| reparative giant cell granuloma | <dermatology, oncology> A non-neoplastic lesion characterised by a proliferation of granulation tissue containing numerous multinucleated giant cells. It occurs on the gingiva and alveolar mucosa (occasionally on other soft tissues) where it presents as a soft red-blue haemorrhagic nodular swelling. It also occurs within the mandible or maxilla as a unilocular or multilocular radiolucency. Peripheral giant cell granuloma refers to the gingiva (giant cell epulis), central refers to the jaw. Microscopically similar lesions occur in the tubular bones of the hands and feet, are considered neoplastic, and may have a malignant course. Identical bony lesions may be seen in hyperparathyroidism and cherubism. See: giant cell tumour of bone. Synonym: giant cell epulis. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| congenital giant pigmented nevus | These large pigmented (often hairy) congenital nevi are important because of their increased risk (10 to 15%) of conversion into malignant melanoma. A biopsy can confirm if cells have turned malignant. Any change in a pre-existing nevus should prompt a physician evaluation. (27 Sep 1997) |
| squid giant axon | <physiology> Large axons, up to 1mm in diameter, that innervate the mantle of the squid. Because of their large size, many of the pioneering investigations of the mechanisms underlying resting and action potentials in excitable cells were done on these fibres. (10 Mar 1998) |
| subependymal giant cell astrocytoma | <tumour> A rare astrocytoma, frequently located in the wall of the lateral ventricle, comprised of large glial cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm and intermixed elongated astrocytes, associated with tuberous sclerosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| interstitial giant cell pneumonia | A rare complication of measles, with the postmortem finding of multinucleated giant cells lining alveoli. Synonym: Hecht's pneumonia, interstitial giant cell pneumonia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Touton giant cell | A xanthoma cell in which the multiple nuclei are grouped around a small island of nonfoamy cytoplasm. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Langhans giant cell | Multinucleate cells formed by fusion of epithelioid macrophages and associated with the central part of early tubercular lesions. Similar to foreign body giant cells, but with the nuclei peripherally located. (18 Nov 1997) |
| Langhans'-type giant cells | Multinucleated giant cell's seen in tuberculosis and other granulomas; the nuclei are arranged in an arciform manner at the periphery of the cell's. Synonym: Langhans'-type giant cells. Synonym: cytotrophoblastic cells. (05 Mar 2000) |
| foreign body giant cell | <pathology> Syncytium formed by the fusion of macrophages in response to an indigestible particle too large to be phagocytosed for example talc, silica or asbestos fibres). There may be as many as 100 nuclei randomly distributed: similar cells but with the nuclei more peripherally located (Langhans cells) are found at the centre of tuberculous lesions. (06 Mar 1998) |
| Aarskog-Scott syndrome | A syndrome of ocular hypertelorism, anteverted nostrils, broad upper lip, saddle-bag scrotum, and laxity of ligaments resulting in genu recurvatum, flat feet, and hyperextensible fingers; X-linked and autosomal dominant forms. Synonym: Aarskog-Scott syndrome. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Aarskog syndrome | <syndrome> Grier et al. (1983) reported father and 2 sons with typical Aarskog syndrome, including short stature, hypertelorism, and shawl scrotum. They tabulated the findings in 82 previous cases. X-linked recessive inheritance has been repeatedly suggested. The family reported by Welch (1974) had affected males in 3 consecutive generations. Thus, there is either genetic heterogeneity or this is an autosomal dominant with strong sex-influence and possibly ascertainment bias resulting from use of the shawl scrotum as a main criterion. Stretchable skin was present in the cases of Grier et al. (1983). Teebi et al. (1993) reported the case of an affected mother and 4 sons (including a pair of monozygotic twins) by 2 different husbands. They suggested that the manifestations were as severe in the mother as in the sons and that this suggested autosomal dominant inheritance. Actually, the mother seemed less severely affected, compatible with X-linked inheritance. Clinical signs: Mild to moderate short stature,normocephaly, Widow's peak hair, maxillary hypoplasia, broad nasal bridge, anteverted nostrils, long philtrum, broad upper lip, curved linear dimple below the lower lip, hypertelorism, ptosis, down-slanted palpebral fissures, ophthalmoplegia, strabismus, hyperopic astigmatism, large cornea, floppy ears, lop-ears,cleft lip/palate, shawl scrotum, saddle-bag scrotum, cryptorchidism, brachydactyly, digital contractures, clinodactyly, mild syndactyly, transverse palmar crease, lymphoedema of the feet, ligamentous laxity, osteochondritis dissecans, proximal finger joint hyperextensibility, flexed distal finger joints, genu recurvatum, flat feet, stretchable skin, cervical spine hypermobility, odontoid anomaly, macrocytic anaemia, hemochromatosis, hepatomegaly, portal cirrhosis, imperforate anus, rectoperineal fistula, interstitial pulmonary disease, sternal deformity. Inheritance: Sex-influenced autosomal dominant form, also X-linked form. (05 Aug 1998) |
| abdominal muscle deficiency syndrome | <syndrome> Congenital absence (partial or complete) of abdominal muscles, in which the outline of the intestines is visible through the protruding abdominal wall; in males, genitourinary anomalies (urinary tract dilation and cryptorchidism) are also found; genetics unclear. (05 Mar 2000) |
| abstinence syndrome | <syndrome> A constellation of physiologic changes undergone by persons or animals who have become physically dependent on a drug or chemical due to prolonged use at elevated doses, but who are abruptly deprived of that substance. The abstinence syndrome varies with the drug to which dependence has developed. Generally the effects observed are in an opposite direction from those produced by the drug; e.g., the withdrawal syndrome from central nervous system depressants such as barbiturates and benzodiazepines consists of insomnia, restlessness, tremulousness, hallucinations, and, in the extreme, tonic-clonic convulsions which may prove fatal. The onset time and severity of the abstinence syndrome depend upon how rapidly the drug disappears from the body. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Achard syndrome | <syndrome> Arachnodactyly with small receding mandible, broad skull, and joint laxity limited to the hands and feet; genetics unclear. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Achard-Thiers syndrome | <syndrome> One form of a virilizing disorder of adrenocortical origin in women, characterised by masculinization and menstrual disorders in association with manifestations of diabetes mellitus, such as glucosuria. (05 Mar 2000) |