Medical Terminology: Chapter 19 Terms

AT/RT

Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor

BSE

Breast self-examination

CIS

Carcinoma in situ

Pap smear/test

Cytological screening test developed by Dr. George Papanicolaou and used to detect the presence of abnormal or cancerous cells from the cervix and vagina.

MPD

Mammary Paget disease

Betatron

Megavoltage machine used in administering external radiation therapy.

Neoplasm

New tissue formed, such as an abnormal growth or tumor.

Proliferation

Process of rapid production; growth by multiplying

St

Stage (of disease)

Fecal occult blood test

Test to detect occult (hidden) blood in the stool (feces); if present, further testing would be needed to check for possible cancer of the colon.

aden/o

gland

en-

in

-al

pertaining to

ana-

up, apart, backward

-ate (d)

use, action

angi/o

vessel

leuk/o

white

Three types of immunotherapy:

- *Active specific* (the use of various agents to produce a specific host-immune response) - *Passive* (the use of serum or other products from an immunocompetent individual that are given to an immunodeficient individual to produce an immune response) - *Adoptive* (the process of transferring a form of specific immune response from a donor to a recipient).

Stages of testicular cancer:

- *Stage I*: Cancer confined to the testicle. - *Stage II*: Disease spread to retroperitoneal lymph nodes, located in the rear of the body below the diaphragm. - *Stage III*: Cancer spread beyond the lymph nodes to remote sites in the body such as the lungs and/or liver. - *Recurrent*: Recurrent disease means that the cancer has come back after it has been treated. It may come back in the same place or in another part of the body.

Stages of breast cancer

- *carcinoma in situ*: cancer is confined to the lobules (milk producing glands) or ducts (passages connecting milk-producing glands to the nipple) and has not invaded nearby breast tissue. Also referred to as *ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). - *stage I*: Tumor is smaller than or equal to 2 centimeters in diameter and axillary (underarm) lymph nodes test negative for cancer. - *Stage II*: Tumor is between 2 and 5 centimeters in diameter with or without positive lymph nodes, or tumor is greater than 5 centimeters without positive lymph nodes. - *Stage III*: Divided into substages known as IIIA and IIIB. - *IIIA*: Tumor is larger than 5 centimeters with positive movable lymph nodes that adhere to one another or surrounding tissue. - *IIIB*: Tumor of any size has spread to the skin, chest wall, or internal mammary lymph nodes (located beneath the breast and inside the chest) - *stage IV*: Tumor, regardless of size, has metastasized (spread) to distant sites such as bones, lungs, or lymph nodes not near the breast. - *Recurrent breast cancer*: The disease has returned in spite of initial treatment.

Common signs and symptoms of lung cancer:

- A cough that doesn't go away and gets worse over time - Constant chest pain - Coughing up blood - Shortness of breath, wheezing, or hoarseness - Repeated problems with pneumonia or bronchitis - Swelling of the neck and face - Loss of appetite or weight loss - Fatigue

Malignant cells reveal:

- A loss of differentiation - Anaplasia - Nuclei of various sizes that are hyper chromatic - Cells in the process of rapid and disorderly division.

Diagnostic tools and procedures used to detect the possible presence of cancer:

- Annual Physical Examination - Visualization by endoscopy - Laboratory analysis - Biopsy (Bx) - Diagnostic radiology

Risk factors associated with testicular cancer:

- Having had an undescended testicle - Having had abnormal development of the testicles - A personal or family history of testicular cancer

Important factors when determining the use of radiotherapy for a cancer patient:

- The tumor must be surrounded by normal tissue that can tolerate the radiation and repair itself. - The tumor must not be widespread. If the tumor has metastasized, radiation can be used as a palliative form of treatment. - The tumor must be moderately sensitive to radiation (a radiosensitive tumor).

Signs and symptoms of breast cancer are generally insidious and include:

- Unusual secretions from the nipple - Changes in the nipple's appearance - Nontender movable lump - Well-localized discomfort that may be described as burning, stinging, or aching sensation - Dimpling or peau d' orange (orange peel appearance) may be present over the area of cancer of the breast. - Asymmetry and an elevation of the affected breast - Nipple retraction - Pain in the later stages

Mohs procedure four steps:

1. Surgical removal of tissue 2. Mapping the piece of tissue, freezing and cutting the tissue between 5 and 10 micrometers using a crystal (device for maintaining very low (cold) temperatures), and staining with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), a popular stain used in medical diagnosis. 3. Interpretation of microscope slides for the presence of cancerous cells. 4. Reconstruction of the surgical site as needed.

Osteosarcoma

A cancer of the bone. Osteo (CF) = bone; sarc (R) = flesh; and -oma (S) = tumor.

Squamous carcinoma

A cancer of the squamous epithelium.

Seminoma

A cancerous tumor of the testis, is diagnosed by biopsy.

Chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML)

A disease in which a cell in the bone marrow becomes cancerous and produces a large number of abnormal granulocytes. This disease may affect people of any age and of either sex but is uncommon in children under 10 years old. Also referred to as *myeloid*, *myelogenous*, and *granulocytic leukemia*.

Testicular cancer (TC)

A disease in which malignant cells form in the tissues of one or both testicles. The most common cancer in men age 20 to 35

Cancer (CA)

A latin word meaning crab. Refers to any malignant tumor.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML)

A life-threatening disease in which myelocytes become cancerous and rapidly replace normal cells in the bone marrow. This type of leukemia affect people of all ages, but mostly adults. Acute myeloid leukemia may also be called by several names, including myelocytic, myelogenous, myeloblastic, and myelomonocytic leukemia.

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)

A life-threatening disease in which the cells that normally develop into lymphocytes become cancerous and rapidly replace normal cells in the bone marrow. It is the most common type of leukemia in children and young people under the age of 19. Acute lymphocytic leukemia may be called *acute lymphoid leukemia* and *acute lymphoblastic leukemia*.

Glioblastoma

A rapidly growing cancerous tumor of the brain.

Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT)

A rare tumor generally diagnosed in childhood. Although usually a brain tumor, AT/RT can occur anywhere in the central nervous system including the spinal cord. A type of rhabdomyosarcoma.

Bone marrow study

A test to detect abnormal bone marrow cells, which can indicate leukemia.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT)

A type of laser therapy, involves the use of a special chemical that is injected into the bloodstream and absorbed by cells all over the body. The chemical readily leaves normal cells but remains in cancer cells for a longer time. A laser light aimed at the cancer activates the chemical, which then kills the cancer cells that have absorbed it.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC)

A type of skin cancer.

Breast Self Examination (BSE)

A women should examine their breasts every month to check for appearance, size, shape, symmetry, tenderness, thickening, and texture changes.

Lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)

Abnormal cells found in the lobules of the breast. This condition seldom becomes invasive cancer. However, having lobular carcinoma in situ increases the risk of developing cancer in either breast.

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)

Abnormal cells that involve only the lining of a duct and have not spread outside the duct to other tissues in the breast; also called *intraductal carcinoma*.

Tumor

Abnormal growth, swelling, or enlargement.

AIDS

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

ALL

Acute lymphocytic leukemia

Four major types of leukemias:

Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and Chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML).

AML

Acute myeloid leukemia

ACA

Adenocarcinoma

Adjuvant therapy

Adjuvant therapy is any treatment given after primary therapy to increase the chance of long-term survival. Neoadjuvant therapy is treatment given before primary therapy. Adjuvant therapy for breast cancer, for example, can include chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, the targeted drug Herceptin (trastuzumab), radiation therapy, or a combination of treatments.

Carcinogen

Agent or substance that incites or produces cancer.

Mutagen

Agent that causes a change in DNA (genetic structure) of an organism.

AFP

Alpha-fetoprotein

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)

Also referred to as *chronic lymphoid leukemia* strikes nearly 9,730 peoples in the United States yearly. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is characterized by a large number of cancerous mature lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) and enlarged lymph nodes. More than three-fourths of the people who have this type of leukemia are over the age of 60.

Stereotactic biopsy

Alternative to traditional surgical biopsy; the procedure, which uses a mammogram-guided needle, is performed by a radiologist and assisted by mammography technologists. It is most helpful when mammography shows a mass, a cluster of micro calcifications (tiny calcium deposits that are closely grouped together), or an area of abnormal tissue change but no lump can be felt on careful breast examination.

ACS

American Cancer Society

Mitosis

An orderly process that ensures growth, tissue repair, and cell reproduction.

Blood serum test

Analysis of blood serum to obtain useful information about certain proteins synthesized by cancer; two such tests are the AFP and hCG.

Side effects of radiation therapy:

Anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, malaise, mild erythema, edema, ulcers, alopecia, taste blindness, stomatitis, mucositis, and xerostomia.

Lymphomas

Are cancerous tumors of the lymph nodes.

BCC

Basal cell carcinoma

Bx

Biopsy

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)

Blood test that measure the amount of PSA, a substance produced by the prostate gland; should be offered every year to men 50 years or older.

American Cancer Society's seven warning signs of cancer:

CAUTION - Change in bowel or bladder habits - A sore that does not heal - Unusual bleeding or discharge - Thickening or lump in breast or elsewhere - Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing - Obvious change in a wart or mole - Nagging cough or hoarseness

Radiation therapy

Can be defined as the process whereby energy is beamed from its source to a selected target tissue.

Chemotherapy (chemo)

Can be the treatment of choice when the cancer is disseminated (widespread) and cannot be surgically removed. It is also used when a tumor fails to respond to radiation therapy. Antineoplastic drugs injure individual cells, interfere with their vital functions, and kill or destroy malignant cells. The aim of chemotherapy is to put the patient in remission so that life can continue without exacerbation of symptoms.

Surgery (treatment)

Can be the treatment of choice when the tumor is small and localized and the surrounding tissue is accessible for removal. The aim of surgery is to remove all cancerous tissue plus some of the surrounding normal tissue. Surgery is also used to alleviate some of the complications of cancer, such as the obstruction of an area cause by the enlargement of a tumor.

Internal radiation therapy

Can have two forms of administration, known as sealed and unsealed radiation therapy.

Diagnostic radiology

Can reveal tumor that were not detected by other diagnostic procedures.

CA

Cancer

CA-125

Cancer antigen 125

Oncogenes

Cancer causing genes; genes in a virus that can induce tumor formation.

Bronchogenic carcinoma

Cancer originating in the bronchus of the respiratory tract.

Lymphosarcoma

Cancerous disease of lymphatic tissue; also called *lymphoblastoma*.

Fibrosarcoma

Cancerous tumor arising in collagen-producing fibroblasts.

Neuroblastoma

Cancerous tumor composed chiefly of neuroblasts; can appear anywhere but usually in the abdomen as a swelling; most often diagnosed during the first year of life.

Oligodendroglioma

Cancerous tumor composed chiefly of neuroglia cells and located in the cerebrum.

Chondrosarcoma

Cancerous tumor derived from cartilage cells.

Liposarcoma

Cancerous tumor of fat cells.

Lymphangiosarcoma

Cancerous tumor of lymphatic vessels.

Lymphoma

Cancerous tumor of lymphoid tissue.

Myosarcoma

Cancerous tumor of muscle tissue.

Leiomyosarcoma

Cancerous tumor of smooth muscle tissue.

Medulloblastoma

Cancerous tumor of the brain, fourth ventricle, and the cerebellum.

Glioma

Cancerous tumor of the brain.

Wilms tumor

Cancerous tumor of the kidney occurring mainly in children.

Nephroblastoma

Cancerous tumor of the kidney; also called *Wilms tumor*; most often found in children 2-3 years of age.

Reticulosarcoma

Cancerous tumor of the lymphatic system.

Retinoblastoma

Cancerous tumor of the retina. Although relatively rare, it accounts for 5% of childhood blindness.

Choriocarcinoma

Cancerous tumor of the uterus or at the site of an ectopic pregnancy.

Rhabdomyosarcoma

Cancerous tumor originating from the same embryonic cells that develop into striated muscles. It is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children.

Hemangiosarcoma

Cancerous tumor originating in blood vessels.

Meningioma

Cancerous tumor originating in the arachnoidal (meninges) membrane of the brain.

Myelomas

Cancerous tumors arising in the hematopoietic portion of the bone marrow.

Leukemias

Cancers of the blood-forming tissues.

CEA

Carcinoembryonic antigen

cm

Centimeter

Anaplasia

Characteristic of most cancerous cells in which there is a loss of differentiation and an irreversible alteration in adult cell toward more embryonic cell types.

chemo

Chemotherapy

Two principal means of treatment for patients with cancer:

Chemotherapy (chemo) and radiation therapy

CLL

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia

CML

Chronic myelocytic leukemia

TomoTherapy Highly Integrated Adaptive Radiotherapy (HI-ART)

Combines an advanced form of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) with the accuracy of CT scanning technology, all in one machine. This approach treats hard-to-reach tumors that often sit close to healthy tissues and organs, while minimizing damage to these surrounding tissues. - Before every treatment, advanced scanning technology provides a 3D image of the body, so the radiation beams can be targeted according to size, shape, and location of the tumor(s) on that specific day. - During treatment, the doctor can adjust the intensity and direction of the radiation beams in real time. The revolutionary "slice therapy" approach treats tumors one layer at a time. - After treatment, side effects are minimized because less radiation reaches healthy tissues and organs.

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

Complex protein of high molecular weight found in the nucleus of every cell.

CT

Computed tomography

Xerostomia

Condition of dryness of the mouth; oral change caused by radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic Acid

DCIS

Ductal carcinoma in situ

Encapsulated

Enclosed within a site, sheath, or capsule.

in situ

Enclosed within a site; refers to tumor cells that remain at a site and have not invaded adjacent tissue.

ETS

Environmental tobacco smoke

Three main classifications of factors that play a role in the development of cancer:

Environmental, hereditary, and biological.

Tamponade (cardiac)

Excessive fluid in the pericardial sac surrounding the heart; can be caused by advanced cancer of the lung or a tumor that has metastasized to the pericardium.

Hyperplasia

Excessive growth and formation of normal cells.

ERT

External radiation therapy

Two methods of radiation therapy:

External radiation therapy (ERT) and Internal radiation therapy (IRT)

FNA

Fine needle aspiration

Human T-cell leukemia-lymphoma virus (HTLV)

First virus known to cause cancer in humans.

Fine needle aspiration (FNA)

Form of breast biopsy in which a small needle is used to withdraw a sample of cells from the breast lump.

Hodgkin disease (HD)

Form of lymphoma that occurs in children and young adults. The two kinds of lymphoma are *Hodgkin disease* and *non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)*.

Grades for malignant tumors:

Grade 1: The most differentiated and the least malignant tumors. Only a few cells are undergoing mitosis; however, some abnormality does exist. Grade 2: Moderately undifferentiated. More cells are undergoing mitosis, and the pattern is fairly irregular. Grade 3: Many undifferentiated cells. Tissue origin can be difficult to recognize. Many cells are undergoing mitosis. Grade 4: The least differentiated and high degree of malignancy.

The four types of intrinsic subtypes of breast cancer:

HER2-enriched (HER2E), Luminal A (LumA), Luminal B (LumB), and Basal-like.

H&E

Hematoxylin and eosin

Occult

Hidden

HI-ART

Highly integrated adaptive radiotherapy

HD

Hodgkin disease

Possible cause of cancer:

Hormones; viruses; genetic predispositions; smoking; chemicals used in industry, food cosmetics and plastic; environmental agents - air and/or water pollution; radiation.

HTLV

Human T-cell leukemia-lymphoma virus

hCG

Human chorionic gonadotropin

HER-2/neu

Human epidermal growth factor receptor-2

Two newer methods employed in the treatment of cancer:

Immunotherapy and photodynamic therapy.

Dedifferentiation

In cancer, an abnormal process in which a cell or group of cells undergoes changes and no longer carries on normal cell functions. The failure of immature cells to develop specialized functions. Process by which normal cells lose their specialization (differentiation) and become malignant.

Differentiation

In normal cell development, when immature cells undergo normal changes as they mature and assume their specialized functions. Process by which normal cells have a distinct appearance and specialized function.

Anatomical site

Indicates where the cancer originated in the body.

Mucositis

Inflammation of the oral mucosa caused by exposure to high-energy beams delivered by radiation therapy.

IMRT

Intensity modulated radiation therapy

IRT

Internal radiation therapy

Two ways by which malignant cells spread to body parts:

Invasive growth and metastasis

Leukemia

Is cancer that usually affects white blood cells. Leukemia results when something goes wrong with the process of maturation from stem cell to white blood cell and a cancerous change occurs.

KS

Kaposi Sarcoma

Core biopsy

Large-bore needle removal of a generous sample of breast tissue and a vacuum-assisted needle biposy device (VAD), which uses vacuum suction to obtain a tissue sample.

Small cell lung cancer is _______ than non-small cell lung cancer. This type of cancer grow more _____ and is more likely to spread to other organs.

Less common, quickly.

Melanoma

Literally means a black tumor. A melanoma is a cancerous tumor.

LCIS

Lobular carcinoma in situ

MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging

Carcinomas

Make up a great majority of all cancer and are malignant tumors of epithelial tissues.

Kaposi sarcoma (KS)

Malignant neoplasm that causes violaceous (purplish discoloration) vascular lesions and general lymphadenopathy; often seen in patients who have AIDS.

Teratoma

Malignant teratoma is a type of cancer made of cysts that contain one or more of the three layer of cells found in a developing embryo; it can contain embryonic tissues of hair, teeth, bone, or muscle; a teratoma may also be a benign tumor.

Adenocarcinoma (ACA)

Malignant tumor arising in a glandular origin.

Burkitt lymphoma

Malignant tumor, most commonly found in Africa, that affects children; the characteristic symptom is a massive, swollen jaw.

Cyclotron

Megavoltage machine used in administering external radiation therapy.

Linear accelerator

Megavoltage machine used in administering external radiation therapy.

Sputum cytology test

Microscopic examination of sputum to detect abnormal or cancerous cells of the bronchi and lungs.

Direct extension

Multiplication of malignant cells is rapid, and subsequently spread into surrounding tissues via the interstitial (situated between the cells of a structure) spaces accompanied by engulfment and destruction of normal cells.

NHGRI

National Human Genome Research Institute

NIH

National Institutes of Health

NCI

National cancer institute

Tumors

Neoplasms. May be benign or malignant.

NHL

Non-Hodkin lymphoma

Two major types of lung cancer:

Non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer.

Ribonucleic acid (RNA)

Nucleic acid found in all living cells; responsible for protein synthesis.

Small cell lung cancer is also called:

Oat cell cancer

Primary site

Original, initial, or principal site.

Sarcomas

Originate in connective or supportive tissues of the body such as the muscles, tendons, fat, joints, and bone. sarc (flesh) and -oma (tumor).

Paget disease of the breast

Paget disease of the breast (also called *mammary Paget disease (MPD)*) is a rare form of breast cancer. Unrelated to the skeletal condition known as Paget disease. Paget disease of the breast is characterized by inflammatory "eczema-like" changes of the nipple that may extend to involve the areola.

Palliative

Pertaining to a form of treatment to relieve or alleviate symptoms without curing.

Viral

Pertaining to a virus, which means poison in latin.

Precancerous

Pertaining to changes or conditions before the onset of cancer.

Trismus

Pertaining to the inability to open the mouth fully; occurs in patients with oral cancer who undergo a combination of surgery and radiation therapy.

Oncogenic

Pertaining to the potential formation of tumors, especially cancerous ones.

Infiltrative

Pertaining to the process of extending or growing into normal tissue; invasive.

Invasive

Pertaining to the spreading process of a malignant tumor into normal tissue.

PDT

Photodynamic therapy

Laboratory analysis

Plays a key role in detecting specific types of cancer.

Port

Point of entry for radiation, is marked by using a dye or tattoo.

Ewing sarcoma

Primary bone cancer occurring in the pelvic area or in one of the long bones; occurs mostly in children and adolescents.

Sentinel node biopsy

Process by which a physician pinpoints the first lymph node into which a tumor drains (the sentinel node) and removes only the nodes most likely to contain cancer cells.

Mutation

Process by which the DNA (genetic structure) is changed.

Fungating

Process of growing rapidly, like a fungus.

Exacerbation

Process of increasing the severity of symptoms; a time when the symptoms of a disease are most prevalent.

Remission

Process of lessening the severity of symptoms; time when symptoms of a disease are controlled.

Immunosuppression

Process of preventing formation of the immune response.

PSA

Prostate-specific antigen

Endoscopy

Provides the physician a direct view of certain portions of the body to evaluate tumor growth.

Needle biopsy

Puncture of a tumor for the removal of a core of tissue through the lumen of a needle.

The best way to prevent lung cancer is to:

Quit or never start smoking.

Teletherapy

Radiation therapy in which the radioactive substance is at a distance from the body area being treated.

Brachytherapy

Radiation therapy in which the radioactive substance is inserted into a body cavity or organ. The source of radiation is located a short distance from the body area being treated.

Unsealed Radiation Therapy (Internal radiation therapy)

Radioactive iodine-131, radioactive phosphorus-32, and radioactive gold-198 are some substance used in the unsealed form of internal radiation therapy. Involves introduction of a liquid containing a radioactive substance into the patient through the mouth, via the bloodstream, or by instillation into a body cavity.

Sealed Radiation Therapy (Internal radiation therapy)

Radioactive material such as radium, cesium-137, cobalt-60, and iridium-192 is sealed in gold containers called seeds or within molds, plaques, needles, or other devices designed to hold radioactive substances near the malignancy. Involves implantation of these sealed containers near the tumor site within the body.

Cone biopsy

Removal of a cone of tissue from the uterine cervix.

Sternal biopsy

Removal of a piece of bone marrow from the sternum.

Endoscopic biopsy

Removal of a piece of tissue through an endoscope.

Punch biopsy

Removal of a plug of tissue (epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue) from the skin.

Staging of cancer

Reports the development and spread of cancer cells. It uses the letters T (tumor), N (node), and M (metastasis) to indicate the spread and uses numerical subscripts to indicate degree of tumor involvement.

RNA

Ribonucleic acid

Secondary site

Second site usually derived from the primary site.

Two types of testicular tumors:

Seminomas or nonseminomas.

If lung cancer is suspected, ____ is a simple test that may be useful in detecting lung cancer. To confirm the presence of lung cancer, the doctor must perform a _____ and examine tissue from the lung.

Sputum cytology, biopsy.

Three main types of non-small cell lung cancer:

Squamous cell carcinoma (also called *epidermoid carcinoma*), adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinoma.

The stages of cancer:

Stage 0: Cancer in situ (limited to inner lining surface of the organ and not invading the organ) Stage 1: Cancer limited to the tissue of origin and has not spread past the tissue or organ where it started. Stage 2: Limited local spread of cancerous cells, sometimes to lymph nodes. Stage 3: Extensive local and regional spread of cancer, usually to draining lymph nodes. Stage 4: Distant metastasis, has spread beyond the regional lymph nodes to distant parts of the body. Ex. T2N1M0 Indicates primary tumor at stage II, abnormality of regional lymph nodes at stage I, and no evidence of metastasis.

Mycotoxin

Substance produced by fungus growing in food or animal feed that, if ingested, can cause cancer.

Treatment of cancer methods:

Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, or photodynamic therapy (PDT).

Incisional biopsy

Surgical incision to remove a section or wedge of tissue from the suspected body site.

Excisional biopsy

Surgical removal of a piece of tissue from a suspected body site.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) test

Test in which abnormal results can indicate ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, testicular cancer, or trophoblastic tumor. It is used to monitor treatment in certain patients with cancer. During therapy, a falling hCG level indicates that the cancer is responding to treatment; rising levels can indicate that the cancer is not responding to therapy. Increased levels after treatment can indicate a recurrence of disease.

Urine assay test

Test providing useful information about catecholamines, which can indicate pheochromocytoma of the adrenal medulla.

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)

Test that measures the amount of a protein that can appear in the blood of some people who have certain kinds of cancers, especially large intestine (colon and rectal) cancer; also can be present in people with cancer of the pancreas, breast, ovary, or lung.

Cancer antigen 125 (CA-125)

Test that measures the amount of this protein in the blood. CA-125 is found on the surface of many ovarian cancer cells. It also can be found in other cancers and in small amounts in normal tissue.

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) test

Test to diagnose or monitor fetal distress or fetal abnormalities, diagnose some liver disorders, and screen for and monitor some cancers; higher than normal levels can indicate cancer in testis, ovaries, biliary tract, stomach, or pancreas.

TC

Testicular cancer

TSE

Testicular self-examination

Human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2/neu)

Tests can be performed on breast cancer cells to determine the presence of HER-2/ new protein, a genetic protein that is in part responsible for how certain cancer cells grow, divide, and repair themselves. This information is useful when making treatment decisions.

Active migration

The malignant cells break away from the neoplasm (new growth), invade surrounding tissue, divide, form secondary tumors (neoplasms), and then reunite with the primary tumor as growth continues.

Sputum cytology

The microscopic examination of cells obtained from a deep cough sample of mucus in the lungs. Used to help diagnose lung cancer.

Breast cancer

The most common cancer among women.

External radiation therapy

The patient receives calculated doses of radiation from a machine located at some distance from the site of the tumor.

Metastasis

The process whereby cancer cells are spread from a primary site to distant secondary sites elsewhere in the body. This process usually occurs when malignant cells invade the bloodstream or lymph system and are transported ti a secondary site where they become lodged and form a neoplasm.

Invasive growth

The spreading process of a malignant tumor into adjacent normal tissue. Young malignant cells divide at the periphery of the tumor and spread by active migration or direct extension.

Biopsy

The surgical removal of a small piece of tissue for microscopic examination is known as biopsy (Bx). It is the method of providing the proof of cancer in the diagnosis of the disease.

Immunotherapy

The treatment of disease by stimulation of the body's immune system.

Radiotherapy, x-ray therapy, cobalt treatment, radiation therapy

The treatment of disease by the use of ionizing radiation. This treatment seeks to deliver a precise, calculated dose of radiation to a tumor, while causing the least possible damage to surrounding normal tissue.

Myeloma

Tumor arising in the hematopoietic portion of the bone marrow.

Astrocytoma

Tumor composed of star-shaped neuroglia cells.

Carcinoid

Tumor derived from the argentaffin cells i the intestinal tract, bile duct, pancreas, bronchus, or ovary.

Thymoma

Tumor of the thymus gland.

Free margin

Uninvolved skin

Bronchoscopy

Use of a bronchoscope to examine the bronchi.

Colonscopy

Use of a colonoscope to examine the colon.

Colposcopy

Use of a colposcope to examine the cervix and vagina.

Cystoscopy

Use of a cystoscope to examine the bladder.

Gastroscopy

Use of a gastroscope to examine the interior of the stomach.

Laparoscopy

Use of a laparoscope to examine the abdomen.

Laryngoscopy

Use of a laryngoscope to examine the interior of the larynx.

Proctoscopy

Use of a proctoscope to examine the anus and rectum.

Sigmoidoscopy

Use of a sigmoidoscope to examine the lower 10 inches of the large intestines.

Mohs procedure

Used to remove the two most common forms of skin cancer, basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. The moms procedure is essentially a pathology sectioning method that allows for the complete examination of the surgical margin, while the patient is still present in the office. This procedure is repeated until no further cancer is found.

Malignant cells

Usually multiply rapidly, forming a mass of abnormal cells that enlarges, ulcerates, and sheds malignant cells that invade surrounding tissues. This process destroys the normal cells, and malignant cells take their places. These cells proliferate and begin the invasive process. With the proliferation of malignant cells and the continuation of the invasive process, tissues, organs, and surrounding structures become compressed, and ischemia can occur, causing necrosis, inflammation, ulceration, and bleeding.

VAD

Vacuum-assisted needle biopsy device

Leukoplakia

White, thickened patches formed on the mucous membranes of the inner cheeks, gums, or tongue that tend to become cancerous.

Lesion

Wound; an injury, altered tissue, or a single infected patch of skin.

Refer to page 678 for benign vs. malignant:

Yo

capsul/o

a little box

-plasm

a thing formed

malign

bad kind

malign/o

bad kind

pre-

before

meta-

beyond

melan/o

black

hem/o

blood

-emia

blood condition

oste/o

bone

myel/o

bone marrow

carcin/o

cancer

chondr/o

cartilage

cyt/o

cell

chori/o

chorion

palliat/o

cloaked

-ia

condition

-stasis

control

cancer/o

crab, cancer

xer/o

dry

hyper-

excessive

lip/o

fat

fibr/o

fiber

sarc/o

flesh

-plasia

formation

-gen

formation, produce

-genes

formation, produce

-genic

formation, produce

-ant

forming

myc/o

fungus

gli/o

glue

trism/o

grating

-blast

immature cell

in-

in

-itis

inflammation

nephr/o

kidney

lymph

lymph

lymph/o

lymph

medull/o

marrow

meningi/o, mening/o

meninges, membrane

mL

milliliter

mm

millimeter

terat/o

monster

stom/o

mouth

muscos/o

mucus

my/o

muscle

-ive

nature of, quality of

neur/o

nerve

reticul/o

net

neo-

new

-ar

pertaining to

-ous

pertaining to

-us

pertaining to

situ

place

-plakia

plaque

tox/o

poison

-ion

process

remiss/o

remit

-oid

resemble

retin/o

retina

rhabd/o

rod

immun/o

safe, immunity

oligo-

scanty, little

semin/o

seed

brachy-

short

lei/o

smooth

astro-

star-shaped

-in

substance

suppress/o

suppress

thym/o

thymus

mutat/o

to change

duct/o

to lead

filtrat/o

to strain through

-therapy

treatment

dendr/o

tree

-oma

tumor

onc/o

tumor

vir/o

virus (poison)