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LOM Book Chapter 19
Language of Medicine Chapter 19 - Created by MTatHome.com
Question | Answer |
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adenocarcinoma | Cancerous tumor of glandular tissue. |
adjuvant therapy | Treatment of disease with substances that assist or enhance the action of primary treatment. |
alkylating agents | Synthetic chemicals used in treatment of cancer. They interfere with DNA synthesis and cell division to prevent cancer cells from increasing in number. |
alopecia | Partial or complete lack of hair. |
alveolar | Pertaining to a small sac or alveolus. |
anaplasia | Loss of differentiation of cells and reversion to a more primitive, unspecialized cell type. |
angiogenesis | Process of forming new blood vessels. |
antibiotics | Chemical substance produced by bacteria or primitive plants; inhibit the growth of cells and are used in treatment of cancer and infectious disease. |
antimetabolites | Chemicals that prevent cell division by inhibiting formation of substances necessary to make DNA; used in cancer treatment. |
antimitotics | Drugs that block mitosis (cell division); used to treat cancer. |
apoptosis | Programmed cell death. |
benign tumor | Noncancerous growth. |
biologic response modifiers | Substances produced by normal cells that block tumor growth or stimulate the immune system to fight cancer. |
biologic therapy | Use of body’s own defenses to fight tumor cells. |
bone marrow biopsy | Small amount of bone marrow tissue is removed (aspirated) and examined under a microscope for evidence of malignancy. |
bone marrow transplant | Bone marrow tissue is infused intravenously into a patient. |
brachytherapy | Placement of radioactive material (small sealed containers) in contact with or implanted into tumor tissue. |
cachexia | General ill health (muscle wasting and weight loss) associated with severe, chronic disease, such as cancer. |
carcinogen | Substance that produces cancer. |
carcinoma | Cancerous tumor. |
carcinoma in situ | Localized cancer, confined to its site of origin. |
cauterization | Process of burning tissue to destroy it. |
cellular oncogenes | Pieces of DNA that, when broken or dislocated, can cause a normal cell to become malignant. |
chemotherapy | Treatment with drugs for cancer. |
combination chemotherapy | Use of several chemotherapeutic agents together for treatment of tumors. |
cryosurgery | Use of subfreezing temperature to destroy tissue. |
cystic tumor | A cystic tumor forms large open spaces filled with fluid. |
dedifferentiation | Loss of differentiation of cells; reversion to a more primitive, embryonic cell type. |
deoxyribonucleic acid | Genetic material within the nucleus of a cell; controls cell division and protein synthesis. |
differentiating agents | Drugs that promote tumor cells to differentiate, stop growing and die. |
differentiation | Specialization of cells; unspecialized cells are modified and altered to form specific and characteristic types and functions. |
dysplastic | Pertaining to abnormal formation or development of cells; not clearly malignant. |
electron beams | Low-energy beams of radiation for treatment of skin or surface tumors. |
en bloc resection | Removal of a tumor with a large area of surrounding tissue containing lymph nodes. |
encapsulated | Surrounded by a capsule; benign tumors are encapsulated. |
epidermoid | Resembling epidermis or the outer layer of skin. Epidermoid tumors are composed of thin, plate-like cells. |
excisional biopsy | Removal of tumor and a margin of normal tissue. |
exenteration | Wide resection involving removal of the tumor, its organ of origin, and all surrounding tissue in the body space. |
exfoliative cytology | Cells are scraped from a region of suspected disease and examined under the microscope. |
external beam radiation | Radiation applied to a tumor from a distant source, such a machine (linear accelerator). |
fiberoptic colonoscopy | Visual examination of the colon using a fiber optic instrument (endoscope). |
fibrosarcoma | Malignant tumor of fibrous or connective tissue. |
fibrosis | Abnormal condition (proliferation) of fibrous connective tissue; occurring in the lung as a side effect of radiation for lung cancer. |
follicular | Pertaining to forming small, glandular sacs. |
fractionation | Method of administering radiation treatment in small, repeated doses rather than in a few large doses. |
fulguration | Destruction of tissue by electric sparks generated by a high-frequency current. |
fungating tumor | Gross description of tumor growth in which cells pile one on top of another and project from the tissue surface. |
genetic screening | Family members are tested to determine whether they have inherited a cancer-causing gene. |
grading of tumors | Evaluating the microscopic appearance of tumor cells to determine their degree of differentiation or maturity and thus malignant transformation. |
gray | Unit of absorbed radiation dose. |
gross description of tumors | Visual appearance of tumors, such as cystic, fungating, inflammatory, medullary, necrotic, polypoid, ulcerating, and verrucous. |
hyperplasia | Increased growth in numbers of normal cells. |
incisional biopsy | Piece of tumor is removed for examination to establish a diagnosis. |
infiltrative | Pertaining to extending beyond normal tissue boundaries. |
invasive | Having the ability to enter and destroy surrounding tissue. |
irradiation | Exposure to any form of radiant energy such as light, heat or x-rays. |
laparoscopy | Visual examination of the abdominal cavity using small incisions and a laparoscope (endoscope). |
linear accelerator | Devise that produces high-energy x-ray (photon) beams for treatment of deep-seated tumors. |
malignant tumor | Cancerous tumor. |
mammography | X-ray examination of the breast. |
medullary tumor | Large, fleshy tumors. |
mesenchymal | Pertaining to embryonic connective tissue from which all connective tissues arise. Sarcomas are tumors of connective tissues that arise originally from mesenchymal cells. |
metaplasia | Conversion of normal cells into a less differentiated type in response to chronic stress or injury. |
metastasis | Spread of a cancerous tumor to another site (change of place) or secondary location (meta- |
microscopic description of tumors | Appearance of tumors as viewed under the microscope. Examples are alveolar, carcinoma in situ, dysplastic, Epidermoid, and follicular tumors. |
mitosis | Cell division of replication of cells; creation of two identical daughter cells from a parent cell. |
mixed tissue tumors | Tumors composed of different types of tissue (epithelial as well as connective tissues). |
modality | Method of treatment. |
molecularly targeted drugs | Anticancer drugs designed to block the function of growth factors, their receptors, and signaling pathways in specific tumor cells. |
morbidity | Damage to normal tissue or the state of being diseased. |
mucinous | Pertaining to cystic tumors filled with mucus. |
mucositis | Inflammation of mucous membranes; often a side effect of radiation therapy or chemotherapy. |
mutagenic | Pertaining to producing a mutation. |
mutation | Change in genetic material (DNA) of a cell. |
myelosuppression | Bone marrow depression or formation of blood cells (leukopenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia). |
necrotic tumor | Tumor that contains dead cells. |
needle (core) biopsy | Insertion of a needle into tissue to remove a core of cells to examine under a microscope; needle aspiration. |
neoplasm | New growth (tumor); benign or malignant tumor. |
neuroblastoma | Malignant childhood tumor originating in cells of the nervous system. |
nucleotide | Unit of DNA (gene) composed of a sugar, phosphate, and a base. The sequence of nucleotides composing a gene is the genetic code. |
oncogene | Region of DNA in tumor cells (cellular oncogene) or in viruses (viral oncogene) that cause cancer. |
oncology | Study of tumors (malignant tumors). |
osteosarcoma | Malignant tumor of bone. |
palliative | Relieving, but not curing symptoms. |
papillary | Pertaining to nipple-like projections. A papillary tumor forms microscopic nipple-like or finger-like projections of cells. |
pedunculated | Processing a stem or stalk (peduncle). |
pharmacokinetics | Study of the distribution and removal of drugs in the body over a period of time. |
photon therapy | Radiation treatment using x-rays and gamma rays delivered to tumor tissue via a linear accelerator. |
pleomorphic | Pertaining to a variety of shapes or cell types. |
pneumonitis | Inflammation of the lungs. |
polypoid tumor | Resembling a polyp (benign growth) that protrudes from a base. |
protein marker tests | Measurements of the level of specific protein in the blood or on the surface of tumor cells; PSA, CA-125, and alpha-fetoprotein are examples. |
protocol | Detailed plan for treatment of an illness. |
proton therapy | Subatomic particles (protons) produced by a cyclotron deposit absorbed does of radiation at a finite, focused point in the body. |
radiation | Energy carried by a steam of particles. |
radiocurable tumor | Tumor cells that are destroyed with radiotherapy. |
radionuclide scans | Radioactive substances (radionuclides) are injected intravenously and scans (images) are taken of organs. |
radioresistant tumor | Tumor cells that require large doses of radiation to be destroyed. |
radiosensitive tumor | Tumor in which radiation can cause death of cells without damage to surrounding tissue. |
radiosensitizers | Drugs that increase the sensitivity of tumor cells to x-rays. |
radiotherapy | Treatment of tumors using radiation; radiation oncology. |
relapse | Return of symptoms of disease. |
remission | Partial or complete disappearance of symptoms of disease. |
retinoblastoma | Malignant tumor of the retina of the eye; childhood malignancy. |
ribonucleic acid | Cellular substance that, along with DNA, plays a role in protein synthesis. |
sarcoma | Cancerous tumor derived from connective or fleshy tissue. |
scirrhous | Pertaining to hard, densely packed tumors, overgrown with fibrous tissue. |
serous | Pertaining to a clear fluid (serum) that remains after blood has clotted. Serous tumors are cystic tumors filled with a thin, water fluid, resembling serum. |
sessile | Type of polyp that extends from a broad base as opposed to growing on a stalk. |
simulation | Study prior to radiation therapy using CT scan or MRI to map treatment. It is required for all patients undergoing radiation therapy. |
solid tumor | Tumor composed of a mass of cells. |
staging of tumors | System of evaluating the extent of spread of tumors. |
stem cell transplant | Stem cells (immature blood cells) are harvested from the bloodstream of a patient and then reinfused after the patient has received chemotherapy. |
stereotactic radiosurgery | A single large dose of radiation delivered under stereotactic (highly precise) guidance to destroy a vascular abnormality or treat small intracranial tumors. |
steroids | Complex, naturally occurring chemicals, such as hormones, that are used in cancer chemotherapy. |
teletherapy | Radiation delivered to a tumor from a distant source, such as a linear accelerator or cyclotron. |
ulcerating tumor | Growth that has open, exposed surfaces resulting from death of overlying tissue. |
verrucous tumor | Tumor, whose growth pattern, resembles a wart. |
viral oncogenes | Pieces of DNA from viruses that infect a normal cell and cause it to become malignant. |
virus | Infectious agent that reproduces by entering a host cell and using the host’s genetic material to make copies of itself. |
xerostomia | Dryness of the mouth. |