| adr | adrenal, adrenalectomy |
|---|---|
| AGF | adrenal growth factor; angle of greatest flexion |
| AH | abdominal hysterectomy; absorptive hypercalciuria; accidental hypothermia; acetohexamide; acid hydro... |
| CAH | chronic active hepatitis; chronic aggressive hepatitis; combined atrial hypertrophy; congenital adre... |
| CAV | congenital absence of vagina; congenital adrenal virilism; constant angular velocity; croup-associat... |
| congenital adrenal hyperplasia | <endocrinology> A genetic disorder present at birth characterised by a deficiency of the hormones aldosterone and cortisol and an overproduction of male sex hormones (androgens). In males this may manifest as enlarged penis, small testes and early development of masculine characteristics. In females features include ambiguous genitalia, failure to menstruate, deep voice and excessive hair. Origin: Gr. Plassein = to form (27 Sep 1997) |
|---|---|
| congenital virilizing adrenal hyperplasia | A series of inherited inborn errors of metabolism with hyperplasia of the adrenal cortex and overproduction of virilizing hormones. Most common forms are due to partial or complete 21-hydroxylase deficiency, leading to increased ACTH production by the pituitary, stimulating adrenal growth and function. Severe form is characterised by salt-losing state. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foetal adrenal cortex | An extensive area of the adrenal gland present in primates during foetal life and for a short period after birth; located between the definitive cortex and the medulla, it contains large steroid-secreting cells arranged in a reticular pattern; involution of this zone in humans is largely completed by three months after birth. Synonym: androgenic zone, foetal reticularis, foetal zone, provisional cortex. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acinar carcinoma | <tumour> An adenocarcinoma arising from secreting cells of a racemose gland, particularly the salivary glands. Synonym: acinar carcinoma, acinic cell carcinoma, acinose carcinoma, acinous carcinoma. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acinic cell carcinoma | <tumour> An adenocarcinoma arising from secreting cells of a racemose gland, particularly the salivary glands. Synonym: acinar carcinoma, acinic cell carcinoma, acinose carcinoma, acinous carcinoma. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acinous carcinoma | <tumour> An adenocarcinoma arising from secreting cells of a racemose gland, particularly the salivary glands. Synonym: acinar carcinoma, acinic cell carcinoma, acinose carcinoma, acinous carcinoma. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adenoid cystic carcinoma | <tumour> A histologic type of carcinoma characterised by large epithelial masses containing round, glandlike spaces or cysts which frequently contain mucus or collagen and are bordered by a few or many layers of epithelial cells without intervening stroma, forming a cribriform pattern like a slice of Swiss cheese; perineural invasion and haematogenous metastasis are common; occurs most commonly in salivary glands. Synonym: cylindromatous carcinoma. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adenoid squamous cell carcinoma | <tumour> A malignant neoplasm consisting chiefly of glandular epithelium (adenocarcinoma), usually well differentiated, with foci of metaplasia to squamous (or epidermoid) neoplastic cells. Synonym: adenoid squamous cell carcinoma. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adenosquamous carcinoma | <tumour> A type of lung tumour exhibiting areas of clear cut glandular and squamous cell differentiation along with regions of the undifferentiated carcinoma. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adnexal carcinoma | <tumour> A carcinoma arising in, or forming structures resembling, skin appendages. (05 Mar 2000) |
| alveolar cell carcinoma | <tumour> A carcinoma, thought to be derived from epithelium of terminal bronchioles, in which the neoplastic tissue extends along the alveolar walls and grows in small masses within the alveoli; involvement may be uniformly diffuse and massive, or nodular, or lobular; microscopically, the neoplastic cells are cuboidal or columnar and form papillary structures; mucin may be demonstrated in some of the cells and in the material in the alveoli, which also includes denuded cells; metastases in regional lymph nodes, and even in more distant sites, are known to occur, but are infrequent. Synonym: alveolar cell carcinoma, bronchiolar adenocarcinoma, bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma, bronchioloalveolar adenocarcinoma. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anaplastic carcinoma | <tumour> Carcinoma with absence of epithelial structural differentiation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid | <oncology, tumour> An aggressive form and rare form of thyroid cancer that is one of the most rapidly growing and invasive types of thyroid cancer. It commonly occurs in people over 60 years of age and may cause obstruction of the trachea. The cause is unknown but exposure to radiation may be a factor. Thyroid function tests are usually normal. Hoarse voice, cough and coughing up blood are common symptoms. Examination may reveal nodules in the thyroid gland. Diagnosis is made via biopsy. Treatment is surgical with or without radiation therapy. (27 Sep 1997) |
| apocrine carcinoma | <tumour> A carcinoma composed predominantly of cells with abundant eosinophilic granular cytoplasm, occurring in the breast, a carcinoma of the apocrine glands. (05 Mar 2000) |
| basal cell carcinoma | <oncology, tumour> The most common form of skin cancer. A malignant growth of epidermal tissue, specifically basal cells. most common in the fair-skinned on sun-exposed areas (especially the face). (15 Nov 1997) |