Colorectal Cancer Terminology

Question 1

Anastomosis

Answer 1

Occurs when two pieces of the GI tract that were previously separated are surgically reconnected

Question 2

Anesthesia

Answer 2

The medication used to sedate the patient and keep the patient medically stable throughout surgery

Question 3

APR

Answer 3

Abdominoperineal resection

Question 4

Biopsy

Answer 4

A procedure that takes a sample of tissue for investigation; the tissue is looked at under a microscope to determine whether there is an underlying disease; this is often how cancer is identified; biopsies are often taken before and during surgery

Question 5

Chemo brain

Answer 5

A term used for the “brain fogginess” often experienced as a side effect of being treated with chemotherapy

Question 6

Chemotherapy

Answer 6

A term used for treatment with drugs that are dedicated to fighting cancer; may be used alone or in combination with radiation and/or surgery

Question 7

Colonoscopy

Answer 7

An invasive procedure in which a scope is used to take images and possibly biopsies of a patient’s colon and terminal ileum

Question 8

CRC

Answer 8

Colorectal cancer

Question 9

Dentate

Answer 9

The point at which the anus becomes the rectum, indicated by a change in epithelial cell type

Question 10

EBRT

Answer 10

External beam radiation therapy

Question 11

Flexed sigmoidoscopy

Answer 11

A type of limited colonoscopy in which the physician examines up to the first portion of the patient’s colon using a scope

Question 12

GIST

Answer 12

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor

Question 13

INR

Answer 13

A test to evaluate how fast the patient clots a bleed. This is often ordered prior to surgery. The higher the number, the longer it takes for blood to clot

Question 14

LAR

Answer 14

Low anterior resection

Question 15

Lymph node

Answer 15

Lymphatic tissue located throughout the body that helps clean the blood and fight infection

Question 16

Lysis of adhesions (LOA)

Answer 16

A surgical procedure performed to break down adhesions which may have been formed as a result of inflammation or prior surgery

Question 17

Monoclonal antibodies

Answer 17

A term used for a class of medication that is very specific for a type of protein present in the disease

Question 18

Radiation therapy (XRT)

Answer 18

A procedure in which the patient is exposed to high energy beams

Question 19

SRCC

Answer 19

Signet-ring cell carcinoma

Question 20

Stoma

Answer 20

The surgical opening where part of the colon is diverted through the abdominal wall; performed if there is too much inflammation for the surgeon to form an anastomosis with the distal colon; patients with stomas will have a colostomy bag

Question 21

TEM

Answer 21

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery

Question 22

Type and cross

Answer 22

A test to determine the blood type