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Glossary

Showing 761-770 out of 1156 Terms

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  • Metabolic syndrome

    MEH-tuh-BAH-lik SIN-drome

    A condition marked by extra fat around the abdomen, high levels of blood glucose (sugar) when not eating, high levels of triglycerides (a type of fat) in the blood, low levels of high-density lipoproteins (a type of protein that carries fats) in the blood, and high blood pressure. People with metabolic syndrome are at increased risk of diabetes mellitus and diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Also called metabolic syndrome X.

  • Metabolism

    (meh-TA-buh-lih-zum)

    The chemical changes that take place in a cell or an organism. These changes make energy and the materials cells and organisms need to grow, reproduce, and stay healthy. Metabolism also helps get rid of toxic substances.

  • Metastasis

    The spread of cancer cells from the place where they first formed to another part of the body. In metastasis, cancer cells break away from the original (primary) tumor, travel through the blood or lymph system, and form a new tumor in other organs or tissues of the body. The new, metastatic tumor is the same type of cancer as the primary tumor. For example, if breast cancer spreads to the lung, the cancer cells in the lung are breast cancer cells, not lung cancer cells.

  • Metastasize

    (meh-TAS-tuh-size)

    To spread from one part of the body to another. When cancer cells metastasize and form secondary tumors, the cells in the metastatic tumor are like those in the original (primary) tumor.

  • Metastatic

    (meh-tuh-STA-tik)

    Having to do with metastasis, which is the spread of cancer from the primary site (place where it started) to other places in the body.

  • Methodology

    (MEH-thuh-DAH-loh-jee)

    In medicine, the rules and procedures for doing research and evaluating results.

  • Methotrexate

    (meh-thuh-TREK-sayt)

    A drug used to treat many types of cancer. It is also used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and severe psoriasis (a type of skin condition). Methotrexate stops cells from using folic acid to make DNA and may kill cancer cells. It may also lower the body’s immune response. Methotrexate is a type of antimetabolite and a type of antifolate. Also called amethopterin, MTX, Rheumatrex, and Trexall.

  • Methylprednisolone

    (MEH-thul-pred-NIH-suh-lone)

    A corticosteroid hormone replacement.

  • Microorganism

    (MY-kroh-OR-guh-NIH-zum)

    An organism that can be seen only through a microscope. Microorganisms include bacteria, protozoa, algae, and fungi. Although viruses are not considered living organisms, they are sometimes classified as microorganisms.

  • Minimal Residual Disease

    (MIH-nih-mul ree-ZID-yoo-ul dih-ZEEZ)

    A term used to describe a very small number of cancer cells that remain in the body during or after treatment. Minimal residual disease can be found only by highly sensitive laboratory methods that are able to find one cancer cell among one million normal cells. Checking to see if there is minimal residual disease may help plan treatment, find out how well treatment is working or if cancer has come back, or make a prognosis. Minimal residual disease testing is used mostly for blood cancers such as lymphoma and leukemia. Also called MRD.