| AMA | against medical advice; alkaline membrane assay; American Management Association; American Medical A... |
|---|---|
| ASA | acetylsalicylic acid; active systemic anaphylaxis; Adams-Stokes attack; American Society of Anesthes... |
| AAN | AIDS-associated nephropathy; alpha-amino nitrogen; American Academy of Neurology; American Academy o... |
| AACN | American Association of Colleges of Nursing; American Association of Critical-Care Nurses |
| AADE | American Association of Dental Editors; American Association of Dental Examiners |
| airless lung | <radiology> Tumour, foreign body, mucous plug (12 Dec 1998) |
|---|---|
| anterior border of lung | The thin anteromedial or sternal edge of the lung which overlaps the pericardial sac anteriorly and forms the boundary between the mediastinal and costal surfaces. Synonym: margo anterior pulmonis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| apex of lung | The rounded, upper extremity of each lung that extends into the cupula of the pleura. Synonym: apex pulmonis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| apical interstitial lung disease | <radiology> A radiological diagnosis where fibrosis is seen in the apices (upper sections) of the lungs. Likely causes include: cystic fibrosis, ankylosing spondylitis, sarcoidosis, silicosis, eosinophlic granuloma, TB and fungus, particularly aspergillus infection. (25 Jun 1999) |
| asbestos lung disease | <radiology> Pleural plaques, earliest finding, may be only evidence, parietal pleura, 15-20 yrs after exposure, calcified after ca. 30 yrs, asbestosis, interstitial lung disease, perihilar regions to lung bases, shaggy heart, no cavitation or progressive massive fibrosis as in silicosis, crocidolite (blue) form most carcinogenic, associated with: malignant pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma, GI-tract malignancy (12 Dec 1998) |
| azygos lobe of lung | A small accessory lobe sometimes found on the apex of the right lung; separated from the rest of the upper lobe by a deep groove lodging the azygos vein. Synonym: lobus azygos. (05 Mar 2000) |
| base of lung | The lower concave part of the lung that rests upon the convexity of the diaphragm. Synonym: basis pulmonis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| basilar interstitial lung disease | <radiology> B bronchiectasis, A asbestosis, D drugs / DIP, L lymphangitic metastasis / LAM, A aspiration, S sarcoidosis, S scleroderma (12 Dec 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) |
| bird-breeder's lung | <chest medicine> Extrinsic allergic alveolitis caused by an allergic reaction to components of the bird or bird droppings. (19 Jan 1998) |
| bird-fancier's lung | <chest medicine> A respiratory disorder due to an acquired hypersensitivity to the dust of bird droppings. It is often seen in pigeon breeder's, and is a form of extrinsic allergic alveolitis. The antigen protein is from bird serum, droppings, or feathers (12 Dec 1998) |
| black lung | A form of chronic clung disease which develops after prolonged exposure to coal dust. Advanced disease and scarring is evident on chest X-ray. Symptoms include wheezing, chronic cough and shortness of breath. (27 Sep 1997) |
| brown induration of the lung | A condition characterised by firmness of the lungs, and a brown colour associated with haemosiderin-pigmented macrophages in alveoli, consequent upon long-continued congestion due to heart disease. Synonym: pigment induration of the lung. (05 Mar 2000) |
| brown lung | Obstructive airway disease with asthma produced by exposure to cotton dust, flax or hemp. See: byssinosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| butterfly lung | Haemorrhagic markings appearing on an animal's lung after inoculation with Leptospira interrogans (L. Icterohaemorrhagiae). (05 Mar 2000) |