| familial breast cancer | <oncology> A number of factors have been identified that increase the risk of breast cancer. One of the strongest of these risk factors is the history of breast cancer in a relative. About15-20% of women with breast cancer have such a family history of the disease, clearly reflecting the participation of inherited (genetic) components in the development of some breast cancers. Dominant breast cancer suceptibility genes, including BRCA1 and BRCA2, appear responsible for about 5% of all breast cancer. See related entries to: Breast cancer susceptibility genes; BRCA1; BRCA2. There are 2 genes; BRCA1 and BRCA2 which are susceptibility genes for breast cancer. They are inherited factors that predispose to breast cancer. Put otherwise, these genes make one more susceptible to the disease and so increase the risk of developing breast cancer. Two of these genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, have been identified (and prominently publicised). Several other genes (those for the li-fraumeni syndrome, cowden disease, muir-torre syndrome, and ataxia-telangiectasia) are also known to predispose to breast cancer. However, since all of these known breast cancer susceptibility genes together do not account for more than a minor fraction (1/5th at most) of breast cancer that clusters in families, it is clear that more breast cancer genes remain to be discovered. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| ultrasound of the breast | <investigation> A test which uses ultrasonic waves to scan the breast. Used to evaluate fibrocystic breast disease, breast implants or breast masses. (27 Sep 1997) |
| feeding, breast | The ability of the breast to produce milk diminishes soon after childbirth without the stimulation of breastfeeding. Immunity factors in breast milk can help the baby to fight off infections. Breast milk contains vitamins, minerals, and enzymes which aid the baby's digestion. Breast and formula feeding can be used together. (12 Dec 1998) |
| fibrocystic condition of the breast | A benign disease common in women of the third, fourth, and fifth decades characterised by formation, in one or both breasts, of small cysts containing fluid which may appear as blue dome cysts; associated with stromal fibrosis and with variable degrees of intraductal epithelial hyperplasia and sclerosing adenosis. Synonym: cystic hyperplasia of the breast. (05 Mar 2000) |
| fibrocystic disease of breast | A chronic disorder comprising three variants which range from lesions consisting primarily of an overgrowth of fibrous tissue to those characterised by dominance of the proliferation of the epithelial parenchyma to a form of dysplasia characterised by both stromal and epithelial hyperplasia with the formation of cysts. (12 Dec 1998) |
| large breast lesions | <radiology> Breast masses greater than 5 cm, lucent: lipoma, mixed lucent/opaque: fibro-adeno-lipoma, low-density opaque: giant fibroadenoma, cyst, cystosarcoma phylloides, mucinous carcinoma, high-density opaque (large and dense) (12 Dec 1998) |
| large, dense breast lesions | <radiology> Carcinoma, sarcoma, cystosarcoma phylloides, cyst, abscess, lymph nodes (lymphoma, leukaemia, metastasis) (12 Dec 1998) |
| funnel breast | Caved-in chest. Usually an unimportant isolated finding evident at birth. (Funnel chest can occasionally be part of a connective tissue disorder such as Marfan syndrome). (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) |