Acidosis - a condition where the acidity of body fluids and tissues is abnormally high. It can arise because of a failure of the mechanisms responsible for maintaining a balance between acids and alkalis in the blood

Adenocarcinoma - a type of cancer that involves cells from the lining of the walls of various different organs of the body. Breast cancer is a type of adenocarcinoma

Adenoma - a benign tumour of epithelial origin that exhibits clearly defined glandular structures or is derived from glandular tissue or .

Adenopathy - general term for glandular disease

Adjuvants - substances that augment, stimulate, activate, potentiate, or modulate the immune response at either the cellular or humoral level. The classical agents contain bacterial antigens and some are endogenous (e.g., histamine, interferon, transfer factor, tuftsin, interleukin-1). Their mode of action is either non-specific, resulting in increased immune responsiveness to a wide variety of antigens, or antigen-specific (i.e. affecting a restricted type of immune response to a narrow group of antigens). The therapeutic efficacy of many biological response modifiers is related to their antigen-specific immunoadjuvanticity

Adrenalectomy - excision of either one or both adrenal glands.

BCG - Bacille Calmette Guerin - A mycobacterium derived from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and used in tuberculosis vaccination. Extracts of the bacterium have remarkable powers in stimulating lymphocytes and leucocytes and are also used in adjuvants.

BPH - Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia - nonmalignant enlargement of the prostate gland

Brachytherapy - radiation therapy in which radioactive materials are placed in direct contact with the tissue being treated.

Bradykinin - a powerful vasodilator which causes contraction of smooth muscle. It is thought to play an important role as a mediator of inflammation.

Calix (calyces) - the collecting ducts of the kidney open into eight cup-shaped minor calyces. They are recognised as the first element in the duct system of the kidney, the minor calyces empty into two or three larger major calyces, draining the superior, middle and inferior portions of the kidney.

CIS - carcinoma in situ

Cholecystectomy - surgical removal of the gall bladder (usually for gallstones).

Condyloma - a papilloma with a central core of connective tissue in a treelike structure covered with epithelium. It usually occurs on the mucous membrane or skin of the external genitals or in the perianal region

Creatinine - a substance derived from creatine phosphate and creatine in muscle. It is excreted in the urine.

CT - computed tomography - a special radiographic technique that uses a computer to assimilate multiple X-ray images into a 2 dimentional cross-sectional image. This may reveal many soft tissue structures that are not shown by conventional radiography. Scans may also be dynamic where movement of a dye is tracked. Cuts may be 5 mm, 10 mm or more apart. A special dye material can also be injected into a vein prior to the scan to help differentiate abnormal tissue and vasculature. The machine rotates 180o around the patients body, sending out a thin X-ray beam at 160 different points. Crystals positioned on opposite points of the beam pick up the absorption rates of the varying thicknesses of tissue and bone. These data are relayed to a computer that turns the information into a picture on a screen. Using the same dosage of radiation as that of a conventional X-ray machine, an entire slice of the body is made visible with around 100 times more clarity. The scanner was invented in 1972 by the British electronics engineer Godfrey N. Hounsfield and was in general use by 1979.

CVA - cerebral vascular accident

Cystectomy - surgical removal of the urinary bladder. This is necessary in the treatment of certain bladder conditions, notably cancer, and makes subsequent urinary diversion necessary: the ureters draining the urine from the kidneys are reimplanted into the colon or into an isolated segment of intestine which is brought to the skin surface as a spout. Alternatively, in bladder replacement, a segment of ileum or colon is reconstructed to form a pouch which is anastomosed to the urethra and acts as a reservoir for the urine. Emptying is achieved by abdominal straining or intermittant self-catheterisation.

Dehiscence - a splitting open (e.g. of a surgical wound)

Detrusor - the muscle of the bladder wall

DHT - dihydrotestosterone

Diverticular disease - a condition in which diverticula (a sac or pouch formed at weak points in the walls of the alimentary canal) appear in the colon and cause lower abdominal pain and disturbed bowel habit.

DMSA - dimercaptosuccinic acid labelled with technetium-99. It is used as a tracer to obtain scintigrams (diagrams showing the distribution of radiactive tracer in the body) of the kidney. It is particularly useful to show scarring from infection and to assess the relative function of each kidney.

DRE - digital rectal examination

Dysplasia - abnormal development of skin, bone or other tissue.

Dysuria - difficult or painful urination.

Enuresis - involuntary discharge of urine (after the age at which urinary control should have been achieved). It is often used with specific reference to involuntary discharge of urine during sleep at night (bed wetting, nocturnal enuresis).

Epispadias - congenital abnormality in which the opening of the urethra is on the dorsal surface of the penis.

Exstrophy - severe congenital abnormality where the bladder fails to close during development. It is associated with epispadias, total urinary incontinence and undescended testis.

Extracapsular - outside of a capsule, especially the capsular ligament of a joint

FSH - follicle stimulating hormone

GnRH - gonadotropin-releasing hormone test

GSI - genuine stress incontinence

H

Haematocrit - packed cell volume

Haematuria - blood in the urine.

Hematoxylin - a basophilic stain that produces a blue colour. It is commonly used in conjunction with eosin that stains the cytoplasm pink or red. Various modifications of haematoxylin have been developed.

Hemiparesis - paralysis affecting only one side of the body.

Hilum (hila) - a hollow on the surface of an organ e.g. kidney or spleen where blood vessels, nerve fibres and ducts enter or leave it.

Histochemistry - the study of the identification and distribution of chemical compounds within and between cells.

HST - higher surgical training

Hydronephrosis - dilatation and distension of the pelvis of the kidney. It is due to an obstruction of the free flow of the urine from the kidney. An obstruction at or below the neck of the bladder will result in hydronephrosis of both kidneys.

Hyperlipidaemia - a general term for elevated concentrations of any or all of the lipids in the plasma (e.g. cholesterol, triglycerides and lipoproteins).

Hyperplasia - an abnormal increase in the number of normal cells in a tissue

Hyperreflexia - exaggeration of reflexes

Hypertonia - increased rigidity, tension and spasticity of the muscles.

Hyperuricaemia - increased uric acid level in the bloodstream, often seen in association with chemotherapy. Hyperuricaemia is considered a risk factor for the development or gout and may lead to renal disease. Also called uric acidaemia and previously known as lithaemia.

Hypoplasia - underdevelopment of an organ or tissue.

Idiopathic - of the nature of an idiopathy, self originated, of unknown causation.

IC - interstitial cystitis

Infarct - an area of tissue death due to local lack of oxygen.

IPSS - international prostate symptom score

IVP - intravenous pyelogram - a series of X-ray films showing the urinary tract after the injection of a contrast medium into a vein. This material is concentrated and excreted by the kidneys and the IVP reveals details of the kidneys, ureters and bladder. The IVP is carried out to test kidney function and shows the presence of stones, tumours ot obstruction in the urinary tract.

K

Ketonuria - the presence of ketone (acetone) bodies in the urine. It may occur in diabetes mellitus, starvation or after persistant vomiting. It results from the partial oxidation of fats.

Laparotomy - a surgical incision into the abdominal cavity, often to examine the abdominal organs to help diagnosis.

Leukoplakia - firmly attached thick white patches on the tongue and other mucous membranes (e.g. genitalia). It often occurs as a pre-cancerous growth. Leukoplakia develops on the oral mucosa in response to chronic irritation (for example ill-fitting dentures, smoking, chewing tobacco).

LH - lutenising hormone

Lymphadenopathy - swelling of the lymph nodes.

Lymphocyte - a type of white blood cell, also present in the lymph nodes, spleen, thymus gland, gut wall and bone marrow.

Metaplasia - the change in the type of adult cells in a tissue to a form which is not normal for that tissue.

Metastasis - the spread of a malignant tumour from its site of origin. This occurs by three main routes either through the bloodstream, through the lymphatic system and/or across body cavities.

Micturition - the periodic discharge of urine from the bladder through the urethra. It is initiated by voluntary relaxation of the sphincter muscle below the bladder and then maintained by reflex contraction of the muscles of the bladder wall.

MSU - mid-stream specimen of urine

Neoplasm - new and abnormal growth of tissue that may be benign or cancerous

Nephrectomy - surgical removal of a kidney.

Nephrolithiasis - the presence of calculi in the kidney or collecting system. The calculi are usually small (2-12mm) solid, crystalline, concretions that develop in the kidney and eventually pass through the genitourinary tract. Stones can be composed of calcium, phosphate or uric acid.

Nephrolithotomy - the surgical removal of a stone from the kidney by an incision into the kidney substance. It is normally performed with an incision into the renal pelvis.

Neutrophil - a variety of granulocyte (type of white blood cell) capable of ingesting and killing bacteria.

Nocturia - excessive urination at night

Oedema - the presence of abnormally large amounts of fluid in the intercellular tissue spaces of the body. Oedema may be localised, due to venous or lymphatic obstruction or to increased vascular permeability or it may be systemic due to heart failure or renal disease. Collections of oedema fluid are designated according to the site, for example ascites (peritoneal cavity), hydrothorax (pleural cavity) and hydropericardium (pericardial sac). Massive generalised oedema is called anasarca.

Oliguria - the production of an abnormally small volume of urine. This may be a result of copious sweating associated with intense physical activity and/or hot weather. It can also be due to kidney disease, retention of water in the tissues, loss of blood, diarrhoea, or poisoning.

Opsonisation - a process where opsonins (serum components) render bacteria more attractive to phagocytes by attaching to their outer surface and altering their physical and chemical compositions.

Orchidectomy - surgical removal of the testis. A recognised form of treatment for prostate cancer

Orchiectomy - the surgical removal of the testicles

Palliative - a medicine that gives temporary relief from the symptoms of a disease but does not actually cure the disease.

Parenchyma - the functional part of an organ (in contrast to its supporting tissue)

Parenteral - a substance or drug administered in any way but the mouth, e.g. by injection

Percutaneous - performed through the skin, as injection of radiopacque material in radiological examination or the removal of tissue for biopsy accomplished by a needle

Perineum - the region between the thighs.

Perioperative - pertaining to the period extending from the time of hospitalisation for surgery to the time of discharge

PET scan - (positron emission tomography) a scanning device which uses low-dose radioactive sugar to measure brain activity

PIN - prostate intraepithelial neoplasia

Polycythaemia - increase in the haemaglobin concentration of the blood

Priapism - persistent abnormal erection of the penis, usually without sexual desire and accompanied by pain and tenderness. It is seen in diseases and injuries of the spinal cord and may be caused by vesical calculus and certain injuries to the penis.

Prophylaxis - the prevention of disease, preventive treatment

Prostatectomy - the surgical removal of the prostate gland

Proteolysis - cleavage of proteins by proteases. Limited proteolysis occurs where proteins are functionally modified (activated in the case of zymogens) by highly specific proteases.

PSA - prostate specific antigen - a blood test used to detect prostate cancer in men. The test measures a specific antigen normally secreted by the prostate. If cancer is developing, the prostate secretes greater amounts of PSA. This test is recommended for men with an enlarged prostate and an increased risk of prostate cancer

Purulent - consisting of or containing pus.

PUJ - pelvic ureteric junction

Pyelogram - X-ray study of the kidney, especially showing the pelvis (urine-collecting basin) of the kidney and the ureter

Pyonephrosis - obstruction and infection of the kidney resulting in pus formation. A kidney stone is the usual cause of the obstruction, and the kidney becomes distended by pus and destroyed by the inflammation, which extends into the kidney substance itself and sometimes into the surrounding tissues.

Pyrexia - a fever or a febrile condition, abnormal elevation of the body temperature

Renal acidosis - kidney failure results in excessive loss of bicarbonate or retention of phosphoric and sulphuric acids. Patients with diabetes mellitus suffer from a form of acidosis in which sodium, potassium and ketone bodies are lost in the urine.

Schistosomiasis - a disease (bilharzia) caused by digenetic trematode worms of the genus Schistosoma, the adults of which live in the urinary or mesenteric blood vessels. Eggs shed by the female worms pass to the outside in the urine or faeces, but many also lodge in and obstruct the blood flow in the liver.

Sepsis - the destruction of tissues by bacteria or their toxins.

Staghorn calculus - a branched stone forming a cast of the collecting system of the kidney and therefore filling the calyces and pelvis. The stone is usually associated with infected urine (Proteus vulgaris is the most common bacteria). The combination of obstruction and infection can cause pyonephrosis.

Stoma - (in surgery) the artificial opening of a tube (e.g. colon or ileum) that has been brought to the abdominal surface

Tachycardia - excessive rapidity in the action of the heart. The term is usually applied to a heart rate above 100 per minute and may be qualified as atrial, junctional (nodal) or ventricular and as paroxysmal.

Tachypnoea - rapid breathing

TENS - a method of producing electroanalgesia through electrodes applied to the skin.

TCC - transitional cell carcinoma

TRUS - transrectal ultrasound

Tumescense - a swelling, or the process of becoming swollen, usually because of an accumulation of blood or other fluid within the tissues.

TUR - transurethral resection - surgery performed with a special instrument inserted through the urethra.

TUR-P - transurethral prostatectomy - the surgical removal of the prostate gland. It is performed through the urethral canal of the penis.

TWOC - trial without catheter

Ureteroscopy - endoscopic examination of the ureter. It is used to localise, identify, and photograph pathologic alterations, to obtain biopsy material, and to perform other surgical interventions.

Urolithiasis - the formation of stony concretions or calculi in any part of the body, especially in the bladder and urinary passages.

UTI - urinary tract infection

Urticaria - an itchy rash resulting from the release of histamine from the mast cells

Varicocele - varicose veins in the scrotum