A
| B
| C
| D
| E
| F
| G
| H
| I
| J
| K
| L
| M
N |
O |
P |
Q |
R |
S |
T |
U |
V |
W |
X |
Y |
Z
[return
to top]
acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) - a devastating disease caused by the
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which kills or impairs cells of the immune system and
progressively destroys the body's ability to fight infections and certain cancers. HIV is
most commonly spread by sexual contact with an infected partner. The term AIDS applies to
the most advanced stages of an HIV infection.
adjuvant treatment -
treatment that is added to other therapies to increase effectiveness.
artificial insemination - a procedure that involves the placement of relatively
large numbers of healthy sperm either at the entrance of the cervix or into a women's
uterus, bypassing the cervix, to have direct access to the fallopian tubes.
ascending colon - part of the colon on the right side of the abdomen.
atherosclerosis - a type of arteriosclerosis caused by a build-up of plaque in
the inner lining of an artery.
[return
to top]
balloon urethroplasty - a thin tube with a balloon is inserted into
the opening of the penis and guided to the narrowed portion of the urethra, where the
balloon is inflated to widen the urethra and ease the flow of urine.
barium - a metallic, chemical, chalky, liquid used to coat the inside
of organs so that they will show up on an x-ray.
barium enema x-ray - lower gastrointestinal (GI) series.
barium swallow - upper gastrointestinal (GI) series.
benign prostatic hyperplasia (Also called BPH or benign prostatic
hypertrophy.) - an enlargement of the prostate caused by disease or
inflammation. It is not cancer, but its symptoms are often similar to those of
prostate cancer.
benign tumor - an abnormal growth that is not
cancer and does not spread to other areas of the body.
biological therapy (Also called immunotherapy, biotherapy, or biological
response modifier therapy.) - uses 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.
biopsy - a procedure in which tissue samples are removed (with a
needle or during surgery) from the body for examination under a microscope; to
determine if cancer or other abnormal cells are present.
bladder -a triangle-shaped, hollow organ located in the lower
abdomen that holds urine. It is held in place by ligaments that are attached to
other organs and the pelvic bones. The bladder's walls relax and expand to
store urine, and contract and flatten to empty urine through the urethra.
breast cancer - a cancerous tumor of the breast tissue.
[return
to top]
cancer -
general term for a large group of diseases (more than 100), all
characterized by uncontrolled growth, invasion, and spread of abnormal cells
to other parts of the body.
chemotherapy - treatment with drugs to destroy cancer cells.
chlamydial infection - very common sexually transmitted disease or
urinary tract infection caused by a bacteria-like organism in the urethra and reproductive
system.
colon - large intestine.
colonoscopy - test to look into the rectum and colon through a long,
flexible, narrow tube (called a colonoscope) with a light and tiny lens on the end.
colorectal cancer - cancer that occurs in the colon (large intestine)
or the rectum (the end of the large intestine).
compound fracture - the broken bone protrudes through the skin.
computed tomography scan (Also called a CT or CAT scan.) - a
diagnostic imaging procedure that uses a combination of x-rays and computer
technology to produce cross-sectional images (often called slices), both
horizontally and vertically, of the body. A CT scan shows detailed images of any
part of the body, including the bones, muscles, fat, and organs. CT scans are
more detailed than general x-rays.
contusion - a bruise caused by a blow to the muscle, tendon, or ligament; caused
when blood pools around the point of injury and discolors the skin.
coronary artery bypass - a surgical procedure in which small portions of veins
or arteries are taken from one part of the body and transplanted into the heart to bypass
clogged coronary arteries in the heart.
coronary heart disease - a condition in which the coronary arteries
narrow from an accumulation of plaque (atherosclerosis) and cause a decrease in blood
flow.
cryosurgery or cryoprostatectomy - freezing
of the prostate through the use of liquid nitrogen probes guided by transrectal
ultrasound of the prostate.
cystoscopy (Also called cystourethroscopy.) - an examination
in which a scope, a flexible tube and viewing device, is inserted through the
urethra to examine the bladder and urinary tract for structural abnormalities or
obstructions, such as tumors or stones.
cryptorchidism - failure of one or both of the testicle(s) to move down into the
scrotum.
[return
to top]
descending colon - the middle part of the colon located on the left
side of the abdomen.
diagnosis - identifying a disease by its
signs, symptoms, and laboratory findings.
digital rectal exam (DRE) - procedure in which the physician inserts a gloved
finger into the rectum to examine the rectum and the prostate gland for signs of cancer.
[return
to top]
electroencephalogram (EEG) - a procedure that records the brain's
continuous electrical activity by means of electrodes attached to the scalp.
erectile dysfunction (Also called impotence.) -
the inability to achieve an erection, and/or dissatisfaction with the size,
rigidity, and/or duration of erections.
erythroplakia - a red patch of mucous membrane inside the mouth; one cause of
oral cancer.
expectant management or therapy -
"watchful waiting" or close monitoring of prostate cancer by a
physician instead of immediate treatment.
external urethral sphincter muscle -
a voluntary and involuntary ring-like band of muscle fibers that you voluntarily
contract when you want to stop urinating.
[return
to top]
fecal occult blood test - test to check for hidden blood in stool; screening
test for cancer of the colon or rectum.
functional incontinence - leakage due to a difficulty reaching a
restroom in time because of physical conditions such as arthritis.
[return
to top]
genital herpes - a sexually transmitted disease caused by the herpes simplex
virus.
genital warts - a sexually transmitted disease caused by the human
papillomavirus (HPV).
gonorrhea - a common sexually transmitted disease caused by a
bacterium, which can lead to infertility in women.
grading - a diagnostic process done in the
lab with cells taken from the prostate to measure how aggressive the tumor is.
The cancer cells are measured by how closely they look like normal cells.
[return
to top]
heart attack (Also called myocardial infarction.) - damage to the heart muscle
due to insufficient blood supply.
hormone therapy - the use of hormones,
medications, or surgery to suppress (block) or mimic hormones and alter the
growth of hormone sensitive cancer.
human papillomaviruses (HPVs) - a group of viruses that can cause
warts. Some HPVs are sexually transmitted and cause wart-like growths on the genitals. HPV
is a major risk factor for cervical cancer.
[return
to top]
impotence (Also called erectile dysfunction.) the
inability to achieve an erection, and/or dissatisfaction with the size,
rigidity, and/or duration of erections.
in vitro fertilization - treatment for infertility in which a woman's
egg is fertilized, outside her body, with her partner's sperm or sperm from a donor.
indigestion (Also called dyspepsia.) - poor digestion; symptoms
include heartburn, nausea, bloating, and gas.
insomnia - inability to sleep or to remain asleep throughout the night.
intravenous pyelogram (IVP) - a series of x-rays of the kidney,
ureters, and bladder with the injection of a contrast dye into the vein - to detect
tumors, abnormalities, kidney stones, or any obstructions, and to assess renal blood flow.
[return
to top]
jaundice - a yellow discoloration of the skin and eye
whites due to abnormally high levels of bilirubin (bile pigmentation) in the bloodstream.
[return
to top]
Kegel exercises - Repeatedly tightening and releasing the
pelvic muscle, in order to prevent urine leakage.
[return
to top]
leukoplakia - a whitish patch of mucous membrane inside the mouth; one cause of
oral cancer.
lymph nodes - small glands located in many
areas of the body that help defend the body against harmful foreign particles.
lymphadenectomy - a procedure in which lymph nodes are taken from the body for
purposes of diagnosing or staging cancer.
lymphangiogram - an x-ray that uses a special
dye to determine whether cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.
[return
to top]
magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) -
a diagnostic procedure that uses a combination of large magnets,
radiofrequencies, and a computer to produce detailed images of organs and
structures within the body.
malignant tumor - a mass of cancer cells that
may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant areas of the body.
metastasis - the spread of cancer cells to
distant areas of the body by way of the lymph system or blood stream.
microsurgical fertilization - a procedure used to facilitate sperm penetration
into the oocyte, and fertilization takes place under the microscope.
modified radical mastectomy - the removal of the breast, some lymph
nodes in the armpit, and sometimes part of the chest wall muscles.
multiple semen analysis - at least two semen examples are collected on separate
days to examine the semen and sperm for various factors, such as semen volume,
consistency, and pH, and the sperm count, motility, and morphology (shape).
[return
to top]
nerve sparing technique - a surgical
technique during a radial prostatectomy where one or both of the neurovascular
bundles controlling erections are spared.
[return
to top]
oral cancer - a cancer found in the oral cavity (mouth), on the lip, and the
oropharynx (the part of the throat at the back of the mouth).
orchiectomy (Also called castration.) - the
surgical removal of the testicles.
overflow incontinence - leakage that occurs when the quantity of urine
produced exceeds the bladder's capacity to hold it.
[return
to top]
penis -the outer reproductive organ of a male.
percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) - a technique to treat
heart disease and chest pain by using angioplasty in the coronary arteries to permit more
blood flow into the heart.
Peyronie's disease - A plaque, or hard lump, that forms on the erection tissue
of the penis. The plaque often begins as an inflammation that may develop into a fibrous
tissue.
polyp - a growth that projects from the lining of mucous membrane,
such as the intestine.
polyposis - presence of many polyps.
premature ejaculation (PE) - the inability to maintain an erection
long enough for mutual satisfaction. Premature ejaculation is divided into primary and
secondary forms.
priapism - persistent erection of the penis, usually accompanied by tenderness
and pain.
proctectomy - operation to remove the rectum.
proctitis - inflammation of the rectum.
proctocolectomy (Also called coloproctectomy.) -
operation to remove the colon and rectum.
proctocolitis - inflammation of the colon and rectum.
proctologist - physician who specializes in disorders of the anus and
rectum.
proctoscope - short, rigid metal tube used to look into the rectum and
anus.
proctoscopy - looking into the rectum and anus with a proctoscope.
proctosigmoiditis - inflammation of the rectum and the sigmoid colon.
proctosigmoidoscopy - endoscopic examination of the rectum and sigmoid
colon. (See also endoscopy.)
prostate - a sex gland in men. It is about the size of a walnut, and
surrounds the neck of the bladder and urethra, the tube that carries urine from
the bladder. It is partly muscular and partly glandular, with ducts opening into
the prostatic portion of the urethra. It is made up of three lobes: a center
lobe with one lobe on each side.
prostatectomy - surgical procedure for the partial
or complete removal of the prostate.
prostate-specific antigen (PSA) - an antigen made by the prostate
gland and found in the blood; may indicate cancer in the prostate gland.
prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test - a blood test used to
help detect prostate cancer by measuring a substance called prostate-specific
antigen produced by the prostate.
prostatism - any condition of the prostate that causes interference
with the flow of urine from the bladder.
prostatitis - an inflamed condition of the prostate gland that may
be accompanied by discomfort, pain, frequent urination, infrequent urination,
and, sometimes, fever.
[return
to top]
[return
to top]
radiation - use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, neutrons, and other
sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.
radical prostatectomy - surgery to remove the
prostate along with the two seminal vesicle glands attached to the prostate.
radical retropubic prostatectomy - an
operation to remove the entire prostate gland and seminal vesicles through the
lower abdomen.
rectal manometry - test that uses a thin tube and balloon to measure
pressure and movements of the rectal and anal sphincter muscles.
rectal ultrasound - a test in which a probe is inserted in the rectum
and directs sound waves at the prostate. The patterns of the sound waves form an image of
the prostate gland on a screen.
rectum -lower end of the large intestine, leading to the anus.
RICE (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) - treatment plan for
acute injury to prevent inflammatory processes from becoming uncontrolled and to speed up
the recovery process by eliminating swelling; acute injury management.
[return
to top]
scrotum -the bag of skin that holds the
testicles.
segmental mastectomy - surgery to remove a portion of the breast.
sexually transmitted disease (STD) - infection spread through sexual
intercourse and other intimate sexual contact.
sigmoid colon - lower part of the colon that empties into the rectum.
sigmoidoscopy - examination of the rectum and lower part of the colon
(sigmoid colon) using a flexible viewing tube passed through the rectum.
skin cancer - a malignant tumor that grows in the skin cells.
sperm disorders - problems with the production and maturation of
sperm; the single most common cause of male infertility. Sperm may be immature, abnormally
shaped, unable to move properly, or, normal sperm may be produced in abnormally low
numbers (oligospermia).
sphincter muscles - circular muscles that
help keep urine from leaking by closing tightly like a rubber band around the
opening of the bladder.
sprain - a partial or complete tear of a ligament.
staging - an
evaluation of the extent of disease that provides the basis for making
treatment recommendations.
stem cell transplantation - removing stem cells from the
patient's or a donor's bone marrow and re-infusing them into the patient to help in
production of healthy blood cells; a method of replacing stem cells which are destroyed by
cancer treatment.
strain - a partial or complete tear of a muscle or tendon.
stress fractures - weak spots or small cracks in the bone caused by continuous
overuse.
stress incontinence - the most common type of incontinence that
involves the leakage of urine during exercise, coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting heavy
objects, or other body movements that put pressure on the bladder.
syphilis - a sexually transmitted disease caused by
Treponema pallidum bacteria. The initial symptom of syphilis is a painless open sore that
usually appears on the penis or around or in the vagina. If untreated, syphilis may go on
to more advanced stages, including a transient rash and, eventually, serious involvement
of the heart and central nervous system.
[return
to top]
testicular cancer - cancer that develops in a testicle.
testis -one of the pair of male gonads that produce semen;
suspended in the scrotum by the spermatic cords.
testosterone - male sex hormone produced
mostly by the testicles, although a small amount is made by the adrenal glands.
transrectal ultrasound of the prostate - a
test using sound wave echoes to create an image of an organ or gland to visually
inspect for abnormal conditions like gland enlargement, nodules, penetration of
tumor through capsule of the gland and/or invasion of seminal vesicles. It may
also be used for guidance of needle biopsies of the prostate gland and guiding
the nitrogen probes in cryosurgery.
transurethral surgery - surgery in which no external
incision is needed. For prostate transurethral surgery, the surgeon reaches the
prostate by inserting an instrument through the urethra. See below for different
types of transurethral surgery.
transurethral hyperthermia - an investigative procedure
that uses heat, usually provided by microwaves, to shrink the prostate.
transurethral incision of the prostate (TUIP)
- a procedure that widens the urethra by making some small cuts in the
bladder neck, where the urethra joins the bladder, and in the prostate gland
itself.
transurethral laser incision of the prostate (TULIP)
- the use of laser through the urethra that melts the tissue.
transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) -
a surgical procedure by which portions of the prostate gland are removed
through the penis.
transverse colon - part of the colon that extends across the abdomen from right
to left.
tunica vaginalis -a thin pouch that holds the testes within the
scrotum.
[return
to top]
ulcerative colitis - serious disease that causes ulcers and irritation
in the inner lining of the colon and rectum.
ultrasound
(Also called sonography.) -
a diagnostic imaging technique which uses high-frequency sound waves and a
computer to create images of blood vessels, tissues, and organs. Ultrasounds are
used to view internal organs as they function, and to assess blood flow through
various vessels.
urethra - narrow channel through which urine passes from the
bladder out of the body.
urge incontinence - the inability to hold urine long enough to reach a
restroom. It is often found in people who have conditions such as diabetes, stroke,
dementia, Parkinson's disease, and multiple sclerosis, but may be an indication of other
diseases or conditions that would also warrant medical attention.
urinalysis - laboratory examination of urine for various cells and
chemicals, such as red blood cells, white blood cells, infection, or excessive
protein.
urinary incontinence - the loss of bladder control.
urinary tract infection (UTI) - an infection that occurs in the
urinary tract; often caused by bacteria such as Escherichia coli. A urinary
tract infection often causes frequent urination, pain, and burning when
urinating, and blood in the urine.
urine flow study - a test in which the patient urinates into a special
device that measures how quickly the urine is flowing. A reduced flow may suggest benign
prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
urogenital - refers to the urinary and reproductive systems.
urology - the branch of medicine concerned with the urinary tract in both
genders, and with the genital tract or reproductive system in the male.
[return
to top]
vas deferens - the tubes leading to the testes.
vasectomy - a surgical procedure performed to make a man sterile, or unable to
father a child. It is a permanent male birth control measure, and a means of contraception
used in many parts of the world.
[return
to top]
watchful waiting - close monitoring of
prostate cancer by a physician instead of immediate treatment. Also called
expectant management.
[return
to top]
[return
to top]
[return
to top]