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MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
Oncology Terminology

(provided by MD Anderson Language Assistance)

1) Adenocarcinoma

A malignant tumor that begins in a gland

Syn: A glandular carcinoma

2) Advanced Directives

Legal documents that convey your decisions about end-of-life care (includes medical power of attorney, living will)

Texas law requires that all patients be asked if they have advanced directives prior to admission

3) AIDS - Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

4) Allogeneic - Transplanting from a donor to a different recipient

5) Anemia - A low red cell count

6) Antibiotic - A substance, derived from a mold or bacterium, that kills other microorganisms.
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7) Antibody - Protein, produced by the body, to fight off harmful substances (antigen)
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8) Aspiration

Removal by suction or
Inspiration of any material into the airway

9) Autologous - In transplantation, the donor and the recipient are the same person

10) Benign - Mild-natured; not cancerous

11) Blood counts

A measurement of red cells, white cells and platelets

Also called CBC – or complete blood count

Commonly referred to as ‘blood work, lab work’

12) Bone marrow

The spongy center of most bones

It is where the white cells, red cells and platelets are produced

It can be transplanted for systemic disease treatment.

13) Carcinoma

Generalized terms indicating a malignancy

(cancer)

14) Catheter

A small tube allowing of infusion or drainage of fluid

May also be called an IV line, port-a-cath, or Foley

15) Chemotherapy

Chemical treatment of a disease

Can be given orally or through an IV (intravenously) or directly into an organ.

16) Clinical trial
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A controlled research study/treatment, involving a defined set of patients
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Usually classified as phase I, II, or III

17) Constipation - Infrequent bowel movements

18) CT

Computed tomography-also called a CAT scan

A diagnostic test with cross-sectional images.

(type of cross-sectional x-ray)

19) Diagnostic imaging

Techniques used to look inside the body

There are several Diagnostic Imaging areas at MDACC, including x-ray, MRI, CT

20) Differentiation
The process by which cells become more specialized

Cancers are frequently classified as

poorly differentiated

moderately differentiated

or well-differentiated

21) DNR - Do Not Resuscitate

22) EKG

Electrocardiogram (same as ECG)

Graphic record of the voltage changes in the heart

NOT the same as an echocardiogram, which uses sound waves

23) Film
An x-ray
 A thin coating of material
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Light sensitive material used in photography
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24) Gamma Knife

A minimally invasive procedure used in treating tumors of the head, using focused radiation

Gamma rays are used to treat small lesions.

Performed by a neurosurgeon

25) Hereditary - Diseases or characteristics that are transmitted from parent to the next generation.

26) Hospice

A service that provides supportive care to families and patients near the end of their lives.
Can be inpatient or provided at home

27) Lesion

A wound or injury, pathological change in tissue

Not necessarily a tumor

28) Leukemia

A blood disease

A cancer affecting the white blood cells

29) Living Will - A document that indicates the type of care a patient wants in the event they become incompetent to make decisions.

30) Localized/localization

Limited to one area; restricted to a single site

The opposite of metastasized

Do not confuse with ‘located’

31) Lymph nodes

Bean-shaped structure that line the lymph system

Frequently examined for disease spread

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32) Lymphoma - Cancer of the lymphatic and immune system Home

33) Malignant/malignancy

Cancerous

Destructive; having uncontrollable tumor growth

34) Mass

A lump or cluster of material

Not necessarily a tumor

35) Metastasis - The spreading of a tumor to other parts of the body

36) Mohs Surgery - State-of-the-art removal of skin cancers by microscopic layers down to the root

37) Monoclonal antibodies

A lab-produced molecule designed to attack specific cancer cells

They mimic antibodies produced by the body

Used in target-specific treatments

38) MRI

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

A diagnostic radiology test, using magnetic fields to display an image

It can show problems not seen via other imaging methods.

39) Multidisciplinary

Combining several, separate branches of expertise

ie. surgery, chemotherapy, radiation

40) Myeloma

A cancer that begins in the plasma cells, which is the protein portion of the bloodstream

Plasma cells are active in the formation of antibodies

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41) Nausea Home
An inclination to vomit

Noun vs adjective: He has nausea; he feels nauseous.

42) Neoplasm

An abnormal tissue growth, usually forming a mass

Can be benign or malignant

43) Node

Usually refers to a lymph node, but this may require clarification when interpreting.

This is not the same as a nodule

44) Numbness

Reduced or absent sensory perception

Loss of feeling

Frequently used with the word ‘tingling’

45) Oncology/oncologist

The science dealing with physical, chemical and biological properties of tumors

A specialist in the medical treatment of tumors

46) Palliative

Helping with symptoms without curing the underlying disease

Supportive care

47) Pass Out

To faint

Loss of consciousness

48) PET

Positron Emission Tomography

 Positron Emission Tomography

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An imaging study that uses a radioactive tracer to look for disease Home
Uptake = highlighting= absorption

49) Platelets

A component of the blood, responsible for clotting

Synonym: thrombocyte

50) Prescription - A written formula for a medical remedy

51) Prognosis - The probable course and/or outcome of a disease

52) Proton therapy - An advanced type of radiation treatment that doesn’t damage healthy tissue

53) Radiotherapy - The use of a radiant beam(s) to treat disease

54) Randomized

The selection by chance

i.e. the toss of a coin

Computer-chosen, with no patient ID

Used frequently in clinical trials

55) Remission

There are no signs or symptoms of the disease

Can be partial or complete

56) Risk factors

Features associated with increasing probability of disease complications

ie .. Smoking is a risk factor for lung cancer

57) Sarcoma

A malignant tumor arising in the connective tissue

This is not a common cancer

 It is frequently seen in the limbs
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58) Scan

To take an image, usually with a device

This term may require clarification when interpreting… CT scan? MRI?

59) Screening

To examine for indication of disease

ie. screening mammography

60) Seizure

Convulsion

An attack

61) Shortness of breath

Feeling of not getting enough air

Difficulty breathing

Synonym: dyspnea

62) Sonogram

A diagnostic imaging test, using sound waves

Synonym. Ultrasound

63) Squamous Cells - Flat, scaly cells of the epithelium (which covers internal body surfaces)

64) Staging

Determining the distinct phase of a disease

Imaging tests, biopsies and clinical observation are used to stage a disease

Usually staged I, II, III, IV, early detection to advanced.

65) Stool

The discharge from the bowel

 The discharge from the bowel

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Feces Home
66) Stroke

Noun: an event that impairs brain circulation, causes damage

Verb: to gently pass your hand over a surface

67) Swallow study - A diagnostic test (a virtual x-ray) for showing the path of liquid/solid food intake

68) Syndrome - A group of symptoms associated with a specific disease process

69) Tingling

A prickling sensation

Medical term: paresthesia

70) Tumor

Any swelling

Does not necessarily mean a cancer

71) Tumor Markers

A substance released found in the body (usually in the blood or urine) when cancer is present

The detection of tumor markers (via blood work) can indicate the presence of a tumor

72) Ureter vs. Urethra

Two different parts of the body!

Urete(s) – tubes that move urine from the kidney to the bladder [there are 2]

Urethra – canal that discharges urine from the bladder to outside the body [there is 1]
 GLOBO Study Guide Major Organ Systems Home

Main article: Biological system

Circulatory system: pumping and channeling blood to and from the body and lungs with heart, blood, and blood vessels

Digestive System: digestion and processing food with salivary glands, esophagus, stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, intestines, rectum, and anus

Endocannabinoid system: neuromodulatory lipids and receptors involved in a variety of physiological processes including appetite, pain sensation, mood,
motor learning, synaptic plasticity, and memory

Endocrine system: communication within the body using hormones made by endocrine glands such as the hypothalamus, pituitary or pituitary gland, pineal
body or pineal gland, thyroid, parathyroids, and adrenals or adrenal glands

Immune system: the system that fights off disease; composed of leukocytes, tonsils, adenoids, thymus, and spleen

Integumentary system: skin, hair and nails

Lymphatic system: structures involved in the transfer of lymph between tissues and the bloodstream, the lymph and the nodes and vessels that transport it

Musculoskeletal system: muscles provide movement and a skeleton provides structural support and protection with bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons.

Nervous system: collecting, transferring and processing information with brain, spinal cord and nerves

Reproductive system: the sex organs; in the female; ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina, mammary glands, and in the male; testicles, vas deferens,
seminal vesicles, prostate, and penis

Respiratory system: the organs used for breathing, the pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs, and diaphragm

Urinary system: kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra involved in fluid balance, electrolyte balance, and excretion of urine

Vestibular system: contributes to our balance and our sense of spatial orientation
 GLOBO Study Guide Other Medical Terminology Home

This is a self-serve section. Many interpreters find it very useful to translate these terms into the non-English language(s) they work with. Please feel free to do
the same!
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1. Acute condition Home
2. Adjuvant Therapy

3. Amniocentesis

4. Anesthesia

5. Anti-coagulate

6. Anti-histamine

7. Anti-inflammatory

8. Appendectomy

9. Appendix

10. Arrhythmia

11. Artery

12. Atherosclerosis

13. Atrophy

14. Barium Swallow

15. Biopsy

16. Bipolar Disorder

17. Blood Cell Count

18. Bone Marrow

19. Bronchitis
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46. Epilepsy Home
20. Bursitis
47. Esophagus

21. Carcinoma
48. Fallopian tube

22. Cardiologist
49. Femoral Artery

23. Cartilage
50. Gall Bladder

24. CAT Scan

51. Gangrene

25. Catheter
52. Gastroenterologist

26. Cervix
53. Genetic Counselor

27. Chemotherapy
54. Glucose

28. Chronic Condition

55. Gynecologist

29. Cirrhosis
56. Heart Disease

30. Colonoscopy
57. Hemorrhage

31. Congenital
58. Hepatitis

32. Congestive Heart Failure

59. Homeopathic

33. Consent Form

60. Hypoxia

34. Contraceptive
61. Hysterectomy

35. Convulsion
62. Intestine

36. Cyst
63. Larynx

37 D t l i t
37. Dermatologist
64. Leukemia
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91. Sickle Cell Anemia Home
38. Diabetes Mellitus
65. Living Will
92. Spina Bifida
39. Down Syndrome
66. Lumpectomy
93. Schizophrenia
40. Ectopic
67. Lupus
94. Stent
41. EKG
68. Lymph Node
95. Stethoscope
42. Emphysema
69. Malaria
96. Thyroid gland
43. Endocrinology
70. Malnutrition
97. Tinnitus
44. Endoscopy
71. Mammogram
98. Tracheotomy
45. Epidural
72. Miscarriage
99. Tuberculosis

73. Morning Sickness

100. Urologist

74. MRI
101. Lumpectomy

75. Multiple Sclerosis

102. Adjuvant therapy

76. Nausea
103. Eardrum

77. Neurologist
104. Fullness

78. Nutritionist
105. Squeezing sensation

79. Obstetrician
106. Neuropathic pain

80. Oncologist
107. Nociceptive pain

81. Orthopedist
108. Radicular pain

82 O
82. Ovary
109. Sharp
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83. Pacemaker
110. Achy

84. Pancreas
111. Dull

85. Pathology
112. Stabbing

86. Patient Advocate

113. Throbbing

87. Physiology
114. Constant

88. Power of Attorney

115. Intermittent

89. Radiation Therapy

116. Acute

90. Radiologist
117. Chronic

118. Localized

119. Shooting

120. Burning

121. Catching

122. Cramping

123. Slight

124. Mild

125. Severe

126. Pericarditis

127 Gl it
127. Glucose monitor
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128. Test Strip
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