When diagnosed with breast cancer, you may begin to come across a wealth of information with abbreviations that look something like this… “DCIS, ER/PR+, HER2.” You may wonder what many of these acronyms mean. Below you will find a list of common abbreviations and what they mean.
PRMA– Plastic, Reconstructive and Microsurgical Associates
General Medical Acronyms
SX – surgery
DX – diagnosed
HX- history
OR – operating room
MRI – magnetic resonance imaging. A MRI uses an extremely strong magnetic field and radio waves to create a detailed image of the organs and tissues in the body.
CT scan – Computed Tomography Scan. A CT Scan can reveal anatomic details of internal organs that cannot be detected on a traditional X-Ray
FDA- Food and Drug Administration. An agency within the US Department of Health and Human Services that oversees the manufacturing of food, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, tobacco, and other consumer products and veterinary medicine.
PICC lines – peripherally inserted central catheter. A type of long catheter that is inserted through a vein, often in the arm, into a larger vein in the body. A PICC line is used when IV treatment is required over a long period of time.
PET scan- positron emission tomography. A PET Scan is an imaging test uses dye contacting radioactive tracers, certain organs and tissues absorb the tracer.
ONCO- Oncologist
General Breast Cancer Acronyms
DICS- Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) means the cells that line the milk ducts of the breast have become cancer, but they have not spread into surrounding breast tissue.
ER + – Estrogen receptor positive, a cancer is called ER+ if it has positive receptors for estrogen
PR+ Progesterone receptor positive, a cancer is called HR+ if it has positive receptors for progesterone
HER2 – human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, HER2 is a gene that can play a role in the development of breast cancer, and promotes the growth of cancer cells.
BRCA – Commonly known as the “Breast Cancer Gene.” BRCA1 and BRCA2 are two different genes that have been found to impact a person’s chances of developing breast cancer.
ILC – invasive lobular carcinoma, the second most common type of breast cancer
METS – Metastasis, in Mets, cancer cells have broken away from the primary cancer location, and are traveling through the blood and lymphatic system to form new tumors in other parts of the body.
Breast Reconstruction Acronyms
NSM -nipple sparing mastectomy
PBM – prophylactic bilateral mastectomy
SMX – single mastectomy
DMX – double mastectomy
MX – mastectomy
OTM – over the muscle, used when referencing a breast implant placed over the pectoralis muscle
UTM – under the muscle, used when referencing a breast implant placed under the pectoralis muscle
VLNT – vascularized lymph node transfer
ERAS – enhanced recovery after surgery
LVA –Lymphaticovenous Anastomosis
Breast Reconstruction Flap Surgery Acronyms
DIEP- Deep inferior epigastric perforator
TRAM- Transverse recuts abdominis muscle
SIEA- Superficial inferior epigastric perforator
SGAP- Superior gluteal artery perforator
LAT- Latissimus dorsi
TUG- Transverse upper gracilis
VUG– Vertical upper gracilis
PAP– Profunda artery perforator
LTP– Lateral thigh perforator
ATL- anterolateral thigh
Have other abbreviations to add to our list? Let us know in the comments below.
Author: Dr. Minas Chrysopoulo and Delaney Crawford
When diagnosed with breast cancer, you may begin to come across a wealth of information with abbreviations that look something like this… “DCIS, ER/PR+, HER2.” You may wonder what many of these acronyms mean.
Leave Comment
I would see DMX a lot and didn’t know what it was for the longest time. Might add that to the list smile
July 21,2020
IBC inflammatory breast cancer , needs more coverage , rare but aggressive . Please add to list
October 2,2020
Sign Up for Our Monthly Newsletter
Continue Reading
Breast Reconstruction Surgery and Your Period
Breast Reconstruction Surgery and Your Period December 02, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin During our pre-operative appointment with patients, a topic that occasionally arises is menstrual cycles. It is completely normal for women to experience changes with their periods throughout breast cancer treatments. These can be temporary or permanent. Periods can be unpredictable following […]
What Bras and Abdominal Girdles to Wear After Breast Reconstruction Surgery
What Bras and Abdominal Girdles to Wear After Breast Reconstruction Surgery November 17, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin When preparing for breast reconstruction surgery, many patients want to know what types of bras and abdominal girdles they should plan to wear after surgery. Although every surgeon has slightly different preferences, we have put together […]
My 5 DIEP Flap Realities | A Guest Blog From Julie
My 5 DIEP Flap Realities October 28, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin Hi everyone, my name is Julie from It’s a Bosom Thing. I am so happy to be here as a guest blogger and have this opportunity to share with you a few thoughts about life after DIEP Flap Surgery. I was diagnosed […]
PRMA’s BRA Day Virtual Event Recap
PRMA’s BRA Day Virtual Event Recap September 08, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin Yesterday we celebrated Breast Reconstruction Awareness day! Although we missed seeing everyone in person this year, we were still able to spread education and awareness on ALL reconstructive options through our virtual efforts. We were also able to share information on […]
Second Stage DIEP Flap Surgery
Second Stage DIEP Flap Surgery September 08, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin DIEP flap breast reconstruction is typically comprised of at least two stages for the best outcomes. The second stage of surgery is commonly referred to as the “revision” stage and is usually performed about three months after the initial reconstruction. The purpose […]
If ‘Flaps’ Are Such A Great Breast Reconstruction Option, Why Doesn’t Everyone Get Them?
If ‘Flaps’ Are Such A Great Breast Reconstruction Option, Why Doesn’t Everyone Get Them? September 08, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin Flap-based breast reconstruction procedures, like the DIEP flap, offer patients a safe, natural implant-alternative option to reconstruction after a mastectomy. Flap surgeries are permanent and are associated with fewer complications after radiation when […]
What is a Skin Island and How is it Used in Breast Reconstruction?
What is a Skin Island and How is it Used in Breast Reconstruction? September 08, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin What is a “skin island”? The term “skin island” is used to describe the remaining visible skin from a transplanted “flap” of tissue. In the setting of DIEP flap breast reconstruction, the skin island […]
Comparing APEX Flap and DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction
Comparing APEX Flap and DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction August 10, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin We have been receiving numerous inquiries about the “APEX flap” recently. Patients want to know what it is and how it differs from the DIEP flap. APEX is an acronym that stands for “Abdominal Perforator Exchange”. Many patients believe […]
Monitoring the Health of Your Flap During & After Surgery
Monitoring the Health of Your Flap During & After Surgery July 21, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin Autologous flap (or tissue) breast reconstruction procedures represent today’s most advanced options for rebuilding a breast(s) following mastectomy. The most commonly performed method of flap-based reconstruction at PRMA is the DIEP flap. During this procedure, surgeons transplant skin […]
COVID-19 and the Impact on Cancer Patient’s Mortality
COVID-19 and the Impact on Cancer Patient’s Mortality July 21, 2020 Share on Facebook Twitter Linkedin There is still so much we do not know about COVID-19. Likewise, there is little known about how this disease impacts mortality for cancer patients. A study published in The Lancet evaluated and characterized the outcomes of patients with cancer […]
What is a Surgical Drain & Drain Care Best Practices
Can a Hysterectomy/Oophorectomy be Performed at the Same Time as DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction?
Carol
I would see DMX a lot and didn’t know what it was for the longest time. Might add that to the list smile
Carol
IBC inflammatory breast cancer , needs more coverage , rare but aggressive . Please add to list
Kerrie Claffey
this seems to be missing:
IDC = invasive ductal carcinoma, the most common type of breast cancer