MEDICAL POO

edema

condition in which body tissues contain excessive amounts of fluid

exophthalmos

condition in which the eyeballs protrude, such as in Graves’ disease; generally caused by overproduction of thyroid hormone

gynecomastia

development of breast tissue in males; may be symptom of adrenal feminization

hirsutism

condition of having excessive amount of hair; generally used to describe females who have adult male pattern of hair growth; can be result of hormonal imbalance

hyperglycemia

condition of having high levels of sugar in the blood; associated with diabetes mellitus

hypoglycemia

condition of having low levels of sugar in the blood

hyperkalemia

condition of having high levels of potassium in the blood

hyponatremia

condition of having low level of sodium in the blood

hyposecretion

deficient hormone production by an endocrine gland

obesity

having abnormal amount of fat in the body

syndrome

group of symptoms and signs that when combined, present clinical picture of disease or condition

Addison’s disease

results from deficiency in adrenocortical hormones; there may be increased pigmentation of skin, generalized weakness, and weight loss

adrenal feminization

development of female secondary sexual characteristics (such as breasts) in a male; often result of increased estrogen secretion by the adrenal cortex

adrenal virilism

development of male secondary sexual characteristics in female often as result of increased androgen secretion by the adrenal cortex

cushing’s syndrome

set of symptoms caused by excessive levels of cortisol due to high doses of corticosteriods drugs and adrenal tumor

pheochromocytoma

usually benign tumor of the adrenal medulla that secretes epinephrine; symptoms include anxiety, heart palpitations, dyspnea, profuse sweating, headache, and nausea

diabetes mellitus

chronic disorder of carbohydrate metabolism resulting hyperglycemia and glycosuria; there are two distinct forms of diabetes mellitus: insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or type 1, and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or type 2

diabetic retinoplasty

Secondary complication of diabetes that affects blood vessels of the retina, resulting in visual changes and even blindness

insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Also called type 1 diabetes mellitus; develops early in life when the pancreas stops insulin production; patient must take daily insulin injections

insulinoma

Tumor of the islets of Langerhans cells of the pancreas that secretes excessive amount of insulin

ketoacidosis

acidosis due to excess of acidic ketone bodies (waste products); serious condition requiring immediate treatment as it may result in death for diabetic patient if not reversed; also called diabetic acidosis

non-insulin-dependent mellitus

Also called type 2 diabetes mellitus; typically develops later in life; the pancreas produces normal to high levels of insulin, but cells fail to respond to it; patients may take oral hypoglycemics to improve insulin function or may eventually have to take insulin

Recklinghausen disease

excessive production of parathyroid hormone resulting in degeneration of bones

tetany

Nerve irritability and painful muscle cramps resulting from hypocalcemia; hypoparathyroidism is one cause of tetany

acromegaly

Chronic disease of adults that results in elongation and enlargement of bones of head and extremities; can also be mood changes; due to excessive amount of growth hormone in adult

diabetes insipidus

Disorder caused by inadequate secretion of antidiuretic hormone by posterior lobe of the pituitary gland; may be polyuria and polydipsia

panhypopituitarism

Deficiency in all hormones secreted by the pituitary gland; often recognized because of problems with glands regulated by the pituitary—adrenal cortex, thyroid, ovaries, and testes

thymoma

tumor in the thymus gland

cretinism

Congenital condition in which lack of thyroid hormones may result in arrested physical and mental development'; now called congenital hypothyroidism

goiter

enlargement of the thyroid gland

Graves’ disease

Condition that results in overactivity of the thyroid gland and can cause a crisis situation; symptoms include exophthalmos and goiter; a type of hyperthyroidism

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

chronic autoimmune form of thyroiditis; results in hyposecretion of thyroid hormones

myxedema

Condition resulting from hyposecretion of the thyroid gland in adult; symptoms can include swollen facial features, edematous skin, anemia, slow speech, drowsiness, and mental lethargy

thyrotoxicosis

Condition resulting from marked overproduction of the thyroid gland; symptoms include rapid heart action, tremors, enlarged thyroid gland, exophthalmos, and weight loss

adenocarcinoma

Cancerous tumor in gland that is capable of producing hormones secreted by that gland; one cause of hypersecretion pathologies

triiodothyronine

T3

thyroxine

T4

fasting blood sugar

Blood test to measure amount of sugar circulating throughout body after 12-hour fast

glucose tolerance test

Test to determine blood sugar level; measured dose of glucose is given to a patient either orally or intravenously; blood samples are then drawn at certain intervals to determine ability of patient to use glucose; used for diabetic patients to determine insulin response to glucose

protein-bound iodine test

Blood test to measure concentration of thyroxine (T4) circulating in bloodstream; iodine becomes bound to protein in blood and can be measured; useful in establishing thyroid function

radioimmunoassay

blood test that uses radioactivity tagged hormones and antibodies to measure quantity of hormone in the plasma

two-hour postprandial glucose tolerance test

Blood test to assist in evaluating glucose metabolism; patient eats high-carbohydrate diet and then fasts overnight before test; then blood sample is taken two hours after a meal

thyroid scan

Test in which radioactive iodine is administered that localizes in the thyroid gland; gland can then be visualized with scanning device to detect pathology such as tumors