| BVA | Blind Veterans Association; British Veterinary Association |
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| CB | Bachelor of Surgery [Lat. Chirurgiae Baccalaureus]; calcium blocker; carbenicillin; carotid body; ch... |
| DB | data base; date of birth; deep breath; dense body; dextran blue; diabetes, diabetic; diagonal band; ... |
| DBS | deep brain stimulation; Denis Browne splint; despeciated bovine serum; Diamond-Blackfan syndrome; di... |
| DPCRT | double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial |
| biopsy, myocardial | <investigation, procedure, surgery> A procedure which involves the removal of a small specimen of cardiac muscle tissue for microscopic analysis. This is generally performed at the same time as a cardiac catheterisation or as a very similar, yet separate, procedure. A small piece of heart tissue is taken via a small forceps inserted into the cardiac catheter site (usually threaded through a vein in the neck). This test may reveal the cause of a cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, amyloidosis or a heart transplant rejection. (21 Mar 1998) |
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| biopsy needle | <equipment> A skinny needle that is passed percutaneously into an organ being investigated (liver and kidney are common). Tissue is obtained from the core of the needle and then analysed under the microscope. (21 Mar 1998) |
| biopsy, nerve | <investigation, procedure, surgery> A procedure which involves the removal of a small specimen of nerve tissue for microscopic analysis. The ankle or wrist are the most common sites used for nerve biopsy. Conditions such as amyloidosis, sarcoidosis, metabolic polyneuropathy, leprosy, demyelination, alcoholic neuropathy, Charcot-Marie-tooth disease, peroneal nerve dysfunction, mononeuritis multiplex and other polyneuropathies may be detected using this study. (21 Mar 1998) |
| biopsy, open lung | <investigation, procedure, surgery> A procedure which involves the removal of a small specimen of lung tissue for microscopic analysis via a surgical incision in the chest wall. This test can be used to identify a variety of lung cancers, lung infections and lung diseases. (21 Mar 1998) |
| biopsy, pleural needle | <investigation, procedure, surgery> A pleural needle biopsy involves the use of a needle (inserted from the skin) to obtain a small sample of pleural tissue for microscopic analysis. The biopsy is done using a local anaesthetic. Abnormal results may reveal cancer (metastatic or primary), tuberculosis, a fungal disease, viral disease, a parasitic disease or collagen vascular disease. Risks include pneumothorax and internal bleeding. (21 Mar 1998) |
| biopsy, salivary gland | <investigation, procedure, surgery> A procedure which involves the removal of a small specimen of salivary gland tissue for microscopic analysis. Used in the diagnosis of Sjogren's syndrome. Risks include localised bleeding, infection and injury to the facial nerve. (21 Mar 1998) |
| bone marrow biopsy | <procedure> A test involving the insertion of a thin needle into the breastbone or more commonly, the hip, in order to aspirate a sample of the marrow. A small piece of cortical bone may also be obtained for biopsy. Anaemia of unknown cause is often investigated using this test. (27 Sep 1997) |
| bone marrow biopsy and aspiration | <procedure> A procedure in which a needle is inserted into the centre of a bone, usually the hip, to remove a small amount of bone marrow for microscopic examination. (09 Oct 1997) |
| brush biopsy | Biopsy obtained by passing a bristled catheter into the ureter or pyelocalyceal system to remove cells from suspected areas of disease by entrapping them in the bristles. (05 Mar 2000) |
| chorionic villus biopsy | Transcervical or transabdominal sampling of the chorionic villi for genetic analysis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cold cone biopsy | <gynaecology, procedure> A procedure which excises a cone of tissue (mucous membrane) off the cervix for purpose of diagnostics and therapeutics (removes precancerous cells). See: cervical dysplasia. (27 Sep 1997) |
| wedge biopsy | Excision of a cuneiform specimen. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cone biopsy | <gynaecology, procedure> A procedure which excises a cone of tissue (mucous membrane) off the cervix for purpose of diagnostics and therapeutics (removes precancerous cells). See: cervical dysplasia. (05 Jan 1998) |
| pleural needle biopsy | <investigation, procedure, surgery> A pleural needle biopsy involves the use of a needle (inserted from the skin) to obtain a small sample of pleural tissue for microscopic analysis. The biopsy is done using a local anaesthetic. Abnormal results may reveal cancer (metastatic or primary), tuberculosis, a fungal disease, viral disease, a parasitic disease or collagen vascular disease. Risks include pneumothorax and internal bleeding. (21 Mar 1998) |
| muscle biopsy | <investigation, procedure, surgery> A procedure which involves the removal of a small specimen of muscle tissue for microscopic analysis. A muscle biopsy is used to distinguish between neurological and myopathic (muscle disease) disorders, identify muscular dystrophy, diagnose muscle infections and identify connective tissue disorders (necrotising vasculitis). (21 Mar 1998) |