| necrosis:
(nuh-crow-sis):
the death of living tissues. Necrotic refers to tissue that has died. |
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| needle aspiration: a type of needle biopsy that removes fluid from a cyst or cells from a tumor. In this procedure, a needle is used to reach the cyst or tumor, and with suction, draw up (aspirate) samples to be looked at under a microscope. If the needle is thin, the procedure is called a fine needle aspiration or FNA. See also biopsy. |
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| needle biopsy: removal of fluid, cells, or tissue with a needle so that it can be looked at under a microscope. There are 2 types: fine needle aspiration (FNA) and core biopsy. FNA uses a thin needle to draw up (aspirate) fluid or small tissue fragments from a cyst or tumor. A core needle biopsy uses a thicker needle to remove a cylindrical sample of tissue from a tumor. |
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| needle localization: a procedure used to guide a surgical breast biopsy when the lump is hard to locate or when there are areas that look suspicious on the x-ray but there is not a distinct lump. A thin needle is placed into the breast. X-rays are taken and used to guide the needle to the suspicious area. The surgeon then uses the path of the needle as a guide to find the abnormal area to be removed. |
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| neoadjuvant therapy:
(nee-o-AD-juh-vunt):
treatment given before the main treatment. Compare to adjuvant therapy. |
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| neonatologist:
(nee-o-nay-TAHL-uh-jist):
a doctor who specializes in the care of the newborn (until about 6 weeks of age). |
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| neoplasm:
(nee-o-plaz-um):
an abnormal growth (tumor) that starts from a single altered cell; a neoplasm may be benign or malignant. Cancer is a malignant neoplasm. |
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| nephrologist:
(neh-frahl-uh-jist):
a doctor who specializes in diseases of the kidneys. |
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| neuropathy:
(nur-ah-puth-ee):
nerve abnormality or damage which causes numbness, tingling, pain, muscle weakness, or even swelling. It may be caused by injury, infection, disease (cancer, diabetes, kidney failure, or poor nutrition, for example), or by drugs. Peripheral neuropathy is a type of neuropathy that starts in nerves farthest away from the brain, such as the hands and feet. |
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| neurosurgeon:
(nur-o-SUR-jun):
a doctor specializing in operations to treat nervous system disorders. |
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| neutropenia:
(new-trow-PEEN-ee-uh):
a decrease in the number of neutrophils (white blood cells that respond quickly to infection) in the blood. If a person has less than 1,500/mm3 neutrophils, he or she is considered to be neutropenic and at risk for infection. With fewer than 500 cells/mm3 the risk of infection is high. |
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| neutrophils:
(new-trow-fills):
white blood cells that fight bacterial infection. |
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| nipple discharge: any fluid coming from the nipple. It may be clear, milky, bloody, tan, gray, or green. |
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| nodal status: indicates whether the cancer has spread to lymph nodes (node-positive) or has not spread to lymph nodes (node-negative). See also lymph node and lymphatic system. |
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| nodule: a small, solid lump that can be felt. This term is sometimes used to refer to a small tumor seen on x-ray. |
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| non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a cancer of the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is a network of thin vessels and nodes throughout the body that helps to fight infection. What distinguishes non-Hodgkin lymphoma from Hodgkin lymphoma is the absence of a type of cell called the Reed-Sternberg cell. This cell is present only in Hodgkin lymphoma. The treatment methods for Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas are very different. Previously called non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. |
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| non-myeloid cancers: all cancers other than myeloid leukemias. These non-myeloid cancers include all types of carcinoma, all types of sarcoma, melanoma, lymphomas, lymphocytic leukemias (ALL and CLL), and multiple myeloma. See also leukemia and myeloid leukemia. |
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| nuclear medicine scan: a method for finding diseases of internal organs such as the brain, liver, or bone. Small amounts of a radioactive substance (isotope) are injected into the bloodstream. The isotope collects in certain organs and a special camera called a scintillation camera is used to produce an image of the organ and show areas of disease. See radioisotope. |
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| nucleus:
(new-klee-us):
the center of a cell where the DNA is found and where it reproduces. Studying the size and shape of a cell's nucleus under the microscope can help pathologists tell cancer cells from benign cells. |
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| nurse practitioner: a registered nurse with a master's or doctoral degree. Licensed nurse practitioners diagnose and manage illness and disease, usually working closely with doctors. |
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