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Glossary

Showing 681-690 out of 1156 Terms

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  • Lesion

    (lee-zhun)

    A change in body tissue; sometimes used as another word for tumor.

  • Lethargy

    (LEH-thur-jee)

    A condition marked by drowsiness and an unusual lack of energy and mental alertness. It can be caused by many things, including illness, injury, or drugs.

  • Leucopenia

    Decrease in the white blood cell count, often a side effect of chemotherapy.

  • Leukapheresis

    LOO-kuh-feh-REE-sis

    Removal of the blood to collect specific blood cells. The remaining blood is returned to the body.

  • Leukemia

    loo-KEE-mee-uh

    Cancer of the blood or blood-forming organs. If you have leukemia, you may have a noticeable increase in white blood cells (leukocytes).

  • Leukocytes

    (LOO-koh-site)

    A type of blood cell that is made in the bone marrow and found in the blood and lymph tissue. Leukocytes are part of the body’s immune system. They help the body fight infection and other diseases. Types of leukocytes are granulocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils), monocytes, and lymphocytes (T cells and B cells). Checking the number of leukocytes in the blood is usually part of a complete blood cell (CBC) test. It may be used to look for conditions such as infection, inflammation, allergies, and leukemia. Also called WBC and white blood cell.

  • Leukocytosis

    (loo-ko-sigh-toe-sis)

    Having more than the usual number of white blood cells.

  • Levels of evidence

    (LEH-vulz ... EH-vih-dents)

    A ranking system used to describe the strength of the results measured in a clinical trial or research study. The design of the study (such as a case report for an individual patient or a randomized double-blinded controlled clinical trial) and the endpoints measured (such as survival or quality of life) affect the strength of the evidence.

  • Li-Fraumeni syndrome

    (lee-FRAH-meh-nee SIN-drome)

    A rare, inherited disorder that is caused by mutations (changes) in the TP53 gene. Having Li-Fraumeni syndrome increases the risk of developing many types of cancer. Cancers often develop at an early age, and more than one type of cancer may occur in the same person. Li-Fraumeni syndrome is a type of hereditary cancer syndrome. Also called LFS.

  • Lidocaine

    (LY-doh-kane)

    A substance used to relieve pain by blocking signals at the nerve endings in skin. It can also be given intravenously to stop heart arrhythmias. It is a type of local anesthetic and antiarrhythmic.