Recently added articles from Gale Encyclopedia of Cancer:

Acoustic Neuroma

Jan 01, 2002; Andres, Lisa ...Acoustic neuroma Definition An acoustic neuroma is a benign tumor involving cells of the myelin sheath that surrounds the vestibulocochlear nerve (eighth cranial nerve). Description The vestibulocochlear nerve extends from the inner ear ...

Acute Erythroblastic Leukemia

Jan 01, 2002; Laberge, Monique ...Acute erythroblastic leukemia Definition Acute erythroblastic leukemia, also called erythremic myelosis, DiGuglielmo syndrome, or erythroleukemia, results from uncontrolled proliferation of immature erythrocytes (red blood ...

Acute Leukemia

Jan 01, 2002; Kretschmann, Kate ...Acute leukemia Definition A rapidly progressing cancer that starts in the blood-forming cells of the bone marrow. Leukemia results from an abnormal development of leukocytes (white blood cells) and their precursors. Leukemia cells look different ...

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

Jan 01, 2002; Vahey, Marianne ...Acute lymphocytic leukemia Definition Acute lymphocytic leukemia is a cancer of the white blood cells known as lymphocytes. Description Leukemia is a cancer of white blood cells. In acute leukemia, the cancerous cells are immature forms ...

Acute Myelocytic Leukemia

Jan 01, 2002; Cherath, Lata; Kirsch, Bob ...Acute myelocytic leukemia Definition Acute myelocytic leukemia (AML) is an acute cancer that affects white blood cells, primarily those of the granulocyte or monocyte types. Description Acute myelogenous leukemia and acute nonlymphocytic ...

Adenocarcinoma

Jan 01, 2002; Kretschmann, Kate ...Adenocarcinoma Definition Cancer that begins in the epithelial cells, which line certain internal organs and have glandular (secretory) properties. Some ...

Adenoma

Jan 01, 2002; McGee, Monica ...Adenoma Definition A benign (noncancerous) tumor that forms from the cells lining the inside or the surface of an organ. Description Adenomas arise from cells that are specialized for secretion. These cells, called epithelial cells, are ...

Adrenal Tumors

Jan 01, 2002; McGee, Monica ...Adrenal tumors Definition Tumors that occur on one or both of the adrenal glands. Description The two small adrenal glands, one located just above each kidney, are among the many endocrine (hormone-secreting) glands in the body. All ...

Adrenocortical Carcinoma

Jan 01, 2002; Calabrese, Diane M ...Adrenocortical carcinoma Definition Adrenocortical carcinoma is a malignant growth that originates in the cortex, or the outer portion, of one of the two adrenal glands. Description There are two adrenal glands in the body. Each one is paired ...

Advance Directives

Jan 01, 2002; Schonbeck, Joan ...Advance directives Definition An advance directive is a written document in which people clearly specify how medical decisions affecting them are to be made if they are unable to make them, or to authorize a specific person to make such decisions ...

AIDS-Related Cancers

Jan 01, 2002; Frey, Rebecca J ...AIDS-related cancers Definition The AIDS-related cancers are a group of cancers that occur more frequently in persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection than in the general population. The most common form of AIDS-related cancer, ...

Alcohol Consumption

Jan 01, 2002; Kaczkowski, Crystal Heather ...Alcohol consumption Description Alcohol (ethyl alcohol or ethanol) consumption has a social aspect to it, but it is often abused. The effect of alcohol consumption on the body depends on how often it is consumed, how much, and the alcohol content ...

Aldesleukin

Jan 01, 2002; Calabrese, Diane M ...Aldesleukin Definition Aldesleukin is interleukin, or specific kind of biological response modifier, that is used to treat metastatic renal cell carcinoma (a form of kidney cancer) and metastaticmelanoma . Aldesleukin is also known as ...

Alemtuzumab

Jan 01, 2002; Johnson, Michelle ...Alemtuzumab Definition Alemtuzumab is sold as Campath in the United States. Alemtuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that selectively binds to CD52, a protein found on the surface of normal and malignant B and T cells, and that is used to ...

Allopurinol

Jan 01, 2002; Bessmertny, Olga ...Allopurinol Definition This medication, also known as (Zyloprim), is used for the treatment and prevention of gout attacks and certain types of kidney stones. It is also used to treat elevated uric acid levels in the blood and urine, which can ...

Alopecia

Jan 01, 2002; Rowland, Belinda ...Alopecia Description Alopecia, also called hair loss, baldness, and epilation, is a common side effect ofchemotherapy andradiation therapy . Most patients undergoing chemotherapy, especially those who are being treated with ...

Altretamine

Jan 01, 2002; Zuck, Michael ...Altretamine Definition Altretamine, also known by the brand name Hexalen, is an anticancer agent used to treatovarian cancer . Purpose Altretamine is used to treat persistent or recurrent ovarian cancer, usually after ...

Amenorrhea

Jan 01, 2002; Bennington, Linda K ...Amenorrhea Definition Amenorrhea is the absence of menstruation and is a symptom, not a diagnosis. Primary amenorrhea refers to the absence of the onset of menstruation by age 16 whether or not normal growth and secondary sexual ...

American Joint Commission on Cancer

Jan 01, 2002; Brown, Tamara ...American Joint Commission on Cancer Definition The American Joint Commission on Cancer (AJCC) is an organization dedicated to creating and promoting a universal system of classifying tumors according to their location in the body and involvement with...

Amifostine

Jan 01, 2002; Beaulieu, Nancy J ...Amifostine Definition Amifostine, also known as the brand name Ethyol and as ethiofos or WR2721, is a medicine that helps protect certain tissues of the body from damage caused bychemotherapy orradiation ...