Adult Patient Resource Handbook - 5th Edition
GLOSSARY OF TERMS (M - Z)
Malignant: A tumour that tends to grow quickly and spread causing harm to surrounding and/or distant tissue.
Mass Effect: This can occur when tumour or blood takes up space in a specific area of the brain. This can cause distortion and pressure on portions of normal brain. If severe, neurological symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting and alterations in level of consciousness can occur. A weakness on the opposite side may also occur due to distortion of the brain caused by pressure. In extreme cases, the pupil of the eye on the same side of the mass may dilate and alerts the physician to the situation of severe distortion of the brain.
Meninges: Meninges are three layers of tissue that cover the brain and protect the spinal cord. From the outermost layer inward they are: the dura mater, arachnoid and pia mater. A meningioma tumour arises from the meninges.
Metastases: The spread of cancer from a tumour elsewhere in the body. Also referred to as a secondary tumour. A metastatic tumour can result from cancer in any other area of the body, although the most common sites to move to the brain include lung, breast, skin, kidney, and colon.
Neoplasm: This is another term for tumour or lesion.
Neuroendocrinology: A scientific discipline involved in the study of the relationship between brain function and hormonal control.
Neurologist: A physician specializing in non-surgical diseases of the nervous system.
Neurooncologist: A physician who specializes in the treatment of tumours of the nervous system.
Neuropsychologist: A psychologist who specializes in assessing brain function in persons with central nervous system disorders.
Neurosurgeon: A physician who specializes in surgery of the nervous system.
Nervous System: The nervous system involves the brain, spinal cord and all of the peripheral nerves that branch off from the spinal cord.
Oncogene: These are genes that are felt to cause cancer.
Oncologist: A physician who specializes in the study and treatment of cancer.
Ophthalmologist: A physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of eye disorders. Also known as an eye specialist. Brain tumours may affect vision. An opthalmologist is qualified to conduct eye surgery. An optometrist is a person qualified to prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses.
Palliative Care: The care of patients with a terminal illness, not with the intent of trying to cure them, but to relieve their symptoms. Palliative care consists of relief of pain and nausea, as well as psychological, social and spiritual support services.
Papilledema Swelling of the optic nerve usually caused by pressure. This can be seen during an eye examination and may be an indication of increased intracranial pressure, possibly associated with a brain tumour.
Paralysis: Complete lack of function of specific muscle groups.
Paraplegia: Paralysis of legs only.
Paresis: Weakness of specific muscle groups.
Pathologist: A specialist who attempts to describe the nature of a disease by analyzing samples obtained from tissues, organs or body fluids. Samples or biopsy specimens of brain tumours are surgically obtained by the neurosurgeon. Analysis of a brain biopsy is a tedious procedure. A final report from the pathologist may not be available for three or more days. It is the pathologist who carefully analyses the specimen and makes a judgement on the diagnosis.
Peripheral Nervous System: Comprising the nerves of the body not including the brain and spinal cord.
Pituitary Gland: A gland situated at the base of the brain that controls the function of many other glands.
Prevalence: The total number of cases of a particular disease at a given moment in time, in a given population.
Protocol: A standardized combination of therapies developed specifically for particular tumours.
Quadriplegia Paralysis of both arms and legs.
Radiation Oncologist: A physician who specializes in the treatment of tumours by radiation therapy.
Radiologist: A physician who specializes in the reading of images such as MRI scans, CT scans and X-rays. The radiologist may participate in administering a diagnostic procedure (i.e. angiography, a scan of the blood vessels in the brain). Dyes or contrast media may be injected by the radiologist so that clearer scans may be obtained.
Radiotherapy/Radiation Therapy: Radiation is an invisible beam treatment used to cure or control cancerous tumours. Today, large cobalt or linear accelerator machines produce gamma rays or electron beams, which are then directed at the tumour. Radiation treatments usually follows surgery but may be used alone or in combination with chemotherapy.
Recurrence: The reappearance of a tumour and its symptoms after treatment.
Remission: Complete or partial disappearance of the signs and symptoms of a tumour in response to treatment.
Resection: The surgical removal of a tumour.
Stereotaxis: A method used to accurately find specific areas within the brain, using a special frame, computer program and CT images.
Subtotal Resection: Removal of the majority, but not all of a tumour.
Ultrasound: A technique using sound waves which is used in the diagnosis of a wide variety of conditions. In neurosurgery it may be used to localize a tumour during the operation. It can help in the diagnosis of tumours in infants by placing the sensor directly over the infant's soft spot (fontanelle). It does not work well over bone.
Ventricles: Small fluid-filled cavities within the brain. The site of production of cerebrospinal fluid.
V-P Shunt and V-A Shunt: A plastic catheter with a reservoir used to divert cerebrospinal fluid from the ventricles of the brain to the abdominal cavity or the heart.
White Blood Cells: Cells that help the body fight infection and disease.
Wound: This refers to any site where the skin has been cut and is undergoing a healing process.
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À 2003 Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada 1.800.265.5106
Charitable Registration #BN118816339RR0001 |