Oncology

Alopecia loss of hair resultingfrom destruction of hair follicles

Autologous something that his its originwithin an individual; especially a factor presnt in tissues or
fluids
Benign not recurrent or progressive; opposite of malignant
Biopsy removal of a small piece of living tissue from an organ or another part of the body for
microscopic examination to confirm or establish a diagnosis, estimate a prognosis, or follow the course
of a disease
Cachexia general ill health and malnutrition marked by weakness and emaciation; usually associated
with a serious disease such as cancer
Carcinogen substance known to increase the risk for the development of cancer
Carcinogenesis various factors that are possible origins of cancer
Carcinoma term used for a malignant tumor composed of epithelial cells; it displays a tendency to
metastasize
Differentiated describes a tumor that is most like the parent tissue
Immunosurveillance the immunes recognition and destruction of newly developed abnormal cells
Leukopenia an abnormal decrease in the number of white blood cells to fewer than 5000 cells/mm
due to depression of the bone marrow
Malignant growing worse, resisiting treatment; said of cancerous growths. Also intending or
threatening to produce death; harmful
Metastasis the process by which tumor cells are spread to distance parts of the body
Neoplasm uncontrolled or abnormal growth of cells
Oncology the sum of knowledge regarding tumors; the branch of medicine that deals with the study
of tumors
Palliative designed to relieve pain and distress and to control the signs and symptons of disease; not
designed to produce a cure
Papanicolaous test (smear) simple smear method of examining stained exfoliative cells; used most
commonly to detect cancers of the cervix
Sarcoma malignant tumor of connective tissues suchas muscle or bone; usually presents as a painless
swelling
Stomatitis inflammation of the mouth due to the destruction of normal cells of the oral cavity that
may from infection by bacteria, viruses, or fungi from exposure to certain chemicals or drugs, vitamin
defiency, or systemic inflammatory disease
Thrombocytopenia an abnormal hematologic condition in which the number of platelets is reduced to
fewer than 100,000/mm
Tumor lysis syndrome oncologic emergency that occurs with rapid lysis of malignant cells; most
frequently associated with chemotherapy treatment. It is most commonly a result of treatment-related
malignant cell death in patients with large tumor cell burdens