| occult carcinoma | <tumour> A small carcinoma, either asymptomatic or giving rise to metastases without symptoms due to the primary carcinoma. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| occult | Obscure, concealed from observation, difficult to understand. (18 Nov 1997) |
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| occult bleeding | See: occult blood. (05 Mar 2000) |
| occult blood | Blood that is in the faeces or vomitus that is not obvious by general inspection. Used as a diagnostic screening test for colon cancer. Tests for occult blood are generally colourimetric. Stool sample will turn blue when a particular chemical reagent is mixed with the specimen on test paper. Kits for measuring occult blood in the stools are now available at most drug stores. (27 Sep 1997) |
| occult border of nail | The proximal border of the nail entirely covered by the nail wall. Synonym: margo occultus unguis, occult border of nail. (05 Mar 2000) |
| occult fracture | A condition in which there are clinical signs of fracture but no X-ray evidence; after 3 or 4 weeks X-ray imaging shows new bone formation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| occult hydrocephalus | <neurology> A brain disorder caused by blockage of the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), with enlargement of the ventricles of the brain (keep the pressure normal) and compression of brain tissue. Brain atrophy is the result. In this condition the CSF is produced normally but not reabsorbed. Symptom onset is gradual. A key feature is dementia. Treatment is surgical (VP shunt). (13 Nov 1997) |
| faecal occult blood test | <investigation> A chemical test that measures the presence of fresh or decomposed blood. Blood may arise from bleeding anywhere along the gastrointestinal tract, from the mouth to the anus. An easy to perform colourmetric test. Occult means hidden. (08 Mar 2000) |
| acinar carcinoma | <tumour> An adenocarcinoma arising from secreting cells of a racemose gland, particularly the salivary glands. Synonym: acinar carcinoma, acinic cell carcinoma, acinose carcinoma, acinous carcinoma. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acinic cell carcinoma | <tumour> An adenocarcinoma arising from secreting cells of a racemose gland, particularly the salivary glands. Synonym: acinar carcinoma, acinic cell carcinoma, acinose carcinoma, acinous carcinoma. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acinous carcinoma | <tumour> An adenocarcinoma arising from secreting cells of a racemose gland, particularly the salivary glands. Synonym: acinar carcinoma, acinic cell carcinoma, acinose carcinoma, acinous carcinoma. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adenoid cystic carcinoma | <tumour> A histologic type of carcinoma characterised by large epithelial masses containing round, glandlike spaces or cysts which frequently contain mucus or collagen and are bordered by a few or many layers of epithelial cells without intervening stroma, forming a cribriform pattern like a slice of Swiss cheese; perineural invasion and haematogenous metastasis are common; occurs most commonly in salivary glands. Synonym: cylindromatous carcinoma. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adenoid squamous cell carcinoma | <tumour> A malignant neoplasm consisting chiefly of glandular epithelium (adenocarcinoma), usually well differentiated, with foci of metaplasia to squamous (or epidermoid) neoplastic cells. Synonym: adenoid squamous cell carcinoma. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adenosquamous carcinoma | <tumour> A type of lung tumour exhibiting areas of clear cut glandular and squamous cell differentiation along with regions of the undifferentiated carcinoma. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adnexal carcinoma | <tumour> A carcinoma arising in, or forming structures resembling, skin appendages. (05 Mar 2000) |
| alveolar cell carcinoma | <tumour> A carcinoma, thought to be derived from epithelium of terminal bronchioles, in which the neoplastic tissue extends along the alveolar walls and grows in small masses within the alveoli; involvement may be uniformly diffuse and massive, or nodular, or lobular; microscopically, the neoplastic cells are cuboidal or columnar and form papillary structures; mucin may be demonstrated in some of the cells and in the material in the alveoli, which also includes denuded cells; metastases in regional lymph nodes, and even in more distant sites, are known to occur, but are infrequent. Synonym: alveolar cell carcinoma, bronchiolar adenocarcinoma, bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma, bronchioloalveolar adenocarcinoma. (05 Mar 2000) |