Health Encyclopedia

From Wikimd

1 Health encyclopedia

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Health encyclopedia

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A

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Abdomen

(AB-do-men): The part of the body that contains the pancreas, stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder,

and other organs. Accelerated phase (ak-SEL-er-ay-ted): Refers to chronic myelogenous leukemia that is progressing. The number of

immature, abnormal white blood cells in the bone marrow and blood is higher than in the chronic phase, but not as high as in

the blast phase.

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Achlorhydria

(a-klor-HY-dree-a): A lack of hydrochloric acid in the digestive juices in the stomach.

Hydrochloric acid helps digest food.

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Acoustic

(ah-KOOS-tik): Related to sound or hearing.

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Actinic keratosis

(ak-TIN-ik ker-a-TO-sis): A precancerous condition of thick, scaly patches of skin; also

called solar or senile keratosis.

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Acute leukemia

: Leukemia that progresses rapidly.

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Adenocarcinoma

(AD-in-o-kar-sin-O-ma): Cancer that begins in cells that line certain internal organs.

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Adenoma

(AD-in-o-ma): A noncancerous tumor.

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Adjuvant therapy

(AD-joo-vant): Treatment given in addition to the primary treatment to enhance the

effectiveness of the primary treatment.

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Adrenal glands

(a-DREE-nal): A pair of small glands, one located on top of each kidney. The adrenal glands

produce hormones that help control heart rate, blood pressure, the way the body uses food, and other vital functions.

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Aflatoxin

(AF-la-TOK-sin): A substance made by a mold that is often found on poorly stored grains and nuts.

Aflatoxins are known to cause cancer in animals.

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Agranulocyte

(A-gran-yoo-lo-SITE): A type of white blood cell; monocytes and lymphocytes are agranulocytes.

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Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

(AL-o-jen-AY-ik): A procedure in which a patient receives bone marrow

from a compatible, though not genetically identical, donor.

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Alpha-fetoprotein

(AL-fa FEE-to-PRO-teen): A protein often found in abnormal amounts in the blood of patients

with liver cancer.

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Alveoli

(al-VEE-o-lye): Tiny air sacs at the end of the bronchioles.

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Amputation

(am-pyoo-TAY-shun): Surgery to remove all or some of a body part.

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Amylase

(AM-il-aze): An enzyme that helps the body digest starches.

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Anaplastic

(an-ah-PLAS-tik): A term used to describe cancer cells that divide rapidly and bear little or no

resemblance to normal cells.

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Anastamosis

(an-AS-ta-MO-sis): A procedure to connect healthy sections of the colon or rectum after the

diseased portion has been surgically removed.

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Androgen

(AN-dro-jenz): A hormone that promotes the development and maintenance of male sex characteristics.

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Anemia

(a-NEE-mee-a): A decrease in the normal amounts of red blood cells.

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Anesthesia

(an-es-THEE-zha): Loss of feeling or awareness. A local anesthetic causes loss of feeling in a part

of the body. A general anesthetic puts the person to sleep.

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Anesthetic

(an-es-THET-ik): A substance that causes loss of feeling or awareness. A local anesthetic causes

loss of feeling in a part of the body. A general anesthetic puts the person to sleep.

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Angiogenesis

(an-gee-o-GEN-e-sis): Blood vessel formation, which usually accompanies the growth of malignant

tissue.

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Angiogram

(AN-jee-o-gram): An x-ray of blood vessels; the patient receives an injection of dye to outline the

vessels on the x-ray.

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Angiography

(an-jee-O-gra-fee): A procedure to x-ray blood vessels. The blood vessels can be seen because of

an injection of a dye that shows up in the x-ray pictures.

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Angiosarcoma

(AN-jee-o-sar-KO-ma): A type of cancer that begins in the lining of blood vessels.

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Antiandrogen

(an-tee-AN-dro-jen): A drug that blocks the action of male sex hormones.

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Antibiotics

(an-ti-by-AH-tiks): Drugs used to treat infection.

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(AN-ti-BOD-ee): A protein produced by certain white blood cells in response to a foreign substance(antigen). Each antibody can bind only to a specific antigen. The purpose of this binding is to help destroy the

antigen. Antibodies can work in several ways, depending on the nature of the antigen. Some antibodies disable antigens

directly. Others make the antigen more vulnerable to destruction by white blood cells.

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Anticonvulsant

(an-ti-kon-VUL-sant): Medicine to stop, prevent, or control seizures (convulsions).

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Antigen

: Any foreign or "non-self" substance that, when introduced into the body, causes the immune system to

create an antibody.

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Antithymocyte globulin

(anti-THIGH-moe-site GLA-bu-lin): A protein preparation used to prevent and treat

graft-versus-host disease.

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Anus

(AY-nus): The opening of the rectum to the outside of the body.

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Aplastic anemia

: A deficiency of certain parts of the blood caused by a failure of the bone marrow's ability

to generate cells.

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Apoptosis

(ay-paw-TOE-sis): A normal cellular process involving a genetically programmed series of events

leading to the death of a cell.

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Areola

(a-REE-oe-la): The area of dark-colored skin that surrounds the nipple.

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Arterial embolization

(ar-TEE-ree-al EM-bo-lih-ZAY-shun): Blocking an artery so that blood cannot flow to the

tumor.

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Arteriogram

(ar-TEER-ee-o-gram): An x-ray of blood vessels, which can be seen after an injection of a dye that

shows up in the x-ray pictures.

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Asbestos

(as-BES-tus): A natural material that is made up of tiny fibers. If the fibers are inhaled, they can

lodge in the lungs and lead to cancer.

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Ascites

(a-SYE-teez): Abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen.

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Aspiration

(as-per-AY-shun): Removal of fluid from a lump, often a cyst, with a needle and a syringe.

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Astrocytoma

(as-tro-sye-TOE-ma): A type of brain tumor that begins in the brain or spinal chord in small,

star-shaped cells called astrocytes.

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Asymptomatic

: Presenting no signs or symptoms of disease.

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Ataxic gait

(ah-TAK-sik): Awkward, uncoordinated walking.

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Atypical hyperplasia

(hy-per-PLAY-zha): A benign (noncancerous) condition in which tissue has certain abnormal

features.

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Autologous bone marrow transplantation

(aw-TAHL-o-gus): A procedure in which bone marrow is removed from a

patient and then is given back to the patient following intensive treatment.

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Axilla

(ak-SIL-a): The underarm.

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Axillary

(AK-sil-air-ee): Pertaining to the lymph nodes under the arm.

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Axillary dissection

(AK-sil-air-ee): Surgery to remove lymph nodes under the arm.

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B cells

: White blood cells that develop in the bone marrow and are the source of antibodies. Also known as B lymphocytes.

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Barium enema

: A series of x-rays of the lower intestine. The x-rays are taken after the patient is given an enema

with a white, chalky solution that contains barium. The barium outlines the intestines on the x-rays.

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Barium solution

: A liquid containing barium sulfate that is used in x-rays to highlight parts of the digestive

system.

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Barrett's esophagus

: A change in the cells of the tissue that lines the bottom of the esophagus. The esophagus

may become irritated when the contents of the stomach back up (reflux). Reflux that happens often over a long period of time

can lead to Barrett's esophagus.

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Basal cell carcinoma

(BAY-sal sel kar-sin-O-ma): A type of skin cancer that arises from the basal cells.

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Basal cells

: Small, round cells found in the lower part, or base, of the epidermis, the outer layer of the skin.

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Basophil

: A type of white blood cell. Basophils are granulocytes.

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BCG

(Bacillus Calmette-Guerin): A substance that activates the immune system. Filling the bladder with a

solution of BCG is a form of biological therapy for superficial bladder cancer.

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Benign

(beh-NINE): Not cancerous; does not invade nearby tissue or spread to other parts of the body.

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Benign prostatic hyperplasia

(hy-per-PLAY-zha): A noncancerous condition in which an overgrowth of prostate

tissue pushes against the urethra and the bladder, blocking the flow of urine. Also called benign prostatic hypertrophy or

BPH.

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Benign tumor

(beh-NINE): A noncancerous growth that does not spread to other parts of the body.

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Beta-carotene

: A substance from which vitamin A is formed; a precursor of vitamin A.

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Bilateral

: Affecting the right and left side of body.

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Bile

: A yellow or orange fluid made by the liver. Bile is stored in the gallbladder. It passes through the

common bile duct into the duodenum, where it helps digest fat.

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Biological response modifiers

(by-o-LOJ-i-kal): Substances that stimulate the body's response to infection and

disease. The body naturally produces small amounts of these substances. Scientists can produce some of them in the laboratory

in large amounts and use them in cancer treatment. Also called BRMs.

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Biological therapy

(by-o-LOJ-i-kul): The use of the body's immune system, either directly or indirectly, to

fight cancer or to lessen side effects that may be caused by some cancer treatments. Also known as immunotherapy, biotherapy,

or biological response modifier therapy.

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Biopsy

(BYE-ahp-see): The removal of a sample of tissue, which is then examined under a microscope to check

for cancer cells.

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Bladder

: The hollow organ that stores urine.

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Blast phase

: Refers to advanced chronic myelogenous leukemia. In this phase, the number of immature, abnormal

white blood cells in the bone marrow and blood is extremely high. Also called blast crisis.

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Blasts

: Immature blood cells.

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Blood-brain barrier

: A network of blood vessels with closely spaced cells that makes it difficult for

potentially toxic substances (such as anticancer drugs) to penetrate the blood vessel walls and to enter the brain.

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Bone marrow

: The soft, spongy tissue in the center of large bones that produces white blood cells, red blood

cells, and platelets.

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Bone marrow aspiration

(as-per-AY-shun) or biopsy (BY-op-see): The removal of a small sample of bone marrow (usually from the hip) through a needle for examination under a microscope to see whether cancer cells are

present.

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Bone marrow biopsy

(BYE-ahp-see): The removal of a sample of tissue from the bone marrow with a large needle.

The cells are checked to see whether they are cancerous. If cancerous plasma cells are found, the pathologist estimates how

much of the bone marrow is affected. Bone marrow biopsy is usually done at the same time as bone marrow aspiration.

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Bone marrow transplantation

(trans-plan-TAY-shun): A procedure in which doctors replace marrow destroyed by

treatment with high doses of anticancer drugs or radiation. The replacement marrow may be taken from the patient before

treatment or may be donated by another person.

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Bone scan

: A technique to create images of bones on a computer screen or on film. A small amount of

radioactive material is injected and travels through the bloodstream. It collects in the bones, especially in abnormal areas

of the bones, and is detected by a scanner.

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Bowel

: Another name for the intestine. There is both a small and a large bowel.

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Brachytherapy

(BRAK-i-THER-a-pee): Internal radiation therapy using an implant of radioactive material placed

directly into or near the tumor.

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Health Encyclopedia

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Health encyclopedia

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