PCa Abbreviation List UPDATED 1/26/2023

[Moespy]

UPDATED WITH ADDENDUM BELOW 1/26/2023

Prostate cancer-related abbreviations

The following is a (non-comprehensive) list of abbreviations that you may come across in reading about prostate cancer.

•AAT = androgen ablation therapy (same as ADT and HT)

•AAWR = anti-androgen withdrawal response

•ABDCTSCAN = abdominal CAT scan

•ACS = American Cancer Society

•ACTH = adrenal corticotropic hormone (also known as corticotropin)

•ADT = androgen deprivation therapy (same as AAT and HT)

•ADT3 = triple androgen deprivation therapy (same as ADT but with the addition of finasteride/Proscar or dutasteride/Avodart)

•AG = aminoglutethemide

•AFUD = American Foundation for Urologic Disease (no longer exists; now replaced by the AUA Foundation)

•ALK PHOS = alkaline phosphatase

•ALT = alanine aminotransferase

•ANEUP = aneuploid

•AS = active surveillance

•ASCO = American Society of Clinical Oncology

•AST = aspartate aminotransferase

•ASTRO = American Society for [Therapeutic] Radiology and Oncology

•AT = aneuploid/tetraploid

•AUA = American Urological Association

•AUS = artificial urinary sphincter

•BILI = bilirubin

•BMD = bone mineral density

•BMI = body mass index

•BP = Bluestein prediction

•BPH = benign prostatic hyperplasia (also hypertrophy)

•BPSA = baseline PSA (used to mean either an initial PSA value taken long before any risk of prostate cancer is suspected or a PSA value at the time of diagnosis)

•BRACHY = brachytherapy

•BS = bone scan

•BTW = by the way

•BUN = blood urea nitrogen

•B/P = blood pressure

•BX = biopsy

•CAB = complete androgen blockade (the combination of either surgical or medical castration with an antiandrogen like bicalutamide/Casodex)

•CaP = cancer of the prostate

•CAT SCAN = computerized axial tomography (same as CT scan)

•CBC = complete blood count

•CDUS = color-flow Doppler ultrasound

•CEA = carcinoembryonic antigen

•CGA = chromogranin A

•CHB = combined hormone blockade (see also CAB, CHT, CHB2, CHT2)

•CHB2 = CHB with 2 medications (e.g., Lupron + Casodex)

•CHB3 = CHB with 3 medications (e.g., CHB2 + Proscar)

•CHBNDT = CHB non-detectable [PSA] time

•CHEMO = chemotherapy

•CHT = combined hormonal therapy or treatment (see also CAB, CHB)

•CHTx3 or CHT3 = see CHB3

•CIS = cancer information service (of the National Cancer Institute)

•CPA = cyproterone acetate

•CP = capsular penetration

•CRPC = castration-resistant prostate cancer

•CREAT = creatinine

•CRYO = cryotherapy, cryoablation, cryosurgery

•CS = clinical stage

•CT SCAN = computerized tomography (also known as CAT scan or CT scan)

•D = diploid

•DART = dynamic adaptive radiation therapy

•DES = diethylstilbestrol (an estrogen)

•DHEA = dihydroepiandrosterone

•DHEA-S = DHEA sulfate

•DHT = dihydrotestosterone

•DI = diploid index

•DIP = diploid

•DNA = deoxyribonucleic acid

•DRE = digital rectal examination

•DX = diagnosis

•DXM = dexamethasone (Decadron)

•EBR = external beam radiation

•EBRT = external beam radiation therapy

•ED = erectile dysfunction

•EKG = electrocardiogram

•ELISA – enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

•EPE = extra-prostatic extension

•EPO = erythropoeitin (Procrit, Epogen)

•EXBT = external beam therapy

•EXRT = external radiation therapy

•FDA = Food and Drug Administration (USA)

•FLA = focal laser ablation

•FP = family practitioner

•FYA = for your amusement

•FYI = for your information

•G = Gleason score

•GG = Gleason grade

•GnRH = gonadotropin-releasing hormone (see also LHRH)

•GP = general practitioner

•GS = Gleason score

•HA = hormone ablation

•HB = hormone blockade

•HC = hydrocortisone

•HCT = hemotocrit

•HDK = high dose ketoconazole (Nizoral)

•HDR = high dose rate (as in HDR brachytherapy)

•HEM/ONC – hematologic oncologist

•HGB = hemoglobin

•HIFU = high intensity focused ultrasound

•HMO = health maintenance organization

•HPF = high powered field (under a microscope)

•HRPC = hormone-refractory (or hormone-resistant) prostate cancer

•HT = hormone therapy (same as AAT and ADT)

•HX = medical history

•IADT = intermittent androgen deprivation therapy

•IAS = intermittent androgen suppression

•ICHT = intermittent combined hormone therapy

•IGRT = image-guided radiation therapy

•IHT = intermittent hormone therapy

•IMHO = in my humble opinion

•IMNSHO = in my not so humble opinion

•IMRT = intensity-modulated radiation therapy

•IPP = inflatable (or sometimes internal) penile prosthesis

•IVP = intravenous pyelogram

•IV = intravenous, into a vein

•Keto = ketoconazole (Nizoral)

•LAFB = left anterior fascicular block

•LARP = laproscopic robotic prostatectomy (see also RALP)

•LF = laser fulguration (also: left side or flank)

•LHRH = luteinizing hormone releasing hormone

•LNCaP = cell line of human prostate cancer used in laboratory studies

•LRP = laproscopic radical prostatectomy

•M0-M1 = status of cancer metastasis (subset of staging)

•MAB = maximal androgen blockade (same as CAB)

•MAD = maximal androgen deprivation (same as CAB)

•MCP = modified citrus pectin

•MD = moderately differentiated or medical doctor

•MED/ONC = medical oncologist

•MRI = magnetic resonance imaging

•N0-N3 = status of cancer in the lymph nodes (subset of staging)

•NCI = National Cancer Institute (USA)

•NDPSA = non-detectable PSA

•NEG = negative

•NHB = neoadjuvant hormone blockade

•NHT = neoadjuvant hormone therapy

•NIH = National Institutes of Health (USA)

•NL = nil (non-detectable response)

•NP = Narayan prediction

•NSAID = non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, examples include things like aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol), and ibuprofen

•NSE = neuron-specific enolase

•ONC = oncologist

•ORCH = orchiectomy

•P53 = p53 gene

•PAACT = Patient Advocates for Advancement in Cancer Therapy

•PAP = prostatic acid phosphatase

•PBRT = proton beam radiation therapy or prostate bed radiation therapy

•PC = prostate cancer

•PCa = prostate cancer

•PCA3 = prostate cancer gene 3 (a genetic marker for prostate cancer), also used to mean a urine test designed to indentify the presence or absence of this genetic marker (properly “PCA3 test”)

•PCD = prostate cancer [personal] digest

•PD = poorly differentiated

•PDQ = Physician’s Data Query (a service of the National Cancer Institute)

•PHI or phi = Prostate Health Index (a commercially available test for prostate cancer-associated risk derived from the original PSA test and related data)

•PIN = prostatic intraepithelial (or intraductal) neoplasia

•PI-RADS = prostate imaging-recording and data system (used in assessment and evaluation of MRI scans for risk of prostate cancer)

•PNI = perineural invasion

•POS = positive

•PP = Partin prediction

•PPO = preferred provider organization

•PRL = prolactin

•PRP = see RPP

•PSA = prostate specific antigen

•PSA II = prostate specific antigen type II assay

•PSA RTPCR = PSA reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction

•PSADT = PSA doubling time

•PSAV = PSA velocity

•PSM = prostate specific membrane

•PSMA = prostate specific membrane antigen

•PV = prostate volume

•PZ = peripheral zone (of the prostate)

•QOL = quality of life

•RAD/ONC = radiation oncologist

•RALP = robot-assisted laproscopic prostatectomy (similar to LRP but with “robotic” assistance)

•RO = radiation oncologist

•RP = radical prostatectomy

•RPP = radical perineal prostatectomy

•RRP = radical retropubic prostatectomy

•RT = radiation therapy; also: right side

•RT-PCR or RTPCR = reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction

•RTPCR PSA = reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction done on PSA

•RTPCR PSM = reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction done on PSM

•RX = prescription

•SBRT = stereotactic body radiation therapy

•SE = side effects

•SI = seed implantation

•SVI = seminal vesicle invasion (or involvement)

•T = testosterone, also tetraploid

•T0-T4 = status of cancer in the prostate itself (subset of staging)

•TAB = total androgen blockade

•TETRA = tetraploid

•TRT = testosterone replacement therapy

•TRUS – transrectal ultrasound

•TRUS-P or TRUSP = transrectal ultrasound of the prostate

•TTND – time to non-detectable

•TURP or TUR/P = transurethral resection of the prostate

•TX = treatment

•TZ = transition zone (of prostate)

•URO = urologist

•US = ultrasound

•UTI = urinary track infection

•WBC = white blood cell count

•WBC/HPF = white blood cells counted per high powered field (of a microscope)

•WD = well differentiated

•WPRT = whole pelvic radiation therapy

•WW = watchful waiting

•XRT = external radiation therapy

•YO = year(s) old

ADDENDUM

CRPC (Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer)

EBRT (External Beam Radiation Therapy)

IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy)

LDR (Low Dose Rate)

PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen)

RT (Radiation Therapy)

SBRT (Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy)

TURP (Transurethral Resection of the Prostate)

PSA-DT (PSA doubling time)

AS (Active Surveillance)

RP (Radical Prostatectomy)

RTOG (Radiation Therapy Oncology Group)

IMPC (International Multidisciplinary Prostate Cancer Congress)

CRT (Combined Radiation Therapy)

AD (Adjuvant therapy)PCa (Prostate Cancer)

NCCN (National Comprehensive Cancer Network)

PT (Prostatectomy)

PNI (Prostate cancer-specific nutritional index)

PFS (Progression-free survival)

OS (Overall survival)

BCR (Biochemical recurrence)

PN (Prostatectomy nerve-sparing)

LRP (Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy)

RALP (Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy)

RT-PCR (Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction)

HGB (Hemoglobin)

PSA-V (PSA Velocity)

PSA-D (PSA density)

PSA-DT (PSA doubling time)

PSA-FS (PSA failure-free survival)

PSA-LC (PSA-based lymph node classification)

PSA-RT (Prostate-specific antigen-related treatment)

PSA-TC (PSA-based tumor classification)

PSA-TR (PSA-based treatment resistance)

PSA-TT (PSA-based treatment)

PSA-ST (PSA-based survival time)

PSA-PG (PSA-based pathological grade)

PSA-L (PSA-based lymph node)

PSA-M (PSA-based metastasis)

PSA-R (PSA-based recurrence)

PSA-S (PSA-based secondary treatment)

PSA-T (PSA-based primary treatment)

PSA-U (PSA-based upstaging)

PSA-W (PSA-based watchful waiting)

PSA-X (PSA-based salvage treatment)

PSA-Y (PSA-based adjuvant treatment)

PSA-Z (PSA-based palliative treatment)

[Hidden]

Great, this should be a sticky or pinned post, sure others will have additions and/or edits...

[tallguy2]

Thanks a million! I've printed this out and added it to my binder!

[Darryl Partner]

Pinned to right column

[Deadstick in reply to Darryl]

Add SRT - Salvage Radiation Therapy

[cesanon]

Great Job. Daryl should make this a pinned post!!!!!

[cesanon in reply to cesanon]

ohhh I guess he did LOL

[Break60]

ORRP= Open retropubic radical prostatectomy

[j-o-h-n]

NJWD Nice Job Well Done.

GLGHGH.

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Friday 10/26/2018 6:26 PM EDT

[Lyubov]

Thanks a million! Most helpful!

[EricE]

Thanks for posting this. It will really help.

[GoEZ]

Thanks this helps. Do you know of a list of medications and all the names?

[Moespy in reply to GoEZ]

Here is the current list from NCI.

cancer.gov/about-cancer/tre...

Drugs Approved for Prostate Cancer

Abiraterone Acetate

Apalutamide

Bicalutamide

Cabazitaxel

Casodex (Bicalutamide)

Degarelix

Docetaxel

Eligard (Leuprolide Acetate)

Enzalutamide

Erleada (Apalutamide)

Firmagon (Degarelix)

Flutamide

Goserelin Acetate

Jevtana (Cabazitaxel)

Leuprolide Acetate

Lupron (Leuprolide Acetate)

Lupron Depot (Leuprolide Acetate)

Mitoxantrone Hydrochloride

Nilandron (Nilutamide)

Nilutamide

Provenge (Sipuleucel-T)

Radium 223 Dichloride

Sipuleucel-T

Taxotere (Docetaxel)

Xofigo (Radium 223 Dichloride)

Xtandi (Enzalutamide)

Zoladex (Goserelin Acetate)

Zytiga (Abiraterone Acetate)

[GoEZ]

Thanks, all the different names is making my head spin.

[Moespy in reply to GoEZ]

Took me a year+ to get my feet under me and still feel like I am on roller skates most of the time. Many tentacles and many directions equal a very complicated disease. Having said that the more I learn the less stress I have so I continue to read and follow this site.

[Moespy]

Excellent! Thank you for posting.

Jim

[Jollyjill]

Very helpful! Thanks for sharing!

[donnacgorman]

Great work and long overdue! Years ago as a new member of Inspire I made a request to avoid using abbreviations, shortcuts, letters when responding to new members. especially! I was admonished by a well known advocate on that site that he didn’t have the time to spell out terms because he answered so many emails. Valid point so having this list of terms handy is a great resource!

[TFBUNDY]

The 4kin4kin4k.... Usual response to raised PSA

[Hidden]

Fork n Psa .

[Cisco99]

Bluestein prediction -- tornadoes?

[NOCanceros]

Hello

Thanks for your information very useful

George

[rmarkley]

Relating to doctors, I know what RO and a URO is but what is an MO? Many folks use this when referring to their doctors.

[Darryl Partner]

Medical Oncologist

[MrCatMan]

Wow. No wonder I'm confused but this helps.

[Hidden]

BAT bipolar androgen therapySPT supraphysiolohical testosterone

[Hidden]

E1 = EstroneE2 = Estradiol

E3 = Estrogwn

[rmarkley]

MDT has been mentioned in association with ADT. What does MDT stand for?

[Hidden in reply to rmarkley]

Metastasis Directed Treatment/Therapy

[rmarkley in reply to Hidden]

OK, thank you. Could it be added to the abbreviation list?

[Hidden in reply to rmarkley]

I guess. I don't manage that list.

[Moespy]

Unfortunately it's a static list that I copied and pasted a few years back.

[dixiedad]

Guys, thus has gotten WAY out of hand. Just use the words, please?

[DeLeMere]

can we add BAT to this list, if it applies, it seems like a newer treatment

[Shorehousejam]

Advanced Metastatic Prostate Cancer = AMPC

[MNFarmBoy]

DIC: Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a pathological systemic condition resulting from aberrant activation of the coagulation system. It is characterised by the release and activation of procoagulants into the blood, with an associated consumption coagulopathy. Its association with solid and haematological malignancies is well described in literature. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[Mike1971]

Hi Moespy,

I would just like to thank you for the abbreviation list - it has helped me multiple times. Thank you!

[mababa]

thanks for compiling this, Moespy. I’ve had to consult it many times to be able to understand the posts from some of our member veterans and various technical articles.

[Moespy in reply to mababa]

I actually copy/pasted this from a post somewhere on the web. It has helped many including myself. Glad it had been useful to you.