Menu Close

Glossary

Showing 841-850 out of 1156 Terms

We're sorry, it looks like there has been an error. Please try again soon.

  • Nuclear medicine

    NOO-klee-er MEH-dih-sin

    A branch of medicine that uses small amounts of radioactive substances to make pictures of areas inside the body and to treat disease. In cancer, the radioactive substance may be used with a special machine (such as a PET scanner) to find the cancer, to see how far it has spread, or to see how well a treatment is working. Radioactive substances may also be used to treat certain types of cancer, such as thyroid cancer and lymphoma.

  • Nuclear medicine scan

    (NOO-klee-er MEH-dih-sin skan)

    A method that uses radioactive substances to make pictures of areas inside the body. The radioactive substance is injected into the body, and locates and binds to specific cells or tissues, including cancer cells. Images are made using a special machine that detects the radioactive substance. Also called radioimaging.

  • Numb

    Devoid of sensation.

  • Nurse practitioner

    (... prak-TIH-shuh-ner)

    A registered nurse who has additional education and training in how to diagnose and treat disease. Nurse practitioners are licensed at the state level and certified by national nursing organizations. In cancer care, a nurse practitioner may manage the primary care of patients and their families, based on a practice agreement with a doctor. Also called advanced practice nurse, APN, and NP.

  • Nurse practitioners

    (... prak-TIH-shuh-ners)

    Registered nurses who have additional education and training in how to diagnose and treat disease. Nurse practitioners are licensed at the state level and certified by national nursing organizations. In cancer care, a nurse practitioner may manage the primary care of patients and their families, based on a practice agreement with a doctor. Also called advanced practice nurse, APN, and NP.

  • Nutrients

    (NOO-tree-ents)

    A chemical compound (such as protein, fat, carbohydrate, vitamin, or mineral) contained in foods. These compounds are used by the body to function and grow.

  • Obesity

    (oh-BEE-sih-tee)

    A condition marked by an abnormally high, unhealthy amount of body fat.

  • Observation

    (OB-ser-VAY-shun)

    In medicine, watching a patient’s condition but not giving treatment unless symptoms appear or change.

  • Occupational therapist

    (AH-kyoo-PAY-shuh-nul THAYR-uh-pist)

    A health professional trained to help people who are ill or disabled learn to manage their daily activities.

  • Ommaya reservoir

    (oh-MY-uh REH-zer-vwahr)

    A device surgically placed under the scalp and used to deliver anticancer drugs to the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.