Myeloma Glossary of Terms

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Abnormal: Outside the expected norm, or uncharacteristic of a particular patient.

Adhesion: The union of two opposing tissue surfaces. This term is often used to refer to t...

Adjacent: Lying nearby. Related terms include superjacent, subjacent, and circumjacent. Fr...

Albumin: The main protein in human blood and the key to regulating the osmotic pressure of...

Allogeneic: Taken from different individuals of the same species. Two or more individuals ...

Amyloid: Any of a number of complex proteins that are deposited in tissues and that share ...

Amyloidosis: A group of diseases that result from the abnormal deposition of a protein, ca...

Analysis: In psychology, a term for conversation-based therapeutic processes used to gain ...

Anemia: The condition of having a lower-than-normal number of red blood cells or quantity ...

Antibody: An immunoglobulin, a specialized immune protein, produced because of the introdu...

Aspirate: To suck in. A patient may aspirate for example by accidentally drawing material ...

Aspiration: Removal of a sample of fluid and cells through a needle. Aspiration also re...

Aspirin: Once the Bayer trademark for acetylsalicylic acid, now the common name for this a...

Autologous: In blood transfusion and transplantation, a situation in which the donor and r...

Back pain: Pain felt in the low or upper back. Causes of pain in the low and upper back in...

Biopsy: The removal of a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope to check for ...

Blood clots: Blood that has been converted from a liquid to a solid state. Also called a t...

Blood urea nitrogen: A measure of the urea level in blood. Abbreviated BUN. Diseases that ...

Bone marrow: The soft blood-forming tissue that fills the cavities of bones and contains f...

Bone marrow aspiration: The removal of a small amount of liquid bone marrow through a need...

Bone marrow biopsy: The removal of a sample of bone marrow and a small amount of bone thro...

Bone marrow transplantation: See: Bone marrow transplant.

Brain: The portion of the central nervous system that is located within the skull. It func...

Bruise: Injury of the soft tissues that results in breakage of the local capillaries and l...

C-reactive protein: An acute-phase plasma protein whose blood concentration reflects the p...

Calcium: A mineral found mainly in the hard part of bones, where it is stored. Calcium is ...

Cancer: An abnormal growth of cells which tend to proliferate in an uncontrolled way and, ...

Carbon dioxide: A gas which is the byproduct of cellular metabolism and which collects in ...

Catheter: A thin, flexible tube.

CBC: A commonly used abbreviation in medicine that stands for complete blood count, a set...

Cell: The basic structural and functional unit of any living thing. Each cell is a small c...

Central line: An infusion tube located in or near the heart, which is at the center of the...

Chemotherapy: 1. In the original sense, a chemical that binds to and specifically k...

Chest: The area of the body located between the neck and the abdomen. The chest contains t...

Chest pain: Pain in the chest that can be a result of many things, including angina, heart...

Chest X-ray: A type of X-ray commonly used to detect abnormalities in the lungs. A chest X...

Chromosome: A carrier of genetic information that is visible under an ordinary light micro...

Chronic: In medicine, lasting a long time. A chronic condition is one that lasts 3 months ...

Clinical trial: A study that is intended to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of medic...

Clinical trials: Trials to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of medications or medical...

Complication: In medicine, an unanticipated problem that arises following, and is a result...

Compression: 1. The act of pressing together. As in a compression fracture, nerve c...

Congestive heart failure: Inability of the heart to keep up with the demands on it, with f...

Consolidation therapy: Cancer treatment given after induction therapy to consolidate the g...

Constipation: Infrequent and frequently incomplete bowel movements. Constipation is the op...

Corticosteroid: Any of the steroid hormones made by the outer portion (cortex) of the adre...

Creatinine: A chemical waste molecule that is generated from muscle metabolism. Creatinine...

CRP: C-reactive protein.

Cryoglobulinemia: The presence in blood of abnormal proteins called cryoglobulins that hav...

Cure: 1. To heal, to make well, to restore to good health. 2. A time withou...

Dehydration: Excessive loss of body water. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that ca...

Depression: An illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts and that affects the way...

Diagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease; the identification of an illness. 2 A ...

Diarrhea: A common condition that involves unusually frequent and liquid bowel movements. ...

Donor: The giver of a tissue or an organ, such as a blood donor or kidney donor.

Dysfunction: Difficult function or abnormal function.

Electrophoresis: A method used in clinical and research laboratories for separating molecu...

Enzyme: A protein (or protein-based molecule) that speeds up a chemical reaction in a livi...

Erosion: An erosion is an eating away of a surface. ("Erodere" in Latin means to eat out.)...

Excision: 1. Surgical removal, as in the excision of a tumor. 2. The remov...

Fatigue: A condition characterized by a lessened capacity for work and reduced efficiency ...

Fracture: A break in bone or cartilage. Although usually a result of trauma, a fracture ca...

Genetic: Having to do with genes and genetic
information.

Graft: Healthy skin, bone, kidney, liver, or other tissue that is taken from one part of t...

Hair loss: Hair loss is the thinning of hair on the scalp. The medical term for hair loss ...

Headache: A pain in the head with the pain being above the eyes or the ears, behind the he...

Heart: The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body. ...

Heart failure: Inability of the heart to keep up with the demands on it and, specifically...

Hematocrit: The proportion of the blood that consists of packed red blood cells. The hema...

Hematologist: A physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases of the blood...

Hemoglobin: The oxygen-carrying pigment and predominant protein in the red blood cells. He...

Hypercalcemia: A higher-than-normal level of calcium in the blood. Hypercalcemia can be a ...

Immune: Protected against infection, usually by the presence of antibodies.

Immune system: A complex system that is responsible for distinguishing a person from every...

Immunoglobulin: A protein produced by plasma cells and lymphocytes and characteristic of t...

Incidence: The frequency with which something, such as a disease or trait, appears in a pa...

Indicate: In medicine, to make a treatment or procedure advisable because of a particular ...

Induction therapy: The first in a series of therapeutic measures taken to treat a disease,...

Infuse: In medicine, to introduce a solution into the body through a vein. An infusion is ...

Interventional: Pertaining to the act of intervening, interfering or interceding with the ...

Irradiation: The use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, and other...

Joint: The area where two bones are attached for the purpose of permitting body parts to m...

Kidney: One of a pair of organs located in the right and left side of the abdomen. The kid...

Laboratory: A place for doing tests and research procedures, and for preparing chemicals a...

Lactate dehydrogenase: (LDH) An enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of lactate to pyruvat...

LDH: Lactate dehydrogenase.

Leg: In popular usage, the part of the body from the top of the thigh down to the foot, an...

Lesion: An area of abnormal tissue change. Lesions vary in severity from harmless to serio...

Lethargy: Abnormal drowsiness, stupor.

Limb: An arm or a leg.

Liver: The largest solid organ in the body, situated in the upper part of the abdomen on t...

Local therapy: In the context of cancer, treatment that affects cells in the tumor and the...

Lymph: The almost colorless fluid that travels through the lymphatic system, carrying cell...

Lymph node: One of many small, bean-shaped organs located throughout the lymphatic system....

Lymphatics: Small thin channels similar to blood vessels that do not carry blood, but coll...

Lymphocytes: A small white blood cell (leukocyte) that plays a large role in defending the...

Lytic: Suffix having to do with lysis (destruction), as in hemolytic anemia, the excessive...

M protein: An antibody or part of an antibody found in unusually large amounts in the bloo...

Magnetic resonance imaging: A procedure that uses magnetism, radio waves, and a computer t...

Maintenance therapy: Treatment designed to help the original primary treatment to succeed....

Malignant: 1. Tending to be severe and become progressively worse, as in malignant ...

Marker: A piece of DNA that lies on a chromosome so close to a gene that the marker and t...

Marrow: The bone marrow.

Metabolism: The whole range of biochemical processes that occur within a living organism. ...

Microscope: An optical instrument that augments the power of the eye to see small objects....

Monoclonal: Derived from a single cell and cells identical to that cell.

Morbidity: Illness, disease.

Morphology: 1. Literally, the study of form. The study of structure.
2./...

Mortality: A fatal outcome or, in one word, death. The word "mortality" is derived from "m...

Mouth: 1. The upper opening of the digestive tract, beginning with the lips and con...

MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging.

Multiple myeloma: A bone marrow cancer that involves a type of white blood cell called a p...

Muscle: Muscle is the tissue of the body which primarily functions as a source of power. T...

Myeloma: A tumor of antibody-producing cells, called plasma cells, that are normally foun...

Nausea: Stomach queasiness, the urge to vomit. Nausea can be brought on by many causes, in...

Nerve: A bundle of fibers that uses electrical and chemical signals to transmit sensory an...

Nitrogen: Element number 7, a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is biologically impo...

Node: Literally a knot, a node is a collection of tissue. For example a lymph node, is a ...

Nose: The external midline projection from the face. The purpose of the nose is to warm, c...

Oncologist: A physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. After a ...

Organ: A relatively independent part of the body that carries out one or more special func...

Orthopedist: An orthopedic surgeon, a physician who corrects congenital or functional abno...

Osteolytic: Pertaining to the dissolution of bone, especially the loss of calcium from bon...

Osteolytic lesion: A "punched-out" area of severe bone loss. Osteolytic lesions are seen i...

Osteoporosis: Thinning of the bones, with reduction in bone mass, due to depletion of calc...

Oxygen: The odorless gas that is present in the air and necessary to maintain life. Oxygen...

PA-C: Physician Assistant - Certified.

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa...

Paralysis: Loss of voluntary movement (motor function). Paralysis that affects only one mu...

Pathologic: 1. Indicative of or caused by disease, as in a pathologic fracture, pat...

Pathologic fracture: A bone broken, not by trauma alone, but so weakened by disease as to ...

Pathologist: A physician who identifies diseases and conditions by studying abnormal cells...

Pediatrics: The field of medicine that is concerned with the health of infants, children, ...

Pelvis: The lower part of the abdomen, located between the hip bones. Structures in the fe...

Pharmacy: A location where prescription medications are sold. A pharmacy is constantly sup...

Plasma: The liquid part of the blood and lymphatic fluid, which makes up about half of the...

Plasma cell: A type of white blood cell that produces and secretes antibodies. A plasma ce...

Plasmacytoma: Cancer of the plasma cells (white blood cells that produce antibodies) that ...

Platelet: An irregular, disc-shaped element in the blood that assists in blood clotting....

Platelet count: The calculated number of platelets in a volume of blood, usually expressed...

Precancerous: Pertaining to something that is not yet overtly cancerous, but appears to be...

Pregnancy: The state of carrying a developing embryo or fetus within the female body. Thi...

Prognosis: The forecast of the probable outcome or course of a disease; the patient's chan...

Prognostic: Pertaining to the prognosis, the outlook for the patient.

Progressive: Increasing in scope or severity, advancing, or going forward. For example, a ...

Proteasome: A protein degradation "machine" within the cell that can digest a variety of p...

Protein: One of the three nutrients used as energy sources (calories) by the body. Protein...

Proteins: Large molecules composed of one or more chains of amino acids in a specific orde...

Quality of life: The patient's ability to enjoy normal life activities. Quality of life is...

Radiation: 1. Rays of energy. Gamma rays and X-rays are two of the types of energy ...

Radiation oncologist: A physician whose specialty is the use of radiation therapy as a tre...

Radiation therapy: The use of high-energy rays to damage cancer cells, stopping them from ...

RBC: Short for red blood cells, the cells that carry oxygen and carbon dioxide through the...

Reabsorption: Being absorbed again. For example, the kidney selectively reabsorbs substanc...

Recur: To occur again; to return. For example, a symptom, sign, or disease can recur.

Recurrence: The return of a sign, symptom, or disease after a remission. The reappearance ...

Recurrent: Appearing or occurring again. For example, a recurrent fever is a fever that ha...

Red blood cell: The blood cell that carries oxygen. Red cells contain hemoglobin and it is...

Red blood cells: The blood cells that carry oxygen. Red cells contain hemoglobin and it is...

Red cell count: The number of red blood cells (RBCs) in a volume of blood. The normal ran...

Referral: The recommendation of a medical or paramedical professional. If you get a refer...

Refractory: Not yielding, or not yielding readily, to treatment.

Regimen: A plan or a regulated course, such as a diet, exercise, or treatment, that is des...

Relapse: The return of signs and symptoms of a disease after a remission.

Remission: Disappearance of the signs and symptoms of cancer or other disease. A remission...

Renal: Having to do with the kidney. For example, renal cancer is cancer of the kidneys.

Salvage therapy: A final treatment for people who are not responsive to or cannot tolerate...

Samaritan: See Good Samaritan.

Sensation: In medicine and physiology, sensation refers to the registration of an incoming...

Sensitivity: 1. In psychology, the quality of being sensitive. As, for example, sen...

Serum: The clear liquid that can be separated from clotted blood. Serum differs from plas...

Shortness of breath: Difficulty in breathing. Medically referred to as dyspnea. Shortness ...

Skeletal: Pertaining to the skeleton, the bones of the body that collectively provide the ...

Skeleton: The skeleton is composed of bones and is the framework of the body.

Skull: The skull is a collection of bones which encase the brain and give form to the hea...

Spine: 1) The column of bone known as the vertebral column, which surrounds and protects ...

Stage: As regards cancer, the extent of a cancer, especially whether the disease has spre...

Staging: stagingDoing exams and tests to learn the extent of a cancer, especially whether ...

Stem cell: One of the human body's master cells, with the ability to grow into any one of ...

Stem cell transplantation: The use of stem cells as a treatment for cancer or other illnes...

Stem cells: One of the human body's master cells, with the ability to grow into any one of...

Stroke: The sudden death of brain cells due to lack of oxygen, caused by blockage of blood...

Substance: 1. Material with particular features.
2. The material that...

Supportive care: Treatment given to prevent, control, or relieve complications and side ef...

Symptom: Any subjective evidence of disease. In contrast, a sign is objective. Blood comin...

Symptomatic: 1 With symptoms, as a symptomatic infection. 2 Characteristic o...

Syndrome: A combination of symptoms and signs that together represent a disease process.

Systemic: Affecting the entire body. A systemic disease such as diabetes can affect the wh...

Systemic therapy: Treatment that reaches cells throughout the body by traveling through th...

Therapeutic: Relating to therapeutics, the branch of medicine that is concerned specifical...

Therapy: The treatment of disease. Therapy is synonymous with treatment.

Transfusion: The transfer of blood or blood products from one person (the donor) into the ...

Transplant: The grafting of a tissue from one place to another, just as in botany a bu...

Tumor: An abnormal mass of tissue. Tumors are a classic sign of inflammation, and can be ...

Uncertainty: "Medicine's ground state is uncertainty. And wisdom -- for both patients and ...

Urea: A nitrogen-containing substance normally cleared from the blood by the kidney into t...

Urine: Liquid waste produced by the kidneys. Urine is a clear, transparent fluid that norm...

Vascular: Relating to blood vessels. For example, the vascular system in the body includes...

Vein: A blood vessel that carries blood that is low in oxygen content from the body back t...

Vertebrae: The preferred plural of vertebra. (The alternate plural is vertebras.) See also...

Vertebroplasty: A nonsurgical method for repairing osteoporosis back fractures, such as ve...

Vessel: A tube in the body that carries fluids. Examples of vessels are blood vessels and ...

Viral: Of or pertaining to a virus. For example, if a person has a viral rash, the rash wa...

Warfarin: An anticoagulant drug (brand names: Coumarin, Panwarfin, Sofarin) taken to prev...

WBC: White blood cell.

Weight loss: Weight loss is a decrease in body weight resulting from either voluntary (die...

White blood cell: One of the cells the body makes to help fight infections. There are seve...

White blood cell count (leukocyte count): The number of white blood cells (WBCs) in the b...

X-ray: High-energy radiation with waves shorter than those of visible light. X-ray is used...