| biliary scan | <investigation, radiology> A test that uses a radioactive tracer to look for bile duct obstruction or gallbladder inflammation. A special tracer is injected into a vein that tends to collect primarily in the liver. It is then excreted in the bile where it makes its way to the gallbladder. A gamma camera measures the tracer (radioactivity) and generates an image of the gallbladder and biliary system. (27 Sep 1997) |
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| biliary steatorrhoea | Steatorrhoea due to the absence of bile from the intestine; usually accompanied by jaundice. (05 Mar 2000) |
| biliary stricture | <gastroenterology, surgery> An abnormal narrowing of the common bile duct. A potential cause for biliary obstruction. Risk factors are prior surgery, pancreatitis, trauma and gallstones. Symptoms include jaundice, fever, chills and abdominal pain. Endoscopic surgery has been successful in removing strictures of the bile duct. (27 Sep 1997) |
| biliary tract | <anatomy> The biliary tract refers to the bile ducts within the liver, the common bile duct (connecting the liver and gallbladder to the small intestine) and the cystic duct (short duct that connects the common bile duct to the gallbladder). Blockage in any location in the biliary tract can result in obstructive jaundice. (27 Sep 1997) |
| biliary tract surgical procedures | Any surgical procedure performed on the biliary tract. (12 Dec 1998) |
| biliary xanthomatosis | Xanthomatosis with hypercholesterolaemia, resulting from biliary cirrhosis. Synonym: Rayer's disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| glands of biliary mucosa | Small, mucous, tubuloalveolar glands in the mucosa of the larger bile ducts and especially in the neck of the gallbladder. Synonym: glandulae mucosae biliosae, Luschka's cystic glands, Theile's glands. (05 Mar 2000) |
| primary biliary cirrhosis | <gastroenterology> A rare form of liver disease which results in the irreversible destruction of the liver and bile ducts. The cause is unknown, but is thought to be an autoimmune mechanism. (06 Mar 1998) |
| equine biliary fever | <veterinary> A disease of horses caused by species of Babesia and characterised by high fever, icterus, and enlargement of the spleen and lymph nodes. Synonym: biliary fever of horses, equine biliary fever. (05 Mar 2000) |
| liver cirrhosis, biliary | Liver cirrhosis in which there is interference with intrahepatic bile flow. It includes primary biliary cirrhosis, an intrahepatic disturbance of bile secretion affecting predominantly middle-aged women and with segmental destruction and, later, absence of septal bile ducts (cirrhosis is the end stage); and secondary biliary cirrhosis, which is produced by prolonged mechanical obstruction of large intrahepatic or extrahepatic bile ducts. (12 Dec 1998) |
| abdominal abscess | <surgery> A localised pus-forming (suppurative) bacterial infection that occurs within the abdominal cavity as the result of a perforated viscus or post operative complication. Treatment requires either percutaneous or open surgical drainage. (27 Sep 1997) |
| abscess | <microbiology, surgery> A localised collection of pus caused by suppuration buried in tissues, organs or confined spaces. Usually due to an infective process. Origin: L. Abscessus, from ab = away, cedere = to go (18 Nov 1997) |
| abscess, peritonsillar | A persistent collection of pus behind the tonsil. (12 Dec 1998) |
| abscess scan | <investigation> This is a nuclear scan that utilises radioactively tagged white blood cells. The patients white blood cells (taken from a small tube of blood) are tagged with radioactive indium. Later, the cells are then reinjected into the bloodstream. The coarse of the white blood cells can then be mapped using a gamma camera (radiation detecting device). The net result is a picture that shows the location of the radioactive white blood cells. The location of the white cells can indicated the presence of infection or inflammation. This test is useful in detecting a hidden source of bacterial infection, such as an abscess. (11 Mar 1998) |
| abscess, skin | Medical term for a common boil. (12 Dec 1998) |