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Glossary

Showing 641-650 out of 1156 Terms

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  • Injections

    Injections may be given intramuscularly (into a muscle), intravenously (into a vein), subcutaneously (just under the skin) or intrathecally (into the spinal column space).

  • Inoperable

    (in-AH-peh-ruh-bul)

    Describes a condition that cannot be treated by surgery.

  • Insomnia

    (in-SOM-nee-uh)

    Difficulty in going to sleep or getting enough sleep.

  • Instillation

    (in-stih-LAY-shun)

    In medicine, a method used to put a liquid into the body slowly or drop by drop.

  • Institutional Review Board

    (IN-stih-TOO-shuh-nul reh-VYOO bord)

    A group of scientists, doctors, clergy, and patient advocates that reviews and approves the detailed plan for a clinical trial. Institutional Review Boards are meant to protect the people who take part in a clinical trial. They check to see that the trial is well designed, legal, ethical, does not involve unneeded risks, and includes a safety plan for patients. There is an Institutional Review Board at every health care facility that does clinical research, and every trial is reviewed by an Institutional Review Board before the trial begins. Also called IRB.

  • Integrated medicine

    (IN-teh-gray-tiv MEH-dih-sin)

    A type of medical care that combines conventional (standard) medical treatment with complementary and alternative (CAM) therapies that have been shown to be safe and to work. CAM therapies treat the mind, body, and spirit.

  • Intensification therapy

    (in-TEN-sih-fih-KAY-shun THAYR-uh-pee)

    Treatment that is given after cancer has disappeared following the initial therapy. Intensification therapy is used to kill any cancer cells that may be left in the body. It may include radiation therapy, a stem cell transplant, or treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells. Also called consolidation therapy and postremission therapy.

  • Internal Medicine

    (in-TER-nul MEH-dih-sin)

    A branch of medicine that specializes in preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases in adults, without using surgery. An internal medicine doctor is often a person’s main health care provider and may coordinate treatment given by other specialists.

  • Intervention

    (IN-ter-VEN-shun)

    In medicine, a treatment or action taken to prevent or treat disease, or improve health in other ways.

  • Intestine

    (in-TES-tin)

    The long, tube-shaped organ in the abdomen that completes the process of digestion. The intestine has two parts, the small intestine and the large intestine. Also called bowel.