Glossary Index by Letter
Suprasellar
Extending above the sella turcica. The sella turcica is the bony structure at the base of the skull in which the pituitary gland rests.
Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion (SIADH)
Impaired water excretion. Water excretion is caused by the hyponatremia and hypo-osmolality resulting from innappropriate, continued secretion or action of the hormone despite normal or increased plasma volume.
Systemic
Circulating throughout the body. Affecting the entire body rather than a single organ or body part. Systemic disorders such as high blood pressure and systemic diseases such as influenza affect the entire body. A systemic infection is an infection in the bloodstream....
TRH
Thyrotropin releasing hormone Hypothalamic hormone that controls TSH production by the pituitary.
TSH
Thyroid stimulating hormone, thyrotropin Pituitary hormone that controls T4 and T3 production by the thyroid gland.
Tumor
An abnormal growth. Tumors may be benign or malignant by cell type, or life-threatening by their location.
Tumor Marker
Substances found in blood or other fluids that identify the presence of a tumor, and/or the tumor type. Often measured in blood.
Turbinate
(Superior, middle, or inferior.) Bony prominences in the nasal passageway. A bone in the nose that is situated along the side wall of the nose and is covered by mucous membrane.
Ultrasound
Visualization of structures in the body by recording the reflections of sound waves directed into tissues. May be used during surgery. Also called ultrasound scanning or sonography, uses high-frequency sound waves to obtain images inside the body. Neurosonography...
Undifferentiated
An immature, embryonic, or primitive cell. It has a nonspecific appearance with multiple nonspecific activities and functions poorly. See differentiate, dedifferentiate. In cancer, refers to how mature (developed) the cancer cells are in a tumor. Differentiated tumor...
Uterus
The hollow muscular organ in which the impregnated ovum (egg) is developed into an infant. The uterus is about 7.5 cm in length in the nonpregnant woman, and consists of a main portion (body) with an elongated lower part (neck), at the extremity of which is the...
Vascular
Relating to or containing blood vessels. The vascular system is the body's network of blood vessels; the arteries, veins and capillaries that carry blood to and from the heart.
Vascularity
The blood supply of a tumor. The blood supply of a tumor.
WHR
Waist:Hip Ratio A measure of truncal obesity, a particular feature of GH deficient patients.
X-Ray
A radiograph or radiation used in diagnostics or treatment. 1) The ionizing electromagnetic radiation emitted from a highly evacuated tube, resulting from the excitation of the inner orbital electrons by the bombardment of the target anode with a stream of electrons...
