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
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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
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IBC inflammatory breast cancer , needs more coverage , rare but aggressive . Please add to list
October 2,2020
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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