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Glossary

Showing 11-20 out of 1184 Terms

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  • Adjuvant therapy

    (A-joo-vunt THAYR-uh-pee)

    Additional cancer treatment given after the primary treatment to lower the risk that the cancer will come back. Adjuvant therapy may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, or biological therapy.

  • Adrenal gland

    uh-DREE-nul...

    A small gland that makes steroid hormones, adrenaline, and noradrenaline. These hormones help control heart rate, blood pressure, and other important body functions. There are two adrenal glands, one on top of each kidney. Also called suprarenal gland.

  • Adrenal glands

    uh-DREE-nul...

    A small gland that makes steroid hormones, adrenaline, and noradrenaline. These hormones help control heart rate, blood pressure, and other important body functions. There are two adrenal glands, one on top of each kidney. Also called suprarenal gland.

  • Adrenocortical tumor

    (uh-DREE-noh-KOR-tih-kul TOO-mer)

    A rare cancer that forms in the outer layer of tissue of the adrenal gland (a small organ on top of each kidney that makes steroid hormones, adrenaline, and noradrenaline to control heart rate, blood pressure, and other body functions). Also called adrenocortical carcinoma and cancer of the adrenal cortex.

  • Adrenocorticotropic hormone

    (uh-DREE-noh-KOR-tih-koh-TROH-pik HOR-mone)

    A hormone made in the pituitary gland. Adrenocorticotropic hormone acts on the outer part of the adrenal gland to control its release of corticosteroid hormones. More adrenocorticotropic hormone is made during times of stress. Also called ACTH and corticotropin.

  • Advance directive

    A legal document that states the treatment or care a person wishes to receive or not receive if he or she becomes unable to make medical decisions (for example, due to being unconscious).

  • Afebrile

    Having no fever, normal temperature.

  • Aggressive

    (uh-GREH-siv)

    In medicine, describes a tumor or disease that forms, grows, or spreads quickly.

  • Alagille syndrome

    (a-luh-JEEL SIN-drome)

    A rare disorder in which there are defects in the small tubes that carry bile (fluid that helps digest fat) out of the liver. These small tubes may be narrow or have an abnormal shape, or there may be fewer of them than normal. This can cause bile to build up in the liver, which may lead to cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) and liver damage. Alagille syndrome can also affect other parts of the body, including the heart, kidneys, blood vessels, eyes, face, and spine. It usually occurs in infants and children and may be inherited.

  • Albumin

    (al-BYOO-min)

    A type of protein found in blood, egg white, milk, and other substances.