Words You Might Encouter Concerning Prostate Cancer (11)

Words You Might Encouter Concerning Prostate Cancer (11)

TNM stages:
Primary Tumor (T)
TX: Primary tumor cannot be assessed
T0: No evidence of primary tumor
T1: Clinically inapparent tumor not palpable or
visible by imaging
Tla: Tumor incidental histologic finding in 5% or
less or tissue resected
Tlb: Tumor incidental histologic finding in more
than 5% of tissue resected
T1c: Tumor identified by needle biopsy (e.g.,
because of elevated PSA)
T2: Tumor confined within the prostate
T2a: Tumor involves half of a lobe or less
T2b: Tumor involves more than half a lobe, but not
both lobes
T2c: Tumor involves both lobes; extends through the
prostatic capsule
T3a: Unilateral extracapsular extension
T3b: Bilateral extracapsular extension
T3c: Tumor invades the seminal vesicle(s)
T4: Tumor is fixed or invades adjacent structures
other than the seminal vesicles
T4a: Tumor invades any of bladder neck, external
sphincter, or rectum
T4b: Tumor invades levator muscles and/or is fixed
to the pelvic wall
Regional Lymph Nodes (N)
NX: Regional lymph nodes cannot be assessed
N0: No regional lymph nodes metastasis
N1: Metastasis in a single lymph node, 2 cm or less
in greatest dimension
N2: Metastasis in a single lymph node, more than
2 cm but not more than 5 cm in greatest
dimension; or multiple lymph node metastases,
none more than 5 cm in greatest dimension
N3: Metastasis in a lymph node more than 5 cm in
greatest dimension
Distant Metastases (M)
MX: Presence of distant metastasis cannot be
assessed
M0: No distant metastasis
M1: Distant metastasis
Mla: Nonregional lymph node(s)
Mlb: Bone(s)
M1c: Other site(s)

STENT: a tube used by a surgeon to drain fluids

STRICTURE: scarring as a result of a procedure or an injury that
constricts the flow of a fluid; for example, a urethral stricture
would restrict the flow of urine through the urethra

STRONTIUM-89: an injectable radioactive product which is used to
relieve bone pain in some patients with prostate cancer which no
longer responds to hormones or appropriate forms of chemotherapy

SUBCAPSULAR: under the capsule; for example, a subcapsular orchiectomy
is a form of castration in which the contents of each testicle is
removed but the testicular capsules are then closed and remain in the
scrotum

SUTURE: surgical stitching used in the closure of a cut or incision

SYMPTOM: a feeling, sensation, or experience associated with or
resulting from a physical or mental disorder and noticeable by the
patient

SYSTEMIC: throughout the whole body

TESTIS: one of two male reproductive glands located inside the scrotum
which are the primary sources of the male hormone testosterone

TESTICLE: see testis

TESTOSTERONE (T): the male hormone or androgen which comprises most of
the androgens in a man's body; chiefly produced by the testicles; may
be produced in tissues from precursors such as androstenedione; T is
essential to complete male sexual function and fertility

THERAPY: the treatment of disease or disability

TNM: (tumor, nodes, metastases) see STAGING

TRANSITION: change; for example, the transition zone of the prostate
is the area of the prostate closest to the urethra and has features
which distinguish it from the much larger peripheral zone

TRANSPERINEAL: through the perineum

TRANSRECTAL: through the rectum

TRANSURETHRAL: through the urethra

TREATMENT: administration of remedies to a patient for a disease

TRUS: TRANSRECTAL ULTRASOUND; a method that uses echoes of ultrasound
waves (far beyond the hearing range) to image the prostate by
inserting an ultrasound probe into the rectum; commonly used to
visualize prostate biopsy procedures

TRUS-P: see TRUS

TUMOR: an excessive growth of cells caused by uncontrolled and
disorderly cell replacement; an abnormal tissue growth that can be
either benign or malignant; See BENIGN, MALIGNANT

TURP: TRANSURETHRAL RESECTION OF THE PROSTATE; a surgical procedure to
remove tissue obstructing the urethra; the technique involves the
insertion of an instrument called a resectoscope into the penile
urethra, and is intended to relieve obstruction of urine flow due to
enlargement of the prostate

TUR/P: see TURP

ULTRASOUND: sound waves at a particular frequency (far beyond the
hearing range) whose echoes bouncing off tissue can be used to image
internal organs (e.g., a baby in the womb)

UNDERSTAGING: the assignment of an overly low clinical stage at
initial diagnosis because of the difficulty of assessing the available
information with accuracy (e.g., stage T2b as opposed to stage T3b)

UNIT: a surgical term for a pint (usually of blood)

URETER: an anatomical tube which drains urine from one of the two
kidneys to the bladder

URETHRA: the tube that drains urine from the bladder through the
prostate and out through the penis

URGENCY: the need to urinate very soon

URINARY SYSTEM: the group of organs and their interconnections that
permits excess, filtered fluids to exit the body, including (in the
male) the kidneys, the ureters, the bladder, the urethra, and the
penis

UROLOGIST: a doctor trained first as a surgeon who specializes in
disorders of the genitourinary system

UTI: URINARY TRACT INFECTION; an infection identifiable by the
presence of bacteria (or theoretically viruses) in the urine; may be
associated with fever or a burning sensation on urination

VAS DEFERENS: tube through which sperm travel from the testes to the
prostate prior to ejaculation

VASECTOMY: operation to make a man sterile by cutting the vas
deferens, thus preventing passage of sperm from the testes to the
prostate

VESICLE: a small sac containing a biologically important fluid

WATCHFUL WAITING: active observation and regular monitoring of a
patient without actual treatment

WHITMORE-JEWETT STAGING: see STAGING

X-RAY: a type of high energy radiation that can be used at low levels
to make images of the internal structures of the body and at high
levels for radiation therapy

ZOLADEX: trade or brand name for goserelin acetate, a LHRH agonist

ZONE: part or area of an organ