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Glossary

Showing 431-440 out of 1156 Terms

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  • Experimental drug

    (ek-SPAYR-ih-men-tul ...)

    A substance that has been tested in the laboratory and has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for testing in people. Clinical trials test how well experimental drugs work and whether they are safe to use. An experimental drug may be approved by the FDA for use in one disease or condition but still be considered investigational in other diseases or conditions. Also called IND, investigational agent, investigational drug, and investigational new drug.

  • Experimental group

    (ek-SPAYR-ih-MEN-tul groop)

    The group in a clinical research study that receives the drug, vaccine, or other intervention being tested. Interventions may also include medical procedures (such as radiation therapy and surgery), medical devices, behavior changes (such as diet and exercise), education programs, and counseling. Also called intervention group and investigational group.

  • Exploratory surgery

    (ek-SPLOR-uh-TOR-ee SER-juh-ree)

    Surgery undertaken to investigate a situation that other, primarily external diagnostic tests have failed to clarify.

  • External beam radiation

    A type of radiation therapy that uses a machine to aim high-energy rays at the cancer from outside of the body. Also called external radiation therapy.

  • Extracorporeal photopheresis

    Listen to pronunciation (EK-struh-kor-POR-ee-ul FOH-toh-feh-REE-sis)

    A procedure in which blood is removed from the body and treated with ultraviolet light and drugs that become active when exposed to light. The blood is then returned to the body. It is being studied in the treatment of some blood and bone marrow diseases and graft-vs-host disease (GVHD). Also called photopheresis.

  • Extremity

    (ek-STREH-mih-tee)

    A limb of the body, such as the arm or leg.

  • Fallopian tubes

    (fuh-LOH-pee-in...)

    A slender tube through which eggs pass from an ovary to the uterus. In the female reproductive tract, there is one ovary and one fallopian tube on each side of the uterus.

  • False-negative test results

    A test result that indicates that a person does not have a specific disease or condition when the person actually does have the disease or condition.

  • False-positive test results

    A test result that indicates that a person has a specific disease or condition when the person actually does not have the disease or condition.

  • Familial adenomatous polyposis

    (fuh-MIH-lee-ul A-deh-NOH-muh-tus PAH-lee-POH-sis)

    An inherited condition in which numerous polyps (growths that protrude from mucous membranes) form on the inside walls of the colon and rectum. It increases the risk of colorectal cancer. Also called familial polyposis and FAP.