HL
Abbreviation with 5 meanings
| Stands for | Hodgkin lymphoma |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 5 |
| Categories | Medical, Units & Measurements, Geography & Places |
| Also written | Hl, hL |
HL has five meanings. The most common are Hodgkin lymphoma (hematology and oncology) and Heparin lock (nursing); it can also stand for Hectoliter, Hypotenuse-Leg (congruence) and Hill.
Meanings of HL at a glance
| # | HL stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hodgkin lymphoma | Medical › Hematology and Oncology |
| 2 | Heparin lock | Medical › Nursing |
| 3 | Hectoliter | Units & Measurements › Metric and SI Unit |
| 4 | Hypotenuse-Leg (congruence) | Units & Measurements › Math |
| 5 | Hill | Geography & Places › Address |
1. Hodgkin lymphoma
Medical · Hematology and Oncology Abbreviations
Lymphoma defined by large abnormal Reed-Sternberg cells among inflammatory cells, typically presenting as painless lymph node enlargement in the neck or chest. It most often affects young adults in their 20s and people over 55, and is among the most curable cancers.
Example: Mediastinal mass and Reed-Sternberg cells on biopsy: classic HL, stage IIA; ABVD x4 planned.
Named after English physician Thomas Hodgkin, who described it in 1832. More than 85 percent of patients with early-stage disease are cured. Treatment uses chemotherapy such as ABVD, often guided by interim PET scans, and newer combinations with brentuximab vedotin or nivolumab. Survivors are monitored for late effects, including second cancers and heart disease from radiation.
2. Heparin lock
Medical · Nursing Abbreviations
Intermittent IV access device flushed with dilute heparin to keep it patent between uses. Today true heparin locks are mostly central lines and arterial lines, though staff still say "hep lock" loosely for any capped peripheral IV.
Example: Convert maintenance fluids to HL once tolerating oral intake; flush per protocol.
Heparin flush strengths such as 10 or 100 units/mL have been confused with full-strength vials, including widely reported overdoses in newborns, so many units removed concentrated heparin from floor stock. Some hospitals discourage HL because it implies heparin when only saline is used, preferring "saline lock" or INT.
3. Hectoliter (hL)
Units & Measurements · Metric and SI Unit Abbreviations
One hundred liters, the standard unit for production and trade statistics in the wine, beer and dairy industries. Brewery output, wine harvests and EU agricultural reports are given in hectoliters or thousands of hectoliters.
Example: The brewery produced 1.2 million hL of beer last year.
A hectoliter is about 26.4 US gallons, somewhat less than the 31-gallon US beer barrel. Figures from the International Organisation of Vine and Wine put world wine production at roughly 230 to 260 million hectoliters a year recently. Lowercase hl is equally common.
4. Hypotenuse-Leg (congruence)
Units & Measurements · Math Abbreviations
Congruence test for right triangles: if the hypotenuse and one leg of a right triangle equal the hypotenuse and a leg of another, the triangles are congruent.
Example: Both are right triangles with equal hypotenuses and one pair of equal legs, so they are congruent by HL.
HL is the one side-side-angle case that does work, because the Pythagorean theorem fixes the third side once the hypotenuse and a leg are known. British and Indian textbooks call it RHS (right angle-hypotenuse-side).
5. Hill (Hl)
Geography & Places · Address Abbreviations
Abbreviated HL by USPS, with Hills as HLS; Hill is among the most common elements in American street and subdivision names.
Example: The open house is at 77 Cherry Hl Rd.
Beverly Hills, Chestnut Hill and Capitol Hill all use the word in neighborhood names.
Related abbreviations
More hematology and oncology abbreviations
- HCT – Hematopoietic cell transplantation
- HD – Hodgkin disease
- HER2 – Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2
- HIT – Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia
- HLA – Human leukocyte antigen
- HLH – Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis
- HNSCC – Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
- HR+ – Hormone receptor-positive
See all 144 hematology and oncology abbreviations →
More nursing abbreviations
- FSBG – Fingerstick blood glucose
- FSBS – Fingerstick blood sugar
- FWF – Free water flush
- HAPI – Hospital-acquired pressure injury
- HOB – Head of bed
- HOH – Hard of hearing
- I&O – Intake and output
- INT – Intermittent needle therapy (intermittent infusion device)
See all 90 nursing abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.