Information for Patients-Medical Terms

Bay Area Urology
50 So. San Mateo Drive #120
San Mateo, Ca 94401
tel: 650-348-7770 fax: 650-348-0166

Terminology

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Calyceal diverticulum - Excision of an abnormal out-pouching of the urinary tract.

Cancer - A condition of unregulated cell growth. Cancer cells, unlike benign cells, exhibit the properties of invasion and metastasis.

Cancer stage - A measure that defines the extent of a tumor. Prostate cancer staging is as follows: T1 - tumors diagnosed by PSA elevation or surgery for benign disease. T2 - tumors that are diagnosed by rectal examination. These tumors are believed to be confined to the prostate. T3 - tumors that have extended beyond the prostate capsule at the time of diagnosis. T4 - tumors that have invaded adjacent organs, such as the bladder or rectum.

Catheter - Small tube inserted to drain or instill fluid

Cell - Any one of the minute protoplasmic masses that make up organized tissue. A cell is the fundamental structural and functional unit of living organisms.

Cell cycle - Reproductive cycle of the cell. The orderly sequence of events by which the cell duplicates its contents and divides into two.

Chronic pyelonephritis - Chronic kidney infection .

Clinical trial, Phase 1 - A clinical trial designed to determine the appropriate dose and toxicities of an investigational agent.

Clinical trial, Phase 2 - A clinical trial designed to determine the effectiveness and side effects of an investigational agent or regimen.

Clinical trial, Phase 3 - A clinical trial designed to test the effectiveness of a given treatment as compared to existing treatments.

Combined androgen blockade (CAB) - The treatment of prostate cancer with a combination of medical or surgical castration (suppression of testosterone and related substances) and an antiandrogen.

Computerized tomography (CT scan) - A radiologic imaging study in which cross-sectional images of the body are obtained.

Controls - A standard against which experimental observations may be evaluated, as a procedure identical in all respects to the experimental procedure, except for absence of the one factor that is being studied.

Costimulation - The requirement of naive T cells for multiple signals to achieve activation: antigen-specific signals mediated by the antigen receptor as well as additional signals unrelated to the antigen. T cells which receive only antigen signals in the absence of costimulation do not become activated, and may become non-responsive.

Cryoablation - Freezing the tissue to kill cancer cells.

* This information is not intended to substitute for a consultation with a urologist. It is offered to educate patients on the basis of urological conditions in order to get the most out of their office visits and consultations. Please see our web page disclaimer for addition information.