| mediastinal pleurisy | Inflammation of the portion of the pleura lining the mediastinal surface of the lung. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| mediastinal space | <anatomy> The space in the thoracic cavity behind the sternum and in between the two pleural sacs (containing the lungs). (27 Sep 1997) |
| mediastinal surface of lung | The part of the medial surface of a lung in contact with the mediastinum. Synonym: pars mediastinalis pulmonis, facies mediastinalis pulmonis, mediastinal part of lung. (05 Mar 2000) |
| mediastinal veins | Several small veins from the mediastinum emptying into the brachiocephalic veins or the superior vena cava. Synonym: venae mediastinales. (05 Mar 2000) |
| middle mediastinal mass | <radiology> Mnemonic: not VD, 90% malignant, Nodes, tumour (metastasis, lymphoma/leukaemia), infection, inhalational disease, Castleman disease, Tumour, primary lung, trachea, oesophagus carcinoma, Vascular, aneurysm, haematoma, Duplication cyst, bronchogenic, enteric, neurenteric (12 Dec 1998) |
| posterior mediastinal arteries | Numerous small arteries supplying the pleura and lymph nodes of the posterior mediastinum. Synonym: rami mediastinales aortae thoracicae, posterior mediastinal arteries. (05 Mar 2000) |
| posterior mediastinal lymph nodes | Nodes located along the thoracic aorta; they receive vessels from the oesophagus, diaphragm, liver and pericardium and send efferents to the thoracic duct and bronchomediastinal lymphatic trunk(s). Synonym: nodi lymphatici mediastinales posteriores. (05 Mar 2000) |
| posterior mediastinal mass | <radiology> Mnemonic: HALOVEEN, haematoma, abscess, lymph nodexs, osteophyte, vertebral (metastasis, plasmacytoma), extramedullary haematopoesis, oesophagus, neurogenic (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) |
| acute abscess | A recently formed abscess with little or no fibrosis in the wall of the cavity. Synonym: hot abscess. (05 Mar 2000) |
| alveolar abscess | A pocket of pus adjacent to or within (apical abscess) the tooth's root caused by plaque and calculus invasion. Symptoms include tooth pain and tenderness that may be accompanied by facial swelling and a fever. Treatment includes antibiotics and a thorough cleansing of the infected site by a dentist. See: apical abscess. (27 Sep 1997) |