 |
|
"What Does
That Mean, Doctor?"
A Glossary of Terms for Urology
Patients |
benign: not a malignancy, (not a "cancer").
benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): a benign enlargement
of the inner part of the prostate which commonly occurs in men over
the age of 50 and which may cause a constellation of urinary systems called
"pro-statism."
cancer: loss of the proper "check-points" on cell growth
and division, which can lead to the formation of a tumor that persistently
grows, invading nearby organs and eventually spreading to other parts of
the body (metastasis).
chemotherapy: treatment with drugs that are meant to selectively
arrest the growth of, or kill, cancer cells while attempting to leave normal
cells alone.
curative treatment: treatment designed to completely eradi-cate
a cancer as opposed to simply decreasing its size or slowing its growth.
digital rectal exam (DRE): insertion of a gloved, lubricated
finger into the rectum to assess the prostate gland for abnor-malities.
hormonal therapy: the use of medications or surgical removal
of the testicles to prevent male hormones from stimulating further growth
of prostate cancer.
local extention: the extension of cancer (e.g., prostate
cancer) outside the normal borders of the gland into the perioprostatic
tissues or adjoining organs (e.g., seminal vesicles).
lymph nodes: small glands of the immune system located
all over the body that help defend against harmful agents including bacteria,
viruses and cancer cells. Cancer cells will typically spread to these
glands as they progress to metastasis.
malignant: cancerous
metastasize: the spread of cancer cells to lymph nodes
or other distant organs.
needle biopsy: removal of a small tissue sample for pathologic
examination (under the microscope). Cancer is diagnosed when
the biopsy specimen is viewed in this fashion and demonstrates cancer cells.
A needle biopsy of the prostate is often done under transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) guidance.
radical prostatectomy: complete surgical removal of the
prostate gland. This differs from a simple prostatectomy for BPH,
during which only the inner portion of the prostate gland is removed.
paliative treatment: treatment of a patient with
cancer in order to relieve symptoms or prolong life, when a cure is
not possible.
prostate specific antigen (PSA) test: extremely sensitive
assay to measure in the blood a substance produced almost exculsively by
prostate cells. An elevated level suggests the prsence of prostate
cancer, but this can only be confirmed by a biopsy since other, non-cancerous
conditions of the prostate may also elevate the PSA blood test.
transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS): performed by inserting
a probe into the rectum in order to image ("take pictures of") the
prostate gland
using sound waves. Used to look for areas suspicious for prostate
cancer, to measure the size of the prostate gland, and to help guide the
urologist in performing a prostate needle biopsy.
transurethral resection (TURP): the removal of the prostate,
usually in benign disease, to relieve obstruction.
tumor grade: the appearance as described by a pathologist
of the degree of differentiation of a cancer. The more well-differentiated
the tumor grade is (typically lower number in the Gleason's grading system),
the less aggressive a cancer usually behaves. The less well-differentiated
(or more poorly differentiated as noted by higher numbers in the Gleason's
grading system), the more aggressive it behaves. Gleason's grades
range from 1 to 5, and Gleason's scores range from 2 to 10.
urologist: doctor who specializes in diseases of the urinary
tract and the male reproductive system.
watchful waiting: observing a patient known to have prostate
cancer, and performing treatment when and if the need arises. |
