|
Neck
dissection (dye-SEK-shun): Surgery to remove lymph
nodes and other tissues in the neck.
Neoplasia (NEE-o-play-zha): Abnormal new growth
of cells.
Neoplasm: A new growth of tissue. Can be referred
to as benign or malignant.
Nephrectomy (nef-REK-to-mee): Surgery to remove
the kidney. Radical nephrectomy removes the kidney,
the adrenal gland, nearby lymph nodes, and other surrounding
tissue. Simple nephrectomy removes just the affected
kidney. Partial nephrectomy removes the tumor, but not
the entire kidney.
Nephrotomogram (nef-ro-TOE-mo-gram): A series
of special x-rays of the kidneys. The x- rays are taken
from different angles. They show the kidneys clearly,
without the shadows of the organs around them.
Neurologist (noo-ROL-o-jist): A doctor who specializes
in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the nervous
system.
Neuroma (noo-RO-ma): A tumor that arises in nerve
cells.
Neurosurgeon (NOO-ro-SER-jun): A doctor who specializes
in surgery on the brain and other parts of the nervous
system.
Neutrophil (NOO-tro-fil): A type of white blood
cell.
Nevus (NEE-vus): The medical term for a spot
on the skin, such as a mole. A mole is a cluster of
melanocytes that usually appears as a dark spot on the
skin. The plural of nevus is nevi (NEE-vye).
Nitrosoureas (nye-TRO-so-yoo-REE-ahz): A group
of anticancer drugs that can cross the blood-brain barrier.
Carmustine (BCNU) and lomustine (CCNU) are nitrosoureas.
Nonmelanoma skin cancer: Skin cancer that does
not involve melanocytes. Basal cell cancer and squamous
cell cancer are nonmelanoma skin cancers.
Nonseminoma (non-sem-i-NO-ma): A classification
of testicular cancers that arise in specialized sex
cells called germ cells. Nonseminomas include embryonal
carcinoma, teratoma, choriocarcinoma, and yolk sac tumor.
Nonsmall cell lung cancer: A form of lung cancer
associated with smoking, exposure to environmental tobacco
smoke, or exposure to radon. Nonsmall cell lung cancer
is classified as squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma,
and large cell carcinoma depending on what type of cells
are in the cancer. |
