The CTAB medical abbreviation means clear to auscultation bilaterally, which says that when the clinician listened to both lungs with a stethoscope, the breath sounds were normal and no extra sounds were heard. You will meet it constantly in the breathing portion of an exam write up.
Auscultation is the medical word for listening to the body, usually with a stethoscope. Bilaterally means on both sides. So CTAB is a compact way to record a normal lung exam on the left and the right. You will see it in clinic notes, emergency department charts, admission histories and nursing assessments.
At a glance
Stands for
Clear to auscultation bilaterallyWritten as
CTAB, CTA B/L, CTA bilat, CTA bilaterallyWhere you see it
Lung or respiratory section of a physical examOften followed by
No wheezes, rales (crackles) or rhonchiSpecialty
Primary care, emergency medicine, hospital medicine, nursingDo not confuse with
CTA alone, which also means CT angiography
Breaking CTAB into its parts
| Letters | Word | Plain meaning |
|---|---|---|
| C | Clear | No abnormal sounds |
| T | To | Linking word |
| A | Auscultation | Listening with a stethoscope |
| B | Bilaterally | On both the left and right sides |
The word auscultation comes from the Latin auscultare, to listen. Clinicians place the stethoscope on several spots on the front and back of the chest, comparing one side with the other while the patient breathes in and out through the mouth.
What the CTAB medical abbreviation rules out
A clear lung exam means the listener did not hear the common abnormal sounds. These include wheezes, which are high pitched and musical and often point to narrowed airways; crackles, also called rales, which sound like fine popping and may come with fluid or infection; and rhonchi, which are low rumbling sounds from mucus in larger airways. It also means breath sounds were present on both sides, not quiet or absent in one area.
That is reassuring, but it is not the whole picture. Some lung problems, including early infections or a blood clot in the lung, can exist with a normal-sounding exam, which is why imaging or other tests are sometimes ordered anyway.
A typical respiratory exam line, decoded
Clinic note: Resp: CTAB, no W/R/R, good air movement, no accessory muscle use. Read in full, both lungs sounded normal, there were no wheezes, rales or rhonchi, air moved well into the lungs, and the patient was not straining neck or chest muscles to breathe.
The short form W/R/R stands for wheezes, rales, rhonchi. Notes may also mention WOB, work of breathing, and oxygen saturation, which give a fuller view of breathing than sounds alone.
CTAB, CTA and other look-alikes
The short form CTA is risky because it has two common uses. In an exam it can mean clear to auscultation. On an order or radiology report it usually means CT angiography, a scan of blood vessels. Adding the B, or writing the phrase in full, removes the doubt.
Charting tips for students
Write CTAB only if you actually listened over both sides, front and back where possible. If one area sounds different, chart it specifically, for example crackles right base, otherwise clear, instead of reaching for the usual normal wording. Note when the patient could not take deep breaths or when the exam was limited, such as while lying flat. For more exam shorthand, the nursing abbreviations collection groups terms by body system.
Frequently asked questions
What does lungs CTAB mean?
It means the lungs were clear to auscultation bilaterally. The clinician listened to both sides with a stethoscope and heard normal breath sounds without wheezes, crackles or rhonchi.
Is CTAB a good result?
It is a normal exam finding, which is usually reassuring. It does not rule out every lung problem, so it is read together with symptoms, oxygen levels and any test results.
What is the difference between CTAB and CTA?
CTAB clearly means clear to auscultation bilaterally. CTA alone can mean clear to auscultation or CT angiography, a blood vessel scan, so the B helps avoid confusion.
What does no W/R/R mean after CTAB?
W/R/R stands for wheezes, rales and rhonchi, three kinds of abnormal lung sounds. No W/R/R confirms none of them were heard, which matches the clear exam.