Radiation Oncology Glossary

Radiation Oncology Glossary Oncologists are doctors who diagnose cancer, but the people who administer the radiation are radio-oncology technicians. If you are interested in helping people and love math and physics, this is the field for you. If you patients speak only English, youll need to know some vocabulary from this field of study. Radiation Oncology Word Cloud Glossary adenomaa benign tumor formed from glandular structures in epithelial tissue. alopeciaHair loss. antibioticA medicine such as penicillin that inhibits or destroys microorganisms. antiemeticA medicine to prevent or relieve nausea or vomiting. anuriaAnuria means non-passage of urine, sometimes caused by radiation. benign tumorA tumor that is not cancerous. biopsyAn examination of tissue removed from a living body to discover the presence, cause, or extent of a disease. bone marrowa soft fatty substance in the cavities of bones, in which blood cells are produced (often taken as typifying strength and vitality) brachytherapyThe treatment of cancer, especially prostate cancer, by the insertion of radioactive implants directly into the tissue. bruiseAn injury appearing as an area of discoloured skin on the body, caused by a blow or impact rupturing underlying blood vessels. burnInjury to tissues caused by the contact with heat, flame, chemicals, electricity, or radiation. cancerAny type of malignant growth or tumour, caused by abnormal and uncontrolled cell division. carcinogenesisThe formation of a cancer, whereby normal cells are transformed into cancer cells. carcinomaMalignant new growth made up of epithelial cells tending to infiltrate surrounding tissues and to give rise to metastases. ChemotherapyThe treatment of disease by the use of chemical substances. colonoscopyA medical procedure where a long, flexible, tubular instrument is used to view the inner lining of the colon and the rectum. conformal therapyShaping the radiation beam specifically to the area of interest (using 3-D treatment planning); treating as little normal tissue as possible which causes fewer side effects. cystA thin-walled, hollow organ or cavity containing a liquid secretion. diagnosisThe identification of the nature of an illness or other problem by examination of the symptoms. diarrheaa condition in which feces are discharged from the bowels frequently and in a liquid form. DNAA chemical substance in plant and animal cells that tells the cells what to do and when to do it. doseThe total energy of ionizing radiation absorbed by unit mass of living tissue, usually measured in grays (SI unit) or rads. dosimeterAn instrument for measuring the dose of X-rays or other radiation absorbed by matter or the intensity of a source of radiation. dosimetristA person who plans and calculates the proper amount of radiation dose for each treatment. dosimetryMeasuring the dose of radiation emitted by a radioactive source. dyspneaDifficult or labored breathing. epidemiologya branch of medical science that deals with the incidence, distribution, and control of disease in a population exposureA measure of the amount of ionizing radiation at the surface of a person’s body, calculated by multiplying milliamperage by exposure time in seconds. external radiationRadiation therapy that uses a machine located outside of the body to aim high-energy rays at cancer cells gamma rayElectromagnetic radiation emitted from the nucleus of an atom by radioactive decay and having energies in a range from ten thousand (104) to ten million (107) electron volts. genitourinaryrelating to the genital and urinary organs or functions glandAn organ in the human or animal body that secretes particular chemical substances for use in the body or for discharge into the surroundings. gynecologic tumoursGynecologic cancers are malignant tumors within the female reproductive organs. healCause a wound, injury, or person to become healthy again hematologyA medical science that deals with the blood and blood-forming organs hematuriaBlood in the urine. hemoptysisCoughing up of blood or bloody sputum from the lungs or airway. hormonal therapyThe use of hormones in medical treatment. iatrogenicIllness caused inadvertently by medical treatment or diagnostic procedures. immune systemA system (including the thymus and bone marrow and lymphoid tissues) that protects the body from foreign substances and pathogenic organisms by producing the immune response immunotherapyTreatment of disease by inducing, enhancing, or suppressing an immune response. inflammationA localized physical condition in which part of the body becomes reddened, swollen, hot, and often painful. injectionA substance that is introduced into a organism, especially by means of a hypodermic syringe, as a liquid into the veins or muscles of the body. intensity modulated radiation therapyA type of three-dimensional radiation therapy that uses computer-generated images to match radiation to the size and shape of a tumor ionizing radiationAny radiation, as a stream of alpha particles or x-rays, that produces ionization as it passes through a medium. isodoseA radiation dose of equal intensity given to more than one area in a patient’s body. isotopeOne of two or more atoms with the same atomic number that contain different numbers of neutrons kinetic energyEnergy that a body possesses by virtue of being in motion laparoscopyA surgical procedure in which a fiber-optic instrument is inserted through the abdominal wall to view the organs in the abdomen or to permit a surgical procedure. lesionAny structural change in a bodily part resulting from injury or disease linear acceleratorA machine that creates high-energy radiation to treat cancers lumpectomya surgery to remove the tumor lung cancerCarcinoma of the lungs; one of the commonest forms of cancer lymph nodeEach of a number of small swellings in the lymphatic system where lymph is filtered and lymphocytes are formed. lymphedemaswelling in the legs caused by lymph accumulating in the tissues in the affected areas. magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)A form of medical imaging that measures the response of the atomic nuclei of body tissues to high-frequency radio waves when placed in a strong magnetic field, and that produces images of the internal organs. malignantCancerous. metastasisThe spread of a cancer from one part of the body to another; cells in the second tumor are like those in the original tumor neoadjuvant therapyTreatment given as a first step to shrink a tumor before the main treatment, which is usually surgery, is given. neoplasmA new and abnormal growth of tissue in some part of the body, characteristic of cancer. Non-Hodgkin lymphomaA cancer that starts in cells called lymphocytes, which are part of the body’s immune system. osteonecrosisThe destruction and death of bone tissue, such as from ischemia, infection, malignant neoplastic disease, or trauma. palliative therapyA treatment that may relieve symptoms without curing the disease prostate cancerCancer of the prostate gland; one of the most common malignancies in men in the US radiation oncologistA doctor who has specialized in using radiation to treat disease. radiation physicistA person trained to ensure that the radiation machine delivers the right amount of radiation to the treatment sites radiation therapistA person with special training who runs the equipment that delivers the radiation. radiation therapyThe treatment of cancer using X-rays or similar forms of radiation. radiosurgeryA single high dose fraction of radiation, stereotactically directed to an intracranial region. radiotherapyThe treatment of cancer, by means of alpha or beta particles emitted from an implanted or ingested radioisotope, or by means of a beam of high-energy radiation. recoveryA return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength. sarcomaAny of a group of tumors usually arising from connective tissue. scanTo examine or map the body, or one or more organs or regions of it, by gathering information with a sensing device, such as a moving detector or a sweeping beam of radiation. side effectA secondary, typically undesirable effect of a drug or medical treatment. simulatorA radiation generator that operates in the diagnostic X-ray range, used to orientate a radiation beam and for visualization and imaging of the treatment area. stem cellAn undifferentiated cell. stenosisThe abnormal narrowing of a passage in the body. sterileFree from bacteria or other living microorganisms. symptomsA physical or mental feature that is regarded as indicating a condition of disease, particularly such a feature that is apparent to the patient. tachycardiaA rapid cardiac rate, usually 160â€"190 per minute, originating from an atrial locus. tomotherapyA type of radiation therapy in which the radiation is delivered slice-by-slice. total body irradiation (TBI)External beam irradiation involving exposure of the entire body. tumourA mass of tissue formed by a new growth of cells, normally independent of the surrounding structures wheezingBreathing with a whistling or rattling sound in the chest. wombThe uterus of a woman. xerostomiaAbnormal dryness of the mouth resulting from decreased secretion of saliva. x-rayA photographic or digital image of the internal composition of a part of the body, produced by x-rays being passed through it and being absorbed to different degrees. 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