
thyroid uptake	radioactive iodine uptake	Nuclear measure of thyroid iodine absorption	Radiology & Imaging Endocrinology
TIA	transient ischemic attack	Brief stroke-like episode that passes without lasting damage	Neurology
TIBC	total iron-binding capacity	Blood test of how much iron the blood can carry	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
tibial n	tibial nerve (anatomy)	Main back-of-leg nerve	Neurology Musculoskeletal
tibial spine	tibial spine avulsion (ACL)	Bone pulled off where the ACL attaches	Musculoskeletal Surgery
tibial torsion	internal tibial torsion (in-toeing cause)	Inward shin twist causing in-toeing	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal
tic disorders	tic disorders (Tourette group)	Motor and vocal tic conditions	Pediatrics Neurology Psychiatry
tic douloureux	tic douloureux (trigeminal neuralgia)	French name for facial nerve pain	Neurology
TID	ter in die	Three times a day	Prescription & Medication Orders
tid	three times a day (lowercase form)	Frequency in lowercase charting	Prescription & Medication Orders Nursing
Tillaux	juvenile Tillaux fracture (ankle)	Partial growth plate ankle fracture of teens	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal Radiology & Imaging
tilt table	tilt table test (autonomic)	Upright tilt test for fainting — autonomic	Neurology Cardiology
time out	time out (surgical safety pause)	Final verification pause before incision	Nursing Surgery General Medical
Timed Up and Go	Timed Up and Go test	Timed mobility and fall risk test	Nursing Vitals & Assessment Musculoskeletal
TIMI	Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction	Scoring system for blood flow and risk in heart attack	Cardiology
TIMI	Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction score	Risk score used in heart attack care	Cardiology
TIP	paclitaxel ifosfamide cisplatin	Testicular cancer salvage combination	Hematology & Oncology Prescription & Medication Orders
TIPS	transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt	Channel created in the liver to lower portal pressure	Gastroenterology Radiology & Imaging
TIR	time in range	Percentage of time glucose is in target range	Endocrinology
TIRADS	Thyroid Imaging Reporting and Data System	Standard categories for thyroid nodule ultrasound	Radiology & Imaging Endocrinology
titrate	titrate (dose adjustment)	Adjusting dose to response	Prescription & Medication Orders General Medical Emergency & Critical Care
TIVA	total intravenous anesthesia	Anaesthesia given entirely through a vein	Surgery
TIW ⚠ Error-prone	three times a week	Three times weekly, easily misread	Prescription & Medication Orders
TKA	total knee arthroplasty	Operation replacing the whole knee joint	Surgery Musculoskeletal
TKA cemented	cemented total knee arthroplasty	Knee replacement fixed with bone cement	Surgery Musculoskeletal
TKI	tyrosine kinase inhibitor	Targeted cancer pill class blocking growth signals	Prescription & Medication Orders Hematology & Oncology
TKO	to keep open	Same slow IV rate as KVO	Nursing Prescription & Medication Orders
TKR	total knee replacement	Operation replacing the whole knee joint	Surgery Musculoskeletal
TLC	total lung capacity	Total air the lungs can hold after a full breath in	Respiratory
TLG	total lesion glycolysis	Combined volume and uptake measure on PET	Radiology & Imaging Hematology & Oncology
TLH	total laparoscopic hysterectomy	Entirely keyhole womb removal	Obstetrics & Gynecology Surgery
TLIF	transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion	Back fusion through a side-of-canal approach	Surgery Musculoskeletal Neurology
TLS	tumor lysis syndrome (emergency)	Cancer breakdown emergency	Emergency & Critical Care Hematology & Oncology Laboratory
TLSO	thoracolumbosacral orthosis (brace)	Trunk brace — brace	Musculoskeletal Neurology Surgery
TM	transverse myelitis	Inflammation across a section of the spinal cord	Neurology
TM	tympanic membrane	The eardrum	General Medical
TM perf	tympanic membrane perforation	Hole in the eardrum	General Medical
TMB	tumor mutational burden	Number of mutations in a tumor sample	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
TMD	temporomandibular disorder	Jaw joint and muscle pain condition	Musculoskeletal General Medical
TME	total mesorectal excision	Precise removal of the rectum with its fatty envelope	Surgery Gastroenterology Hematology & Oncology
TMJ	temporomandibular joint	Jaw joint connecting the lower jaw to the skull	Musculoskeletal
TMP	transmembrane pressure (dialysis)	Pressure gradient driving fluid across the filter	Renal & Nephrology
TMP-SMX	trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole	Combination antibiotic medicine	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
TMS	transcranial magnetic stimulation	Magnetic pulses stimulating brain areas through the skull	Neurology Psychiatry
TMZ	temozolomide (chart shorthand)	Brain tumor chemotherapy shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Hematology & Oncology Neurology
TN	trigeminal neuralgia	Brief electric-shock facial pain from the trigeminal nerve	Neurology
TNK	tenecteplase (stroke shorthand)	Single-bolus clot-dissolving drug shorthand	Neurology Emergency & Critical Care Prescription & Medication Orders
TNM	tumor node metastasis staging	Standard cancer staging system	Hematology & Oncology
TNM	tumour, node, metastasis	Cancer staging system describing spread	Hematology & Oncology
TOA	tubo-ovarian abscess	Collection of pus involving a fallopian tube and ovary, often from pelvic infection	Obstetrics & Gynecology Infectious Disease
TOAST	TOAST classification (stroke)	Stroke cause classification system	Neurology
TOB	tobramycin (chart shorthand)	Aminoglycoside antibiotic chart shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease
tocolytics class	tocolytics (drug class)	Contraction-stopping medicines — class	Obstetrics & Gynecology Prescription & Medication Orders
toddler fracture	toddler's fracture (spiral tibia)	Twisting shin fracture of new walkers	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal Emergency & Critical Care
TOE	transoesophageal echocardiogram	Heart ultrasound from a probe in the food pipe	Radiology & Imaging Cardiology
toe walking	idiopathic toe walking (habit)	Persistent tiptoe walking in children	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal Neurology
TOF	tetralogy of Fallot	Birth heart defect with four linked abnormalities	Cardiology Pediatrics
TOF	train-of-four	Nerve stimulation pattern testing muscle relaxation	Surgery Emergency & Critical Care
TOF monitoring	train-of-four monitoring (paralysis)	Nerve stimulator checking paralysis depth	Emergency & Critical Care Nursing Surgery
TOLAC	trial of labor after cesarean	Attempt at vaginal delivery after a previous cesarean birth	Obstetrics & Gynecology
tonic seizure	tonic seizure (type)	Stiffening seizure type	Neurology
tonsil hypertrophy	adenotonsillar hypertrophy (obstruction)	Enlarged tonsils blocking sleep breathing	Pediatrics Respiratory Surgery
tonsillectomy	tonsillectomy (procedure)	Removal of the tonsils — procedure	Surgery Pediatrics
TOP	termination of pregnancy	Ending of a pregnancy	Obstetrics & Gynecology
Top	topical	Applied to the skin surface	Prescription & Medication Orders
topical anesthetic child	topical anesthetic (EMLA)	Numbing cream before needle procedures	Pediatrics Nursing Prescription & Medication Orders
TORB	telephone order read back	Safety read-back of a phoned order	Nursing General Medical
TORCH	TORCH infections (congenital group)	Congenital infection group	Pediatrics Infectious Disease Obstetrics & Gynecology
TORCH	toxoplasmosis, other, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes	Group of infections that can affect a baby before birth	Infectious Disease Obstetrics & Gynecology Pediatrics
torticollis acquired	acquired torticollis (causes)	New neck tilt from pain or inflammation	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal Emergency & Critical Care
TOS	thoracic outlet syndrome	Compression of nerves or vessels between neck and armpit	Musculoskeletal Neurology
TOT	transobturator tape (sling)	Sling passing through the groin folds — sling	Obstetrics & Gynecology Surgery Renal & Nephrology
total thyroid	total thyroidectomy	Removal of the whole thyroid gland	Surgery Endocrinology
touch supervision	touch supervision (water safety)	Arm's-reach watching of young swimmers	Pediatrics Nursing
tourniquet test	inflow/outflow assessment (access exam)	Bedside fistula examination elements	Renal & Nephrology Nursing
tox screen	toxicology screen (panel)	Drug test panel — panel	Emergency & Critical Care Laboratory
TP	total protein	Total amount of protein in a blood sample	Laboratory
TP53	tumor protein p53	Major tumor suppressor gene	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
tPA	alteplase (stroke)	Clot-dissolving drug — stroke treatment	Neurology Emergency & Critical Care Prescription & Medication Orders
tPA	tissue plasminogen activator	Clot-dissolving protein, also made as a medicine	Neurology Hematology & Oncology
TPAL	term preterm abortions living	Birth outcomes part of the pregnancy count	Obstetrics & Gynecology Nursing
TPE	therapeutic plasma exchange	Removing and replacing plasma to treat disease	Hematology & Oncology Renal & Nephrology Neurology
TPN	total parenteral nutrition	All nutrition given through a vein	Prescription & Medication Orders Nursing
TPN-dependent	total parenteral nutrition dependent	Relying on IV nutrition long-term	Nursing Gastroenterology
TPO	thrombopoietin	Hormone stimulating platelet production	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
TPO-RA	thrombopoietin receptor agonist	Medicine boosting platelet production	Prescription & Medication Orders Hematology & Oncology
TPOAb	thyroid peroxidase antibody	Antibody marker of Hashimoto thyroiditis	Laboratory Endocrinology
TPPA	Treponema pallidum particle agglutination	Confirmatory syphilis test	Laboratory Infectious Disease
TPR	temperature, pulse, respirations	Basic set of vital sign measurements	Vitals & Assessment Nursing
TR	tricuspid regurgitation	Leaking of the right-sided valve back into the upper chamber	Cardiology
TRAb	thyrotropin receptor antibody	Antibody stimulating the thyroid in Graves' disease	Endocrinology Laboratory
trab	trabeculectomy (glaucoma surgery)	Drainage operation for glaucoma	Surgery
Trach	tracheostomy	Opening into the windpipe for breathing	Surgery Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care
trach collar	tracheostomy collar (device)	Mask delivering oxygen over a trach	Nursing Respiratory
trach cuff	tracheostomy cuff (balloon)	Sealing balloon on a trach tube	Nursing Respiratory
tracheal tug	tracheal tug (distress sign)	Downward windpipe pull with each breath	Pediatrics Respiratory
tracheitis	bacterial tracheitis (diagnosis)	Infected windpipe emergency of children — diagnosis	Pediatrics Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care Infectious Disease
trachelectomy	radical trachelectomy (fertility-sparing)	Cervix removal keeping the womb for fertility	Obstetrics & Gynecology Surgery Hematology & Oncology
tracheomalacia	tracheomalacia (diagnosis)	Floppy windpipe — diagnosis	Pediatrics Respiratory
TRACK	Test for Respiratory and Asthma Control in Kids	Under-five asthma control questionnaire	Pediatrics Respiratory
traction	cervical traction (therapy)	Neck pulling therapy — therapy	Musculoskeletal Neurology
trail making	trail making test (cognitive)	Timed connect-the-dots attention test	Neurology Psychiatry
TRALI	transfusion-related acute lung injury	Lung injury within hours of a blood transfusion	Respiratory Emergency & Critical Care Hematology & Oncology
TRAM	transverse rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap	Belly muscle and skin breast reconstruction	Surgery
trampoline	trampoline injury guidance (discouraged use)	Safety guidance discouraging home trampolines	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal
transducer	pressure transducer (device)	Sensor converting pressure to a monitor waveform	Emergency & Critical Care Nursing
transient synovitis	transient synovitis (hip)	Temporary hip irritation in children	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal Emergency & Critical Care
transitional fx	transitional fractures (adolescent ankle)	Growth-closing ankle fracture group	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal
transitional stool	transitional stool (newborn)	Changing stool of the first days	Pediatrics Nursing
transmetatarsal	transmetatarsal amputation	Forefoot removal across the metatarsals	Surgery
transplant candidacy	transplant candidacy (evaluation)	Suitability assessment for a kidney transplant	Renal & Nephrology Surgery
transposition	vein transposition (access surgery)	Moving a vein to the surface for dialysis	Surgery Renal & Nephrology
transverse sinus	transverse sinus (venous)	Side vein channel draining the brain	Neurology
TRAP	tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase	Enzyme linked to bone breakdown cells	Laboratory Musculoskeletal
trap	trapezius (muscle, shorthand)	Neck and upper back muscle shorthand	Musculoskeletal
TRAP	twin reversed arterial perfusion	One twin perfusing a heartless co-twin	Obstetrics & Gynecology
TRAST	trastuzumab (chart shorthand)	HER2 antibody shorthand	Prescription & Medication Orders Hematology & Oncology
traumatic tap	traumatic tap (bloody LP)	Blood from the needle path in a spinal tap	Neurology Laboratory
TRD	tractional retinal detachment	Retina pulled off by scar tissue	General Medical Emergency & Critical Care
tremor types	tremor (rest/action/intention types)	Shaking classified by when it occurs	Neurology
Trendelenburg child	Trendelenburg gait (hip weakness)	Hip-drop walking from weak abductors	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal Neurology
TRF	Teacher Report Form	Achenbach teacher behavior scale	Pediatrics Psychiatry
trichotillomania	trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder)	Repetitive hair pulling disorder	Psychiatry Pediatrics
trigeminal neuralgia	trigeminal neuralgia (diagnosis)	Electric facial pain — diagnosis	Neurology
trigger release	trigger finger release	Cutting the pulley trapping a finger tendon	Surgery Musculoskeletal
TRIM	transfusion-related immunomodulation	Immune effects attributed to transfusion	Hematology & Oncology
triplane	triplane fracture (ankle adolescent)	Three-plane growth plate ankle fracture	Pediatrics Musculoskeletal Radiology & Imaging Surgery
triple arthrodesis	triple arthrodesis (foot)	Fusing three hindfoot joints	Surgery Musculoskeletal
triple feeding	triple feeding (breast pump supplement)	Three-part feeding plan for low supply or intake	Obstetrics & Gynecology Pediatrics Nursing
triple I	triple I (intrauterine inflammation/infection)	Modern term grouping womb infection and inflammation	Obstetrics & Gynecology Infectious Disease
triple-H	triple-H therapy (historical SAH)	Older pressure and volume strategy after bleeding	Neurology Emergency & Critical Care
Trop	troponin	Heart muscle protein tested when heart attack is suspected	Laboratory Cardiology
trophic feed	trophic feeding	Tiny-volume feeds keeping the gut active	Nursing Pediatrics Emergency & Critical Care
truncus	truncus arteriosus (defect)	Single great vessel leaving the heart	Pediatrics Cardiology
TRUS	transrectal ultrasound	Prostate ultrasound scan through the rectum	Renal & Nephrology Radiology & Imaging
TS	Tourette syndrome	Condition with repeated involuntary movements and sounds called tics	Neurology Psychiatry
TS	tuberous sclerosis	Genetic condition causing benign growths in many organs	Pediatrics Neurology
TS	Turner syndrome	Chromosome condition affecting females, involving a missing X chromosome	Pediatrics Endocrinology
TS genetic	Turner syndrome (genetic)	Missing X chromosome syndrome	Pediatrics Endocrinology Obstetrics & Gynecology
TSA	total shoulder arthroplasty	Surgery replacing the shoulder joint with a prosthesis	Musculoskeletal Surgery
TSAT	transferrin saturation	Percentage showing iron availability	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
TSB	total serum bilirubin (newborn)	Blood bilirubin — newborn	Pediatrics Laboratory
TSC	tuberous sclerosis complex	Inherited condition causing growths in many organs	Neurology Pediatrics
TSH	thyroid-stimulating hormone	Pituitary hormone controlling the thyroid gland	Laboratory Endocrinology
TSI	thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin	Antibody stimulating the thyroid in Graves' disease	Endocrinology Laboratory
tsp	teaspoon	Household measure of about five milliliters	Prescription & Medication Orders
TSST-1	toxic shock syndrome toxin 1	Staph toxin causing toxic shock syndrome	Infectious Disease Laboratory
TST	tuberculin skin test	Skin test for tuberculosis infection	Infectious Disease Laboratory
TT	thrombin time	Test of the final step of blood clotting	Laboratory Hematology & Oncology
TTE	transthoracic echocardiogram	Heart ultrasound done through the chest wall	Cardiology
tTG	tissue transglutaminase	Enzyme targeted by antibodies in celiac disease	Laboratory Gastroenterology
TTH	tension-type headache	Common headache with pressing or tightening pain	Neurology
TTKG	transtubular potassium gradient	Urine calculation for potassium handling disorders	Laboratory Renal & Nephrology Endocrinology
TTN	transient tachypnea of the newborn	Temporary fast breathing in newborns from retained lung fluid	Respiratory Pediatrics
TTNA	transthoracic needle aspiration	Needle sample of lung tissue taken through the chest wall	Respiratory
TTP	thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura	Clotting disorder causing low platelets and organ damage	Hematology & Oncology Emergency & Critical Care
TTTS	twin-twin transfusion syndrome	Complication of identical twin pregnancy with unequal blood sharing	Obstetrics & Gynecology Pediatrics
TTWB	toe-touch weight-bearing	Touching toes down for balance without real weight	Musculoskeletal Nursing
tube weaning	tube weaning (program)	Planned transition from tube to oral feeding	Pediatrics Gastroenterology Nursing
TUG	Timed Up and Go (abbreviation)	Timed stand-walk-turn mobility test	Vitals & Assessment Musculoskeletal Nursing
tummy time	tummy time (development activity)	Supervised prone play for development	Pediatrics Nursing
tumor lysis child	tumor lysis syndrome (childhood)	Cancer breakdown emergency — childhood	Pediatrics Hematology & Oncology Emergency & Critical Care Laboratory
tunnel infection PD	tunnel infection (PD catheter)	Deep infection along a PD tube track	Renal & Nephrology Infectious Disease
tunneled HD	tunneled hemodialysis catheter	Long-term under-skin dialysis catheter	Renal & Nephrology Surgery
tunneled line	tunneled catheter (access)	Under-skin long-term line — access	Renal & Nephrology Nursing
turbinoplasty	turbinoplasty (inferior turbinate surgery)	Reshaping swollen nasal turbinates	Surgery
TURBT	transurethral resection of bladder tumour	Bladder tumour removal through the urethra	Surgery Renal & Nephrology Hematology & Oncology
TURP	transurethral resection of the prostate	Prostate surgery performed through the urethra	Renal & Nephrology Surgery
turtle sign	turtle sign (dystocia)	Head retracting against the perineum in shoulder dystocia	Obstetrics & Gynecology
TV tip	television tip-over (injury pattern)	Falling television crushing injuries	Pediatrics Emergency & Critical Care
TVH	total vaginal hysterectomy	Removal of the uterus through the vagina	Surgery Obstetrics & Gynecology
TVR	tricuspid valve replacement	Operation replacing the tricuspid heart valve	Surgery Cardiology
TVT	tension-free vaginal tape (sling)	Retropubic sling for leakage — sling	Obstetrics & Gynecology Surgery Renal & Nephrology
TVUS	transvaginal ultrasound	Ultrasound scan through the vagina	Radiology & Imaging Obstetrics & Gynecology
Tx	treatment	Care given for a condition	General Medical
TXA	tranexamic acid	Medicine that stabilises blood clots	Prescription & Medication Orders Hematology & Oncology Surgery
tymp	tympanometry (shorthand)	Middle ear pressure and mobility test shorthand	General Medical Pediatrics
tympanometry	tympanometry (test)	Eardrum movement test — test	Neurology General Medical Pediatrics
tympanoplasty	tympanoplasty (procedure)	Eardrum and middle ear repair	Surgery
tympanostomy	tympanostomy tubes (placement)	Ear ventilation tubes — placement	Pediatrics Surgery Infectious Disease
type A lactic	type A lactic acidosis (perfusion)	Lactate from poor tissue perfusion	Emergency & Critical Care Laboratory
type B lactic	type B lactic acidosis (non-perfusion)	Lactate from drugs or metabolism without shock	Emergency & Critical Care Laboratory
tyrosinemia	tyrosinemia type 1 (metabolic)	Liver and kidney metabolic disorder	Pediatrics Laboratory
TZD	thiazolidinedione	Diabetes medicine class improving insulin sensitivity	Prescription & Medication Orders Endocrinology
TZP	piperacillin-tazobactam	Broad combination antibiotic medicine	Prescription & Medication Orders Infectious Disease

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 "T"

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