| hydatidiform mole, invasive | A tumour or tumour-like process invading the myometrium, and characterised by trophoblastic hyperplasia and persistence of placental villous structures. It commonly results from complete hydatidiform mole but may do so from partial hydatidiform mole. Invasive mole may metastasize but it does not exhibit the progression of a true cancer, and it may regress spontaneously. (holland et al., cancer medicine, 3d ed, p1691) (12 Dec 1998) |
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| surgical procedures, minimally invasive | Procedures that avoid use of open invasive surgery in favour of closed or local surgery. These generally involve use of laparoscopic devices and remote-control manipulation of instruments with indirect observation of the surgical field through an endoscope or similar device. With the reduced trauma associated with minimally invasive surgery, long hospital stays may be reduced with increased rates of short stay or day surgery. (12 Dec 1998) |
| invasive | 1. Having the quality of invasiveness. 2. Involving puncture or incision of the skin or insertion of an instrument or foreign material into the body, said of diagnostic techniques. (18 Nov 1997) |
| invasive cancer | Cancer that has spread to surrounding tissue. (16 Dec 1997) |
| invasive carcinoma | <tumour> A neoplasm in which collections of epithelial cells infiltrate or destroy the surrounding tissue. (05 Mar 2000) |
| invasive cervical cancer | Cancer that has spread from the surface of the cervix to tissue deeper in the cervix or to other parts of the body. (12 Dec 1998) |
| invasive mole | chorioadenoma destruens |
| invasive species | Non-native species disrupting and replacing native species. (09 Oct 1997) |
| minimal | Smallest or least, the smallest possible. Origin: L. Minimus = least (18 Nov 1997) |
| minimal air | The volume of gas that remains in the lungs and cannot be expelled after they have been removed from the body, or after the chest has been opened. (05 Mar 2000) |
| minimal alveolar concentration | The end-alveolar concentration of an inhalation anaesthetic which prevents somatic response to a painful stimulus in 50% of individuals; an index of relative potency of inhalation anaesthetics. Synonym: minimal anaesthetic concentration. (05 Mar 2000) |
| minimal amplitude nystagmus | Nystagmus of so small an amplitude that it is not detected by the usual clinical tests. Synonym: minimal amplitude nystagmus. Origin: micro-+ G. Nystagmos, a nodding (05 Mar 2000) |
| minimal anaesthetic concentration | The end-alveolar concentration of an inhalation anaesthetic which prevents somatic response to a painful stimulus in 50% of individuals; an index of relative potency of inhalation anaesthetics. Synonym: minimal anaesthetic concentration. (05 Mar 2000) |
| minimal brain dysfunction | An inability to control behaviour due to difficulty in processing neural stimuli. (12 Dec 1998) |
| minimal-change disease | <nephrology> A disorder of the kidneys which largely affects the glomerulus, the blood filtering structure. This disorder is one common cause of nephrotic syndrome, minimal glomerular changes, in children affecting 2 to 3 children per 100,000 population under age 16 in the USA. Minimal change disease is also seen rarely in adults. The cause is unknown but may be related to an autoimmune illness. It is marked by oedema, albuminuria, and an increase in cholesterol in the blood, but otherwise with fairly good renal function. Tubular epithelium is vacuolated by cholesterol droplets, but the glomeruli show only that the foot processes of the glomerular epithelial cells are fused, probably secondary to the proteinuria; the cause of the increased glomerular permeability to plasma protein is unknown. Risk factors include a history for a immune disorder, recent immunisation or a bee sting. Diagnosis is made by renal biopsy. Treatment include systemic corticosteroids which are usually quite effective in curing this disease. Other medications include chlorambucil and cyclophosphamide. In most cases, a moderate protein diet (1 gram protein per Kg body weight per day) will be recommended. Salt (sodium) restriction can be helpful to reduce swelling and vitamin D is usually supplemented. Synonym: lipoid nephrosis (27 Sep 1997) |