Oncology Medical Terms | |
cancer/carcinoma - The uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body
differentiation - The process where normal cells go through physical changes in order to form the different specialized tissues of the body.
hematology - The branch of medicine that specializes in the study and treatment of blood and blood tissues (including bone marrow).
histopathology - The study of cells relating to the disease
oncologist - A medical professional who practices oncology is an oncologist.
oncology - A branch of medicine that deals with cancer
tumor markers - A substance in the body that may indicate the presence of cancer.
differentiation - The process where normal cells go through physical changes in order to form the different specialized tissues of the body.
hematology - The branch of medicine that specializes in the study and treatment of blood and blood tissues (including bone marrow).
histopathology - The study of cells relating to the disease
oncologist - A medical professional who practices oncology is an oncologist.
oncology - A branch of medicine that deals with cancer
tumor markers - A substance in the body that may indicate the presence of cancer.
Disease Related Terms of Oncology
acute - Sudden or severe
chronic - Long lasting
late effects - Delayed effect of treatment
mortality - Death rate of disease
neutropenia - Reduced levels of white cells in the blood
WHO toxicity grading
chronic - Long lasting
late effects - Delayed effect of treatment
mortality - Death rate of disease
neutropenia - Reduced levels of white cells in the blood
WHO toxicity grading
List of Cancer Types
acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL)
acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
adrenocortical carcinoma
AIDS-related cancers
AIDS-related lymphoma
anal cancer
appendix cancer
astrocytoma
atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor
basal cell carcinoma
bile duct cancer, extrahepatic
bladder cancer
bone cancer
brain stem glioma
brain tumor
breast cancer
bronchial adenomas/carcinoids
bronchial tumor
Burkitt lymphoma
carcinoid tumor, gastrointestinal
central nervous system atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor
central nervous system embryonal tumor
central nervous system lymphoma, primary
cerebral astrocytoma
cervical cancer
chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)
chronic myeloproliferative disorders
colon cancer
colorectal cancer
craniopharyngioma
cutaneous T cell lymphoma
desmoplastic small round cell tumor
ductal carcinoma in situ
endometrial cancer
ependymoma
esophageal cancer
esthesioneuroblastoma
Ewing sarcoma
extracranial germ cell tumor
extragonadal germ cell tumor
extrahepatic bile duct cancer
extrahepatic germ cell cancer
eye cancer
fibrous histiocytoma of bone
gallbladder cancer
gastric (stomach) cancer
gastrointestinal carcinoid tumor
gastrointestinal stromal tumor
germ cell tumor
gestational trophoblastic tumor
glioma
hairy cell leukemia
head cancer
heart cancer
hepatocellular (liver) cancer
histiocytosis, Langerhans cell
Hodgkin lymphoma
hypopharyngeal cancer
hypothalamic glioma
intraocular melanoma
islet cell tumors
Kaposi sarcoma
kidney cancer
laryngeal cancer
leukemias
lip cancer
liposarcoma
liver cancer (primary)
lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)
lung cancer
lymphoma
macroglobulinemia, Waldenström
male breast cancer
malignant fibrous histiocytoma
malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone
medulloblastoma
melanoma
Merkel cell carcinoma
mesothelioma
metastatic squamous neck cancer with occult primary
midline tract carcinoma involving NUT gene
mouth cancer
multiple endocrine neoplasia syndromes
multiple myeloma
mycosis fungoides
myelodysplastic syndrome
myelodysplastic/ myeloproliferative neoplasms
myeloma, multiple
myeloproliferative disorders, chronic
nasal cavity cancer
nasopharyngeal cancer
neck cancer
nervous system germ cell tumors
neuroblastoma
non-Hodgkin lymphoma
nonmelanoma
non-small cell lung cancer
oral cancer
oral cavity cancer
oropharyngeal cancer
osteosarcoma
ovarian cancer
ovarian epithelial cancer
ovarian germ cell tumor
ovarian low malignant potential tumor
pancreatic cancer
pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors
pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (islets cell tumors)
papillomatosis
paraganglioma
paranasal sinus cancer
parathyroid cancer
pelvis cancer
penile cancer
pharyngeal cancer
pheochromocytoma
pituitary adenoma
plasma cell neoplasm
pleuropulmonary blastoma
primary central nervous system lymphoma
prostate cancer
rectal cancer
renal cell (kidney) cancer
retinoblastoma
rhabdomyosarcoma
salivary gland cancer
Sézary syndrome
skin cancer
small cell lung cancer
small intestine cancer
soft tissue sarcoma
squamous cell carcinoma
squamous neck cancer with occult primary, metastatic
supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors
t-cell lymphoma, cutaneous
testicular cancer
throat cancer
thymic carcinoma
thymoma
thyroid cancer
transitional cell cancer
trophoblastic tumor, gestational
ureter cancer
urethral cancer
uterine cancer, endometrial
uterine sarcoma
vaginal cancer
vulvar cancer
Wilms tumor
acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
adrenocortical carcinoma
AIDS-related cancers
AIDS-related lymphoma
anal cancer
appendix cancer
astrocytoma
atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor
basal cell carcinoma
bile duct cancer, extrahepatic
bladder cancer
bone cancer
brain stem glioma
brain tumor
breast cancer
bronchial adenomas/carcinoids
bronchial tumor
Burkitt lymphoma
carcinoid tumor, gastrointestinal
central nervous system atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor
central nervous system embryonal tumor
central nervous system lymphoma, primary
cerebral astrocytoma
cervical cancer
chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)
chronic myeloproliferative disorders
colon cancer
colorectal cancer
craniopharyngioma
cutaneous T cell lymphoma
desmoplastic small round cell tumor
ductal carcinoma in situ
endometrial cancer
ependymoma
esophageal cancer
esthesioneuroblastoma
Ewing sarcoma
extracranial germ cell tumor
extragonadal germ cell tumor
extrahepatic bile duct cancer
extrahepatic germ cell cancer
eye cancer
fibrous histiocytoma of bone
gallbladder cancer
gastric (stomach) cancer
gastrointestinal carcinoid tumor
gastrointestinal stromal tumor
germ cell tumor
gestational trophoblastic tumor
glioma
hairy cell leukemia
head cancer
heart cancer
hepatocellular (liver) cancer
histiocytosis, Langerhans cell
Hodgkin lymphoma
hypopharyngeal cancer
hypothalamic glioma
intraocular melanoma
islet cell tumors
Kaposi sarcoma
kidney cancer
laryngeal cancer
leukemias
lip cancer
liposarcoma
liver cancer (primary)
lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)
lung cancer
lymphoma
macroglobulinemia, Waldenström
male breast cancer
malignant fibrous histiocytoma
malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone
medulloblastoma
melanoma
Merkel cell carcinoma
mesothelioma
metastatic squamous neck cancer with occult primary
midline tract carcinoma involving NUT gene
mouth cancer
multiple endocrine neoplasia syndromes
multiple myeloma
mycosis fungoides
myelodysplastic syndrome
myelodysplastic/ myeloproliferative neoplasms
myeloma, multiple
myeloproliferative disorders, chronic
nasal cavity cancer
nasopharyngeal cancer
neck cancer
nervous system germ cell tumors
neuroblastoma
non-Hodgkin lymphoma
nonmelanoma
non-small cell lung cancer
oral cancer
oral cavity cancer
oropharyngeal cancer
osteosarcoma
ovarian cancer
ovarian epithelial cancer
ovarian germ cell tumor
ovarian low malignant potential tumor
pancreatic cancer
pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors
pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (islets cell tumors)
papillomatosis
paraganglioma
paranasal sinus cancer
parathyroid cancer
pelvis cancer
penile cancer
pharyngeal cancer
pheochromocytoma
pituitary adenoma
plasma cell neoplasm
pleuropulmonary blastoma
primary central nervous system lymphoma
prostate cancer
rectal cancer
renal cell (kidney) cancer
retinoblastoma
rhabdomyosarcoma
salivary gland cancer
Sézary syndrome
skin cancer
small cell lung cancer
small intestine cancer
soft tissue sarcoma
squamous cell carcinoma
squamous neck cancer with occult primary, metastatic
supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors
t-cell lymphoma, cutaneous
testicular cancer
throat cancer
thymic carcinoma
thymoma
thyroid cancer
transitional cell cancer
trophoblastic tumor, gestational
ureter cancer
urethral cancer
uterine cancer, endometrial
uterine sarcoma
vaginal cancer
vulvar cancer
Wilms tumor
Staging and Prognosis
benign - Not spreading, usually a more mild disease.
malignant - Cancerous, where the tumour grows uncontrollably and may spread.
in-situ / invasive -
localized - A tumour restricted to a single site.
metastases - Where the tumour has spread to other parts of the body beyond the primary site.
staging - Staging is where the disease is categorized as to how far it has spread.
prognosis - The expected outcome of a disease
remission - Where the symptoms of cancer are no longer present.
relapse - This is when the disease reoccurs after a period in remission.
refractory - This is where the cancer is resistant to treatment
restaging - This is where the patient is staged again after a period of treatment to access the response to therapy.
malignant - Cancerous, where the tumour grows uncontrollably and may spread.
in-situ / invasive -
localized - A tumour restricted to a single site.
metastases - Where the tumour has spread to other parts of the body beyond the primary site.
staging - Staging is where the disease is categorized as to how far it has spread.
prognosis - The expected outcome of a disease
remission - Where the symptoms of cancer are no longer present.
relapse - This is when the disease reoccurs after a period in remission.
refractory - This is where the cancer is resistant to treatment
restaging - This is where the patient is staged again after a period of treatment to access the response to therapy.
Types of Study
Phase I clinical trials - New types of treatment and aim to define a safe dose that will be used for further studies.
Phase II clinical trials - The anti cancer effects of the new treatment, and include very detailed toxicity investigations.
Phase III clinical trials - Compare one or more treatments of proven efficacy. Often patients will be randomized between an established 'standard' treatment and a new 'experimental' treatment - it is not known which is the better treatment.
Ethical approval - All new trials have to first be approved by an independent ethics committee.
Meta Analysis - Analysis is where data from a number of studies are lumped together in order to provide evidence for or against a hypothesis.
Case Control Studies - Studies are where cases are compared to controls, in order to avoid bias the controls are matched for factors such as age and sex.
Cross-sectional Studies - Studies that are carried out at just one point in time.
Longitudinal Studies - Studies where individuals followed over time.
Epidemiology - The study of population.
Randomization - Treatment is randomly allocated to ensure there is no systematic bias in the results.
Phase II clinical trials - The anti cancer effects of the new treatment, and include very detailed toxicity investigations.
Phase III clinical trials - Compare one or more treatments of proven efficacy. Often patients will be randomized between an established 'standard' treatment and a new 'experimental' treatment - it is not known which is the better treatment.
Ethical approval - All new trials have to first be approved by an independent ethics committee.
Meta Analysis - Analysis is where data from a number of studies are lumped together in order to provide evidence for or against a hypothesis.
Case Control Studies - Studies are where cases are compared to controls, in order to avoid bias the controls are matched for factors such as age and sex.
Cross-sectional Studies - Studies that are carried out at just one point in time.
Longitudinal Studies - Studies where individuals followed over time.
Epidemiology - The study of population.
Randomization - Treatment is randomly allocated to ensure there is no systematic bias in the results.
Treatment Related Terms of Oncology
allogeneic - at are genetically different and therefore incompatible when transplanted
autologous -
biopsy - The removal of a small section of a tumor to establish a precise diagnosis.
bone marrow transplantation (BMT) - A procedure to replace damaged or destroyed bone marrow with healthy bone marrow stem cells
central line - A thin plastic line into a vein in the chest used for the delivery of chemotherapy (e.g. Hickman catheter)
chemotherapy - The treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen.
complete resection - The tumour has been totally removed during surgery
computed tomography (CT/CAT scan) - A cross-sectional x-ray picture of a "slice" of the body.
curative treatment - Treatment to destroy the cancer.
cytotoxic - Preventing cell division
cytotoxicity - The quality of being toxic to cells
drug resistance - Where tumour cells become resistant to chemotherapy
endoprosthesis - A prosthesis which fits inside the body
external radiotherapy - A radioactivity from a source outside the body.
follow-up - When treatment is complete the periodic visits to the physician are needed to monitor the patient and ensure there has been no recurrence of the disease.
fractions - The radiotherapy dose is divided into a number of smaller doses to reduce the risk of side effects. There is normally one fraction per day.
hyperfractionated radiotherapy - More than one fraction is given per day.
internal radiotherapy (Brachytherapy) - Placing radioactive source within the body in or near to the tumour to kill the cancer cells
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - This is used to determine if the biochemical activity of a tissue responds normally to magnetic forces, tumors may give an abnormal signal.
palliative treatment - Treatment which relieves the symptoms and pain.
peripheral blood stem cell rescue (PBSC)
pre-operative chemotherapy - Drugs given to shrink the tumour before surgery.
prosthesis - An artificial replacement
/radiation therapy - The use of high energy x-rays and similar rays (such as electrons) to treat disease. Radiotherapy
radiotherapy field - The area towards which the radiotherapy was directed.
Treatment - A treatment which is randomly allocated to ensure there is no systematic bias in the results. randomization
surgery - A medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition
total Body Irradiation (TBI) - Radiation to the whole body
ultrasound - The use of sound waves to image the underlying structures of the body.
x-ray - A form of electromagnetic radiation
autologous -
biopsy - The removal of a small section of a tumor to establish a precise diagnosis.
bone marrow transplantation (BMT) - A procedure to replace damaged or destroyed bone marrow with healthy bone marrow stem cells
central line - A thin plastic line into a vein in the chest used for the delivery of chemotherapy (e.g. Hickman catheter)
chemotherapy - The treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen.
complete resection - The tumour has been totally removed during surgery
computed tomography (CT/CAT scan) - A cross-sectional x-ray picture of a "slice" of the body.
curative treatment - Treatment to destroy the cancer.
cytotoxic - Preventing cell division
cytotoxicity - The quality of being toxic to cells
drug resistance - Where tumour cells become resistant to chemotherapy
endoprosthesis - A prosthesis which fits inside the body
external radiotherapy - A radioactivity from a source outside the body.
follow-up - When treatment is complete the periodic visits to the physician are needed to monitor the patient and ensure there has been no recurrence of the disease.
fractions - The radiotherapy dose is divided into a number of smaller doses to reduce the risk of side effects. There is normally one fraction per day.
hyperfractionated radiotherapy - More than one fraction is given per day.
internal radiotherapy (Brachytherapy) - Placing radioactive source within the body in or near to the tumour to kill the cancer cells
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - This is used to determine if the biochemical activity of a tissue responds normally to magnetic forces, tumors may give an abnormal signal.
palliative treatment - Treatment which relieves the symptoms and pain.
peripheral blood stem cell rescue (PBSC)
pre-operative chemotherapy - Drugs given to shrink the tumour before surgery.
prosthesis - An artificial replacement
/radiation therapy - The use of high energy x-rays and similar rays (such as electrons) to treat disease. Radiotherapy
radiotherapy field - The area towards which the radiotherapy was directed.
Treatment - A treatment which is randomly allocated to ensure there is no systematic bias in the results. randomization
surgery - A medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition
total Body Irradiation (TBI) - Radiation to the whole body
ultrasound - The use of sound waves to image the underlying structures of the body.
x-ray - A form of electromagnetic radiation