Unit 3
3.1.2
Diagnostic Imaging: Technologies that doctors use to look inside your body for clues about a medical condition; includes X-rays, CT scans, nuclear medicine scans, MRI scans and ultrasound.
X-ray: To examine, treat, or photograph with X-rays. Examines: bones, teeth, lungs, breasts, heart, blood vessels, and the digestive tract. Uses ionizing radiation. Sends photons thru body.
Computed Tomography Scan (CT or CAT Scan): A sectional 3-dimensional view of the body constructed by computed tomography. Uses photons. X-ray tube rotates around body.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): A noninvasive diagnostic technique that produces computerized images of internal body tissues and is based on nuclear magnetic resonance of atoms within the body induced by the application of radio waves. Examines: brain, spine, joints, adomen, pelvis, and blood vessels.
Cancer: A malignant tumor of potentially unlimited growth that expands locally and systemically.
Radiology: A branch of medicine concerned with the use of radiant energy (as X-rays or ultrasound) in the diagnosis and treatment of disease.
Osteosarcoma: A cancer derived from bone or containing bone tissue.
Bone Scan: A test that detects areas of increased or decreased bone metabolism; test is performed to identify abnormal processes involving the bone such as tumor, infection, or fracture. 2-dimensional image. use radionuclides.
DNA Microarray: A microarray of immobilized single-stranded DNA fragments of known nucleotide sequence that is used especially in the identification and sequencing of DNA samples and in the analysis of gene expression (as in a cell or tissue).
3.1.3
Cell Cycle: An ordered sequence of events in the life of a eukaryotic cell, from its origin in the division of a parent cell until its own division into two.
Apoptosis: The changes that occur within a cell as it undergoes programmed cell death, which is brought about by signals that trigger the activation of a cascade of suicide proteins in the cell destined to die.
Oncogene: A gene having the potential to cause a normal cell to become cancerous.
Biopsy: The removal and examination of tissue, cells, or fluids from the living body.
Adeno-: Gland
Carcinomas: the most common types of cancer, arise from the cells that cover external and internal body surfaces. Lung, breast, and colon are the most frequent cancers of this type in the United States.
Sarcomas: are cancers arising from cells found in the supporting tissues of the body such as bone, cartilage, fat, connective tissue, and muscle.
Lymphomas: are cancers that arise in the lymph nodes and tissues of the body’s immune system.
Leukemias: are cancers of the immature blood cells that grow in the bone marrow and tend to accumulate in large numbers in the bloodstream.
Adeno-: Gland
Chondro-: Cartilage
Erythro-: Red blood
Hemangio-: Blood Vessels
Hepato-: Liver
Lipo-: Fat
Lympho-: Lymphocyte
Melano-: Pigment Cell
Myelo-: Bone Marrow
Myo-: Muscle
Osteo-: Bone
Proto-oncogene: A normal cellular gene corresponding to an oncogene; a gene with a potential to cause cancer but that requires some alteration to become an oncogene.
3.2.1
Causes of cancer: bacteria, virus, chemicals, radiation
pop-based: U.K.-lung cancer Canada-Leukemia U.S.-colon Australia-Skin Brazil-cervical
many cancer causing agents in tobacco
lag time in smoking 20 year lag in getting cancer
age is big factor
limit fatty foods
3.2.3
Melanoma: A tumor of high malignancy that starts in melanocytes of normal skin or moles and metastasizes rapidly and widely
BRCA: Either of two tumor suppressor genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2) that in mutated form tend to be associated with an increased risk of certain cancers and especially breast and ovarian cancers
Marker Analysis: A genetic technique whereby the sequence of the gene is not directly analyzed, but the mutant copy (allele) of the gene is inferred through analysis of a genetic marker
Cancers can be divided into three categories: sporadic, familial, and hereditary.
Sporadic: Cancer occurring occasionally, singly, or in scattered instances
Familial: Cancer that occurs in families more often than would be expected by chance. These cancers often occur at an early age, and may indicate the presence of a gene mutation that increases the risk of cancer. They may also be a sign of shared environmental or lifestyle factors.
Hereditary: An inherited disorder in which affected individuals have a higher-than-normal chance of developing certain types of cancer, often before the age of 50
Genetic Marker Alteration: in DNA that may indicate an increased risk of developing a specific disease or disorder
Microsatellite (also known as Short Tandem Repeats-STRs): Any of numerous short segments of DNA that are distributed throughout the genome, that consist of repeated sequences of usually two to five nucleotides, and that are often useful markers in studies of genetic linkage because they tend to vary from one individual to another
Allele: Any of the alternative forms of a gene that may occur at a given locus
3.2.4
Cryosurgery Surgery: in which diseased or abnormal tissue (as a tumor or wart) is destroyed or removed by freezing (as by the use of liquid nitrogen)
Virologist: A specialist in virology, the branch of science that deals with viruses
Viruses linked to cancers: HPV, EBV, HBV, HCV
3.2.5
Endoscopy: a medical procedure that examines the inner lining of the throat, esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. During an endoscopy, a long, flexible tube (endoscope) is inserted into the mouth and extended down the esophagus, through the stomach, and into the first part of the small intestine (duodenum). The endoscope contains a small video camera that enables the doctor to view any abnormalities in the upper digestive tract.
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD): is a test to examine the lining of the esophagus, stomach, and first part of the small intestine. EGD is done in the hospital or medical center. The procedure uses an endoscope. This is a flexible tube with a camera at the end. (source: NIH Medline Plus)
Colonoscopy: is a medical procedure that examines the inner lining of the rectum and large intestine (colon). During a colonoscopy, a flexible tube (colonoscope) is inserted into the rectum and extended through the colon. The colonoscope contains a small video camera that enables the doctor to view any abnormalities as the colonoscope travels through the intestine.
Mammography: is a type of X-ray imaging technique used for the screening and diagnosis of breast cancer. Screening mammography is used to detect changes in breast tissue in women with no noticeable breast abnormalities. Current guidelines suggest that all women over the age of 40 receive regular mammograms every one to two years. Diagnostic mammography is used to investigate breast lumps or tissue changes in women with breast abnormalities noticed by a physical exam.
Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE): is a type of ultrasound (imaging test) that takes pictures of your heart from the food tube that runs beside your heart on the inside of your chest. The TEE images are taken through an ultrasound transducer that is attached to an endoscope (long thin tube). The TEE probe is inserted through the mouthpiece into the esophagus. It is advanced down the esophagus until the ultrasound transducer is just in line with the heart. The ultrasound transducer uses sound waves to take pictures of the heart's motion and interior anatomy. This helps diagnose issues with blood flow and function. This special ultrasound may also be used to look for a blood clot in the heart.