Initials (Abbreviations), Technical Terms, and Acronyms
Following are the more common initials (abbreviations) and acronyms used in imaging departments today and as used in this pocket handbook and in the 8th edition Bontrager Textbook.
| AC joints | Acromioclavicular joints |
| AP, PA | Anteroposterior, posteroanterior projections |
| ASIS | Anterior superior iliac spine (pelvis landmark) |
| DP, PD | Dorsoplantar or plantodorsal |
| LAO, RAO | Left and right anterior oblique projections |
| LPO, RPO | Left and right posterior oblique projections |
| MCP | Midcoronal plane (plane dividing the body into anterior and posterior halves) |
| MSP | Midsagittal plane (plane dividing the body into right and left halves) |
| SC joints | Sternoclavicular joints |
| SI joints | Sacroiliac joints |
| SMV, VSM | Submentovertex or verticosubmental projections |
| BE | Barium enema |
| CCK | Cholecystokinin (hormone, GB procedure) |
| CNS | Central nervous system |
| CSF | Cerebrospinal fluid |
| CTC | Computed tomography colonoscopy |
| ERCP | Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography |
| GB | Gallbladder |
| GI, UGI, LGI | Gastrointestinal, upper and lower GI |
| IVP | Intravenous pyelogram (older term) |
| IVU | Intravenous urogram (accurate term) |
| KUB | Kidneys, ureters, bladder (abdomen projection) |
| NPO | Nil per os (nothing by mouth) |
| OCG | Oral cholecystogram (oral gallbladder procedure) |
| PTC | Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography |
| RLQ, LLQ | Right and left lower quadrant |
| RUQ, LUQ | Right and left upper quadrant |
| SBS | Small bowel series |
| VC | Virtual colonoscopy |
| AEC | Automatic exposure controls |
| Analog | Film-screen imaging system |
| CR | Central ray (for positioning centering) |
| CR | Computed radiography—using image plates (IP) |
| CT | Computed tomography |
| C.W. | Crosswise (IR orientation to patient); landscape |
| DF | Digital fluoroscopy |
| DR | Digital radiography (cassette-less) |
| FS | Focal spot (large or small) |
| HIS | Hospital information system |
| IP | Image plates (used with CR) |
| IR | Image receptor (film or digital) |
| L.W. | Lengthwise (IR orientation to patient); portrait |
| MRI | Magnetic resonance imaging |
| OID | Object image receptor distance |
| PACS | Picture archiving and communications system |
| PBL | Positive beam limitation (collimation) |
| PET | Positron emission tomography |
| PSP | Photostimulable phosphor plate receptor (either cassette or cassette-less) |
| RIS | Radiography information system |
| SID | Source image-receptor distance |
| TT | Tabletop (non-Bucky) |
| ACL, PCL | Anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments (knee) |
| CMC | Carpometacarpal (wrist) |
| DIP | Distal interphalangeal (hand or foot) |
| IP | Interphalangeal (hand or foot) |
| LCL, MCL | Lateral and medial collateral ligaments (knee) |
| MCP | Metacarpophalangeal (hand) |
| MTP | Metatarsophalangeal (foot) |
| PIP | Proximal interphalangeal (hand or foot) |
| TMT | Tarsometatarsal (foot) |
| AML | Acanthiomeatal line |
| EAM | External acoustic meatus |
| GAL | Glabelloalveolar line |
| GML | Glabellomeatal line |
| IOML | Infraorbitalmeatal line |
| IPL | Interpupillary line |
| LML | Lips-meatal line (modified Waters projection) |
| MML | Mentomeatal line (Waters projection) |
| OML | Orbitomeatal line |
| SOG | Supraorbital groove |
| TEA | Top of ear attachment |
| TMJ | Temporomandibular joints |