Surg 104--Chapter 22 (B&K) Flashcards
anaplasia
Change in cellular differentiation and orientation that causes a more primitive structural apearance and function. Anaplastic cell changes are characteristic of malignancy.
biopsy
Procedure for obtaining a representative tissue sample for gross and/or microscopic examination. The speciman can be obtained surgically or by other means.
brachytherapy
Placement of radioactive material inside of or close to a tumor. Radioactive elements are introduced through catheters inserted into the tumor.
cancer
Broad term thatcdescribes any malignant tumor within a large class of diseases. More than 100 different forms of cancer are known, each with histologic variations. Cancerous tumors are divided into two broad groups: carcinoma and sarcoma.
carcinoma
Malignant tumor of epithelial origin that affects glandular organs, viscera, and skin.
sarcoma
Malignant tumor of mesenchymal origin that affects bones, muscles, and soft tissue.
chemotherapy
Use of chemical or pharmacologic agents to treat diseases, such as cancer.
contrast medium
Use of a substance in the creation of density on a radiographic imaging device; radiopaque contrast injected or instilled to outline an organ or a structure. A radiolucent substance, such as air, can help define a hollow space, such as a ventricle or the brain.
cytoreductive surgery
Mechanical reduction in cell volume at the tumor site by sharp or blunt tissue dissection. Vessel- and nerve-sparing procedures include the use of an unltrasonic aspirator and hydrostatic pulsed lavage.
immunotherapy
Use of agents that stimulate or activate the body’s own host defense immune system to combat disease.
interventional radiology
Invasive procedures performed under radiologic control. Examples include balloon angioplasty, coronary artery stent replacement, and inferior vena cave filter placement.
neoplasm
Atypical new growth of abnormal cells or tissues, which may be malignant or benign.
nuclear medicine study
Diagnostic test performed using radioactive substances to image a body part or system.
(-oma)
Suffix dnoting a tumor or neoplasm.
palliation
Measurement taken to decrease the negative effects of a terminal or moribund condition. This is not considered a cure, but a temporary solution to a poblematic situation. Examples include removing an obstruction or attempts to preserve fertility in the face of cancer.
pathologic examination
A series of tests and examinations conducted by a pathologist to determine the cause of changes in the structure or function of a body part or tissue.
percutaneous
Directed through the skin and tissues of the external body surface. Diagnostics, treatments, or tissue removal can be performed by direct percutaneous routes.
plethysmography
Procedure to determine variations in blood flow between parts.
scintigraphy
Recording of the emissions of radiologic substances as they are collected or secreted by tissues and/or organs in the body.
smear
A sample of tissue cells or fluid aspirated or scraped from a mucous membrane or a potentially pathologic site. The material is stained and studied for cellular components to make a diagnosis.
stereotaxis
Computerized localization of a lesion.
tomography
Computerized method of imaging a structure in layers
tumor
Any neoplasm in which cells are permanently altered but have the capability of growth and reproduction. A tumor consists of two elements: the tumor cells themselves and a supporting framework of connective tissue and vascular supply.
benign tumor
Aggregation of cells that closely resemble those of the parent tissue of origin. The tumor usually grows slowly by expansion, is localized, and is surrounded by a capsule of fibrous tissue.
