Pituitary Glossary starting with R
Recurrence
The return of symptoms or the tumor itself, as opposed to a remission.
A tumor that has recurred (grown back), usually after a period of time following removal of the tumor.
Rehabilitation
The return of function after illness or injury, often with the assistance of specialized medical professionals.
A process to restore mental and/or physical abilities lost to injury or disease, in order to function in a normal or near-normal way. Rehabilitation can include; pain management, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language therapy.
REM
Rapid eye movement (sleep).
Deep sleep with rapid eye movements in which dreaming takes place. One of the five stages of sleep. During REM sleep, the eyes move rapidly while closed and dreams occur. REM sleep is the lightest stage of sleep, during which a person may wake easily. During several hours of normal sleep, a person will go through several sleep cycles that include REM sleep and the 4 stages of non-REM (light to deep sleep). Also called rapid eye movement sleep.
Remission
The disappearance of symptoms; the disappearance of the tumor.
A decrease in or disappearance of signs and symptoms of a tumor or cancer. In partial remission, some, but not all, signs and symptoms have disappeared. In complete remission, all signs and symptoms have disappeared, although still may be present in the body.
Resection
Surgical removal of a tumor or organ.
A procedure that uses surgery to remove tissue or part or all of an organ.
Residual
Remaining tumor.
Tumor cells that remain after attempts to remove the tumor have been made.
Respiration
Breathing. To inhale and exhale
The words “respiratory” and “respiration” refer to the lungs and breathing, or the movement of respiratory gases, oxygen and carbon dioxide, into and out of the lungs; or a single complete act of breathing.
The physical and chemical processes by which an organism supplies its cells and tissues with the oxygen necessary for metabolism and removes the carbon dioxide formed in energy-producing reactions.
RGH
Recombinant growth hormone, somatropin.
Often referred to as hGH or human Growth Hormone. Used to treat growth hormone deficiency and short stature.
RIA
Radioimmunoassay
Quantitative chemical test based on displacement of radioligand from antigen-antibody complex.