From Canvas (Lymph Disease Vocabulary) - Unit 7: Blood and the Lymphatic System

Hypersensitivity

An abnormal condition characterized by an excessive, overreactive immune response to a particular foreign stimulus or allergen, occurring when the body's immune system fails to protect itself safely.

Allergen

An environmental substance capable of triggering an allergic or hypersensitive reaction, with common examples including ingested foods, penicillin, antibiotics, grass, ragweed pollen, and insect stings.

Local Reaction

A localized hypersensitive reaction that occurs strictly at the specific site where a treatment or medication was physically administered.

Systemic Reaction

A generalized hypersensitive reaction evidenced by widespread body symptoms such as a runny nose, itchy eyes, hives, and body rashes.

Anaphylactic Shock

A severe, systemic hypersensitive reaction characterized by a massive secretion of histamine triggered by an antigen-antibody reaction, commonly caused by insect stings, iodinated contrast media, aspirin, or animal-serum antitoxins.

Hypersplenism (Splenomegaly)

A medical syndrome involving the abnormal enlargement of the spleen combined with a deficiency in one or more types of circulating blood cells.

Lymphadenopathy

A clinical condition characterized by chronically enlarged or swollen lymph nodes, typically caused by an underlying infection or cancer.

Lymphoma

A malignant lymphoid tissue neoplasm involving a cancerous tumor of the lymphocytes, which typically begins as a painless enlarged lymph node and progresses to cause anemia, weakness, fever, and weight loss.

Burkitt's Lymphoma

A specific type of malignant lymphoma that manifests as a neoplasm in the jaw or abdomen, seen chiefly in individuals in Central Africa.

Hodgkin's Disease

A progressive, malignant tumor of the lymphatic tissue characterized by the painless enlargement of the lymph nodes and spleen, typically noted first within the cervical (neck) region.

Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

A broad medical classification used for any type of malignant lymphoma other than Hodgkin's disease, which includes histiocytic lymphoma and lymphocytic lymphoma.

Thymoma

A tumor of the thymus gland that is usually benign, frequently seen in patients with preexisting autoimmune disorders, and typically causes a cough and chest pain.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

The final phase of a Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection characterized by clinical conditions that destroy the immune system by damaging helper T lymphocytes with CD4 receptors. It is treated primarily with antiviral therapies that suppress viral replication.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

A large, species-specific, herpes-type opportunistic virus that causes severe, wide-ranging systemic illness in newborns, individuals with AIDS, and patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy.

Kaposi's Sarcoma

An opportunistic, locally destructive malignant neoplasm of the blood vessels associated with AIDS that forms tiny red-to-purple macules on the skin, visceral organs, or mucous membranes that eventually evolve into sizable plaques or nodules.

Pneumocystis Carinii Pneumonia (PCP)

An opportunistic pneumonia caused by a common worldwide parasite for which healthy individuals normally possess immunity, primarily affecting severely immunocompromised patients such as those with advanced AIDS.

Leukemia

A cancer of the white blood cells characterized by an excessive, uncontrolled increase of immature leukocytes in the bloodstream. It can have a rapid onset (acute) or gradual onset (chronic), eventually leading to severe infection, anemia, and thrombocytopenia.

Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)

A rapidly progressing classification of leukemia characterized by a swift onset of immature myeloid white blood cells, leading to severe thrombocytopenia and bleeding.

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)

A rapid-onset classification of leukemia characterized by the swift overproduction of immature cancerous lymphocytes, progressing quickly without medical intervention.

Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)

A classification of leukemia characterized by a gradual onset and slower progression of mature but dysfunctional granulocytes or myeloid cells over time.

Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)

A classification of leukemia characterized by a slow, gradual onset and progressive accumulation of mature but dysfunctional lymphocytes.

Multiple Myeloma

A cancer of the plasma cells that disrupts normal antibody production, causing weakness, anemia, and increased infection susceptibility. It forms multiple tumors in the bone that destroy red marrow, resulting in pain, fractures, and hypercalcemia.

Mononucleosis

A benign, self-limiting acute infection of the B lymphocytes that is usually caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).