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Glossary

Showing 741-750 out of 1184 Terms

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  • Manual healing

    (MAN-yoo-ul HEE-ling)

    A type of therapy in which the therapist moves or manipulates one or more parts of the patient’s body. It may be used to treat pain, stress, anxiety, and depression, and for general well-being. Examples include chiropractic treatments, physical therapy, and massage therapy. Also called manipulative and body-based practice and physical touch methods.

  • Marker

    (MAR-ker)

    A diagnostic indication that disease may develop.

  • Markers

    (MAR-kers)

    Diagnostic indications that disease may develop.

  • Mass

    (mas)

    In medicine, a lump in the body. It may be caused by the abnormal growth of cells, a cyst, hormonal changes, or an immune reaction. A mass may be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer).

  • Mast cell

    (mast sel)

    A type of white blood cell.

  • Mean survival

    (meen ser-VY-vul)

    The average length of time from either the date of diagnosis or the start of treatment for a disease, such as cancer, that patients diagnosed with the disease are still alive. In a clinical trial, measuring mean survival is one way to see how well a new treatment works.

  • Measurable disease

    (MEH-zur-uh-bul dih-ZEEZ)

    A tumor that can be accurately measured in size. This information can be used to judge response to treatment.

  • Median survival

    (MEE-dee-un ser-VY-vul)

    The length of time from either the date of diagnosis or the start of treatment for a disease, such as cancer, that half of the patients in a group of patients diagnosed with the disease are still alive. In a clinical trial, measuring the median survival is one way to see how well a new treatment works. Also called median overall survival.

  • Mediastinoscope

    (MEE-dee-uh-STY-noh-skope)

    A thin, tube-like instrument used to examine the tissues and lymph nodes in the area between the lungs. These tissues include the heart and its large blood vessels, trachea, esophagus, and bronchi. The mediastinoscope has a light and a lens for viewing and may also have a tool to remove tissue. It is inserted into the chest through a cut above the breastbone.

  • Mediastinoscopy

    (MEE-dee-uh-sty-NOS-koh-pee)

    A procedure in which a mediastinoscope is used to examine the organs in the area between the lungs and nearby lymph nodes. A mediastinoscope is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing. It may also have a tool to remove tissue to be checked under a microscope for signs of disease. The mediastinoscope is inserted into the chest through an incision above the breastbone. This procedure is usually done to get a tissue sample from the lymph nodes on the right side of the chest.