.....Useful Medical Terms To Know.....

DIAGNOSIS
Identification of disease or condition by scientific evaluation of physical signs, symptoms, history, lab test results and procedures.

PROGNOSIS
A prediction of the probable outcome of the disease.

ACUTE
Description of a disease or its beginning abruptly with marked intensity or sharpness, and then subsiding after a relatively short period.

CHRONIC
Something that has persisted for a long time, often over a person's lifetime.

BENIGN
Usually refers to a tumour that is non-cancerous and therefore not an immediate threat.

MALIGNANT
Tending to become worse and to cause death, usually in reference to cancer.

TUMOUR
A new growth of tissue characterised by progressive, uncontrolled growth of cells, swelling or enlargement occurring in inflammatory condition.

METASTASIS
The process in which tumour cells spread to distant parts of the body.

ABCESS
A cavity containing pus and surrounded inflamed tissue.

HYPERTENSION
Commonly called High Blood Pressure, which is characterised by elevated blood pressure persistently exceeding 140/90mm Hg.

BIOPSY
Removal of a small piece of living tissue from an organ or other part of the body, for microscopic examination.

ULTRASOUND
A test using sound waves to take pictures of internal organs. It can be used for almost any area of the body, including chest, abdomen, pelvis, neck, eye and other extremities.

CT SCAN
Same as CAT scan. It is an X-ray test which can show the internal organs. Any part of the body can be scanned. A computer is used to translate the intricate readings into multiple cross sectional images.

X-RAY
Radiograph image often used to diagnose broken bones, joint problems, tumours and many other diseases.

MRI
Magnetic Resonance Imaging, a test that does not use X-ray. Instead, it uses intense magnetic field producing three-dimensional images as well as cross-sectional images like the CT scan. This process reacts to metals and is not recommended for patients who have metal within their body like pacemakers and some metallic prosthesis.

LOCAL ANESTHESTIC
Pain killer that works to  where it is applied only as opposed to something which is 'imported'.