| Liebermeister, Carl von | <person> German physician, 1833-1901. See: Liebermeister's rule. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| Liebig, Baron Justus von | <person> German chemist, 1803-1873. See: Liebig's theory. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lindau-von hippel syndrome | <syndrome> The cardinal features of what is more commonly called von hippel-lindau (vhl) syndrome are benign blood-vessel tumours that most typically affect the eye and the brain. The eye tumours are termed angiomata and are in the retina. The brain tumours are termed haemangioblastoma and are in the cerebellum. Vhl is complex. There can also be blood-vessel tumours (haemangiomata) in the spinal cord, adrenal glands, liver, and lungs. Pheochromocytoma (a benign tumour of adrenal-like tissue) occurs in some patients. The combination of high blood pressure (hypertension) with angioma may cause bleeding under the skull (subarachnoid haemorrhage). Kidney tumours (like hypernephromas) may be malignant and metastasize. An abnormal elevation of red blood cells (polycythemia) can be due to the haemangioblastoma of the cerebellum or the hypernephroma. Multiple cysts can occur in the pancreas and kidneys. Patients with kidney problems or pancreatic cysts do not have pheochromocytoma, and visa versa. Lab findings in vhl may include high calcium (hypercalcaemia) and low potassium (hypokalaemia) occurring with the pheochromocytoma. Vhl is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. The gene on one of the non-sex chromosomes is dominant over the normal gene with which it is paired so that one vhl gene is sufficient to cause the vhl syndrome. If a person has vhl, the chance for each of their children to receive the vhl gene is one-half (50%). The vhl gene has been mapped to chromosome 3 (the 3rd volume in the book of life) in region 3p26-p25. The vhl gene has the characteristics of a tumour-suppressor gene. The person with vhl inherits one inactive copy of the vhl gene (a germline mutation) from one of their parents. But the normal gene with which it is paired is still enough to suppress the formation of a tumour. Then, in one cell in the vhl patient's body, another mutation (a somatic mutation) occurs, inactivating the other vhl gene. Thus, both copies of the vhl gene are inactivated and a tumour arises in the vhl patient. The syndrome is named for the german ophthalmologist eugen von hippel who described the charcteristic eye blood-vessel tumours in 1904 and the swedish pathologist arvid lindau who recognised the association between the eye tumours and the blood-vessel tumours of the cerebellum and other parts of the central nervous system in 1926-7. (12 Dec 1998) |
| Ludwig, Wilhelm Friedrich von | <person> German surgeon, 1790-1865. See: Ludwig's angina. (05 Mar 2000) |
| 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) |
| amoebic abscess | <gastroenterology> An area of abscess formation (liquefaction necrosis) in the liver due to infection of the organ with amoebae. See: amoebiasis. (05 Feb 1998) |
| anorectal abscess | <surgery> An abscess that forms adjacent to the anal opening. Symptoms include a tender swelling adjacent to the anus and pain on defecation. (27 Sep 1997) |
| apical abscess | <dentistry> A dental abscess that occurs at the end of a root, caused by tooth decay which invades the pulp chamber of the tooth. Involvement of the pulp chamber can lead to destruction of the nerve and blood vessels which supply the tooth. These infections must be treated by root canal therapy (endodontics) or tooth extraction. (27 Sep 1997) |
| appendiceal abscess | An intraperitoneal abscess, usually in the right iliac fossa, resulting from extension of infection in acute appendicitis, especially with perforation of the appendix. Synonym: periappendiceal abscess. (05 Mar 2000) |