MCL
Abbreviation with 3 meanings
| Stands for | Medial collateral ligament |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 3 |
| Categories | Medical |
MCL has three meanings. The most common are Medial collateral ligament (anatomy) and Mantle cell lymphoma (hematology and oncology); it can also stand for Midclavicular line.
Meanings of MCL at a glance
| # | MCL stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medial collateral ligament | Medical › Anatomy |
| 2 | Mantle cell lymphoma | Medical › Hematology and Oncology |
| 3 | Midclavicular line | Medical › Anatomy |
1. Medial collateral ligament
Medical · Anatomy Abbreviations
Broad ligament on the inner side of the knee connecting the femur to the tibia and resisting forces that push the knee inward (valgus stress). It is the most commonly injured knee ligament, typically from a blow to the outside of the knee in contact sports.
Example: Grade II MCL sprain: hinged brace, return to play in about four weeks.
Sprains are graded I (stretch), II (partial tear) and III (complete tear). Unlike the ACL, the MCL has a good blood supply and usually heals without surgery. The "unhappy triad" describes combined ACL, MCL and meniscus injury. In chest exam notes MCL means midclavicular line.
2. Mantle cell lymphoma
Medical · Hematology and Oncology Abbreviations
B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma marked by the t(11;14) translocation that overproduces cyclin D1. It mainly affects men over 60 and often involves lymph nodes, bone marrow, spleen and the gastrointestinal tract.
Example: Generalized lymphadenopathy and lymphomatous polyposis of the colon; cyclin D1 positive: MCL.
Behavior varies from indolent to very aggressive, with the Ki-67 proliferation index and TP53 mutation identifying high risk. BTK inhibitors are highly active, and the CAR-T product brexucabtagene autoleucel was approved in 2020 for relapsed disease. Younger patients may receive intensive chemotherapy followed by autologous transplant. In anatomy MCL means medial collateral ligament.
3. Midclavicular line
Medical · Anatomy Abbreviations
Imaginary vertical line through the midpoint of each clavicle, used as a landmark on the chest and abdomen. The normal cardiac apex beat lies in the fifth intercostal space at or just inside the left midclavicular line, and liver span is measured along the right MCL.
Example: PMI displaced to the 6th ICS, 2 cm lateral to the MCL; suggests cardiomegaly.
Other reference lines include the midsternal, anterior axillary, midaxillary and posterior axillary lines. Needle decompression of a tension pneumothorax was classically done at the second intercostal space in the MCL, though trauma guidelines now favor the fourth or fifth space near the midaxillary line in adults. In knee anatomy MCL means medial collateral ligament.
Related abbreviations
More anatomy abbreviations
- LN – Lymph node
- LUQ – Left upper quadrant
- MAL – Midaxillary line
- MCA – Middle cerebral artery
- MCP – Metacarpophalangeal (joint)
- MSK – Musculoskeletal
- MTP – Metatarsophalangeal (joint)
- NMJ – Neuromuscular junction
See all 70 anatomy abbreviations →
More hematology and oncology abbreviations
- KPS – Karnofsky Performance Status
- KRAS – Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog
- LA – Lupus anticoagulant
- MAHA – Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia
- mCRPC – Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer
- MDS – Myelodysplastic syndrome
- mets – Metastases
- MGUS – Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance
See all 144 hematology and oncology abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.