Glossary
Glossary
| ABMT | Autologous Bone Marrow Transplant |
| Absolute Neutrophil Count | The corrected number of neutrophils present in the white blood cell count. Also named Absolute Granulocyte Count. Formula: (% neutrophils + % bands) * WBC = ANC |
| Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia | Leukemia of early cells of the lymphocyte series. Occurs more frequently in children |
| Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia | Leukemia of very early granulocytes (myeloid cells). Occurs more frequently in adults. Several subtypes including acute (myelo-)monocyic leukemia and acute Promyelocytic leukemia |
| Adjuvant therapy | Additional drug or other treatment designed to enhance the effect of the primary therapy. |
| AGC | see Absolute Neutrophil Count |
| ALG | see Anti-thymocyte globulin |
| ALL | see Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia |
| Allogeneic | Originating from a donor (allo = other; Greek) |
| Allograft | Stem cells from a donor to be used for transplant |
| Alopecia | Loss of hair |
| AML | see Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia |
| Amphotericin | Drug to prevent or treat fungal and yeast infections. Mostly given by I.V.infusion; sometimes given by mouth |
| Anaphylaxis | Acute allergic reaction with shortness of breath, rash, wheezing, and/or low blood pressure |
| ANC | see Absolute Neutrophil Count |
| Anemia | Too few red cells in the blood, leading to insufficient oxygen being carried to the tissues |
| Antibiotic | Drug used to fight bacterial infections |
| Antibody | Protein produced by the body, in response to a foreign substance, to fight the invading organism |
| Antiemetic | Drug to prevent or treat nausea or vomiting |
| Antifungal | Drugs to prevent or treat fungal infections |
| Antigen | Substance that evokes a response from the body's immune system, resulting in the production of antibodies or other defensive action by white blood cells. |
| Anti-thymocyte Globulin | Anti-T-lymphocyte agent, used in preparative regimens, or to treat prevent graft-versus-host disease. Also called ATG, or ALG (anti-lymphocyte globulin). |
| Antiviral | Drug to prevent or treat viral infections |
| Apheresis | Procedure to withdraw plasma or cells from the patient's/donor's blood with a machine. Can be used to obtain plasma, platelets, or stem cells for transfusion; also to remove diseased plasma or excessive white cells |
| Aplasia | Empty bone marrow, resulting in very low blood counts |
| Aplastic Anemia | Non-cancerous disease, in which the bone marrow is empty, and the blood counts are very low. |
| Approved Provider | Healthcare provider (e.g., transplant center) that meets plan requirements to be considered for reimbursement |
| Ascites | Accumulation of fluid in the abdomen outside the bowels (in the "peritoneal cavity") Often caused by liver failure |
| Aspergillus | Type of fungus; may cause dangerous infections, primarily of lungs and sinus |
| Aspirate | Removal by suction, as in bone-marrow aspirate |
| Assignment of benefits | Option to have the insurance company make its payments directly to the provider (or to you) |
| ATG | see Anti-thymocyte globulin |
| Autograft | Bone marrow or blood stem cells removed from the body to be used for autologous transplant |
| Autologous | From the patient him/herself; as in autologous stem-cell transplant (autos = self; Greek) |
| Benign | Non-cancerous |
| Bilirubin | Pigment produced when the liver processes waste products. A high bilirubin level causes jaundice (yellow skin and eyes) |
| Biopsy | Removal of tissue for examination under a microscope to make the proper diagnosis. May be obtained with a needle or with surgery |
| Blast cell | Very early (immature) cells |
| Blast crisis | Progression of disease in patient with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) to an more acute phase which resembles Acute Myeloblastic leukemia (AML) with the appearance of many very immature cells (blast cells) in bone marrow and blood |
| Blood type | Specific proteins of red cells that are inherited from the parents, and are important to find compatible (matched) blood. Tested with antisera in the blood bank |
| BMT | Bone marrow transplant |
| Bone marrow | Spongy tissue in the cavities of bones, such as pelvis, vertebrae, ribs, and skull. Produces the cells that circulate in the blood |
| Busulfan | Chemotherapy drug, often used in preparative regimen. Usually given by mouth; now also available for I.V. infusion (Myleran®) |
| Candida | Most frequent type of yeast in human body (oral cavity and gut). May cause infections |
| Catheter | Small, flexible plastic tube inserted into a portion of the body to administer or remove fluids |
| CBC | Complete blood count. Determines numbers of red cells, white cells, and platelets in the blood |
| Central line | see Central venous catheter |
| Central venous catheter | Small, flexible plastic tube inserted into a large vein, through which drugs and blood products can be given, and blood samples withdrawn painlessly. Mostly inserted into a vein above the heart (subclavian vein), sometimes inserted into a vein in the groin Different types, such as HICKMAN®, GROSHONG®, etc. |
| CGy | centiGray; unit of irradiation, also called rad |
| Chemotherapy | Drugs used to treat cancer by destroying abnormal cells or slowing their growth |
| Chest X-ray | View of the chest area which includes the heart, lungs, and ribs |
| Chronic | Persisting for a long time |
| Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia | Leukemia of mature lymphocytes. Mostly slowly progressive. Occurs mainly in older adults |
| Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia | Leukemia of the granulocytes. Starts with cells that still mature normally. After a certain period of time may transform into a more acute leukemia (blast crisis), frequently via a transition ("accelerated") phase |
| Clinical trial | Study of the effectiveness of a drug or treatment |
| CLL | see Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia |
| CML | see Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia |
| CMV | see Cytomegalovirus |
| CNS | Central nervous system |
| Colony-stimulating factors | Proteins (drugs) that stimulate the production and growth of certain types of blood cell. Examples are Neupogen® and Leukine® |
| Conditioning regimen | see Preparative regimen |
| Co-payment | Part of charges the patient is responsible to pay until a certain maximum amount is paid. Usually paid directly to the provider at time of service |
| Covered services | Medical services considered eligible for coverage by your insurance plan |
| Cryopreservation | Process to preserve by freezing, as in stem cell cryopreservation |
| CSF | see Colony-stimulating factors |
| CT-scan | Three-dimensional X-ray. Also called CAT-scan |
| Cyclophosphamide | Chemotherapy drug frequently used in preparative regimen (Cytoxan®) |
| Cyclosporine | Immuno-suppressive drug used for the prevention of graft-versus-host disease. Called Neoral® when used in oral form |
| Cytogenetics | Study of chromosome. Important to establish diagnosis and estimate prognosis in many cases of leukemia. Also used to document engraftment |
| Cytomegalovirus | Virus that may lie dormant for many years in patients who were infected in the past. Frequently causes infection in transplant patients. Probably mostly transferred by oral contact, but can also be transferred by blood products. Drugs to prevent or treat the infection exist |
| Diff | see Differential |
| Differential | Distribution of various types of white cells in the blood. Used to determine Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) |
| DMSO | Liquid used to prevent cell damage during cryopreservation. (Di-Methyl SulfOxide) |
| Dysplasia | Change in the size, shape, or organization of cells |
| Edema | Abnormal accumulation of fluid |
| EKG | Electrocardiogram; tracing of the electrical activity of the heart |
| Electrolytes | Minerals found in the blood, such as sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, chloride, and magnesium |
| Engraftment | Process of recovery of blood cells after transplant. Often expressed as day that ANC > 500/mm3 (0.5 x 109/l) or that white cells > 1,000/mm3. May be confirmed with tests that cells come from donor (allogeneic transplant) |
| Enzyme | Protein capable of facilitating a chemical reaction |
| EOB | Explanation of benefits; information your insurance company sends to you and to your provider explaining what is paid of billed charges. Also explains denials of payment and your rights to appeal |
| Experimental | Terms in your insurance contract describing a possible category of excluded services under the plan. Each plan may have different criteria to define what it considers experimental and investigational. This can be challenged. |
| FACT | Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy. Organization that accredites stem-cell programs on the basis of a strict set of criteria. |
| FAHCT | Foundation for the Accreditation of Hematopoietic Cell Therapy. Old name of FACT. |
| FK506 | see Tacrolimus |
| Foley catheter | Flexible plastic tube inserted into the bladder to provide continuous urinary drainage |
| Fungus | Organisms that are bigger than bacteria, and are normally present in mouth and gut. Can lead to very serious infections in patients with immune deficiencies. Related to yeasts and molds |
| Gastrointestinal | Refers to stomach and intestines |
| G-CSF | Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (Neupogen®); stimulates the growth and maturation of early granulocytes |
| GM-CSF | Granulocyte-macrophage stimulating factor (Leukine®); stimulates the growth and maturation of early granulocytes and monocytes |
| Graft rejection | Process by which the donated stem cells are rejected by the patient's body |
| Graft-versus-Host Disease | Condition that can occur following an allogeneic stem cell transplant, in which some of the donor's stem cells attack the patient's tissues and organs |
| Granulocyte | Sub-class of white cells, so named because of the presence of granules in the cell. These cells protect the body against bacterial infection. Also called Neutrophils or Polys |
| GROSHONG® (catheter) | see Central venous catheter |
| Growth factor | see Colony-stimulating factor |
| GvHD | see Graft-versus-host disease |
| Hematocrit | Part of the blood made up of red cells (expressed as percentage) |
| Hematology | Study and science of blood and blood-forming tissues, and their disorders |
| Hemoglobin | Protein in the blood that carries the oxygen (expressed as grams per deciliter) |
| Hemorrhage | Bleeding |
| Hemorrhagic cystitis | Bleeding from the urinary bladder because of an inflammation caused by cyclophosphamide or a virus |
| Hepatitis | Inflammation of the liver |
| HICKMAN® (catheter) | see Central venous catheter |
| HLA | see Human Leukocyte Antigens |
| Human Leukocyte Antigens | Genetic "fingerprint" on human white cells (and platelets), composed of proteins that play a critical role in activating the body's immune system to respond to foreign organisms. Inherited from both parents. Determined by HLA-typing, which can be performed with antisera and with DNA techniques |
| Herpes virus | Class of virus that cause cold sores and other infections |
| Hyperalimentation | Intravenous feeding that provides patients with all essential nutrients when they are unable to feed themselves. Also called hyperal, TPN or CHA |
| Iliac crest | Hip bone in which a large amount of bone marrow is concentrated and which can be reached with large needles |
| Immune system | Body's defense network againts infections and foreign substances |
| Immunocompromised | Condition in which the immune system is not functioning normally |
| Immunoglobulin | Antibody |
| Immunosuppression | Condition in which the patient's immune system is functioning at a lower than normal level. Sometimes done on purpose (e.g., to allow donor stem cells to engraft), often as side effect of transplant or therapy for side effects |
| In-networkprovider | Provider (person or facility) that is part of a managed-care provider network |
| Intravenous | Through (or into) a vein; also called I.V. |
| Interstitial Pneumonitis | Inflammation involving the inter-alveolar areas of the lungs; often caused by viruses (e.g. CMV), but may also be caused by irradiation and drugs. |
| Investigational | see Experimental |
| Jaundice | Yellowing of the skin and eyes. Mostly caused by liver disease |
| Laminar air-flow room | Isolation room with an air-filtering system in which the entire back-wall of the patient's room is one big filter. The air will come out in a "laminar" :fashion, causing little turbulence |
| Length of stay (LOS) | Number of days in the hospital |
| Leukocyte | White blood cell |
| LFT's | see Liver function tests |
| Liver function tests | Laboratory tests from a blood specimen that give information about liver function. For example: bilirubin, SGOT, SGPT, GGT, Alkaline phosphatase |
| Lymphocyte | Type of white cell that fights infections by producing antibodies and regulating the immune system response |
| Malignant | Cancerous |
| Managed Care | Term to describe various approaches to provide and pay for healthcare in an attempt to limit fees for health services and control or manage those services. |
| Medically necessary | Term relating to an evaluation process used by insurance companies to decide whether requested health care services will be covered. |
| Metastatic | Spread of disease from the organ or tissue of origin to another part of the body |
| Mini-transplant | see Non-Myeloablative Transplant. |
| Mobilization | Process to increase the number of stem cells in the blood stream. May be accomplished by the daily injections of CSF, or by a combination of chemotherapy and CSF |
| Monoclonal antibody | Antibodies that are all identical, derived from a single "clone". Sometimes used in "purging", a process by which certain cells are removed from bone marrow before infusion into patients |
| Monocyte | Type of white cell that fight against infection by eating and killing bacteria and fungi |
| Mucositis | Inflammation, ulceration, and sloughing of the lining cells of the mouth and/or throat Usually side effect of chemotherapy and irradiation; may also be caused by herpes virus. |
| MRI | Magnetic Resonance Imaging; three-dimensional X-ray |
| MUGA-scan | Multiple Gated Pool scan; nuclear medicine test to assess the function of the left ventricle of the heart |
| NCI | National Cancer Institute |
| Neutropenia | Low level of granulocytes in the blood. Mostly considered to exist when ANC < 500/mm3 |
| Neutrophils | see Granulocytes |
| NMDP | National Marrow Donor Program. Federally supported organization that has the largest registry of volunteer (unrelated) stem cell donors. Located in Minneapolis, MN |
| NPO | Do not take anything by mouth |
| Non-Myeloablative Transplant | Allogeneic stem-cell transplant that uses a less aggressive, less toxic, preparative regimen. |
| Oncology | Study of cancer |
| Packed Red Blood Cell | Red blood cells collected from one individual that are packed into a small volume for transfusion into a patient |
| Pancytopenia | Deficiency of all types of blood cells |
| PBSC | see Peripheral blood stem cells |
| PBSCT | Peripheral blood stem cell transplant |
| Peripheral blood stem cells | Stem cells obtained from the blood stream through an apheresis procedure. Process of "mobilization" increases the number of peripheral blood stem cells that can be collected |
| Petechiae | Small red spots on the skin (like flea-bites) that usually indicate a low platelet count |
| Photopheresis | Treatment in which white blood cells are exposed to ultraviolet light in the presence of a sensitizing agent. Used for skin lymphomas and for graft-versus-host Disease. |
| Plasma | Fluid and protein-containing portion of the blood |
| Platelets | Type of blood cell. Important to control bleeding; smallest cell element in the blood. |
| Pluripotent stem cell | Earliest stem cells; can mature into all cell types in the blood, but also maintain their own numbers |
| Polycythemia | Increase in the total number of red cells in the bloodstream |
| Polys | see Granulocytes |
| Pre-certification | Requirement to receive prior approval for hospital admission and certain other services. Feature of many managed care health plans |
| Pre-existing condition | Refers to a clause in your insurance contract which may exclude coverage for certain disease(s) because they were present before the plan went into effect. |
| Preparative regimen | Chemotherapy and/or Radiation therapy given prior to a stem cell transplant. Duration varies between 2 and 10 days. Goals are to kill malignant cells, create space for the new stem cells, and break the immune system of the patient (allogeneic transplants only). Also called conditioning regimen |
| Prognosis | Predicted or likely outcome |
| Protocol | Plan of treatment |
| Purging | Process by which certain types of cells are removed from stem cells prior to infusion into the patient. In autologous transplantation, stem cells may be purged to remove lingering cancer cells. In allogeneic transplants, donor stem cells may be purged to remove T-lymphocytes that cause graft-versus-host disease |
| Randomization | Assignment of a patient to a treatment protocol that is decided at random. This may be done when a new treatment is being compared to a standard one |
| RBC | see Red blood cells |
| Red blood cells | Cells in the blood that transport oxygen from the lungs to the tissues. A deficiency of red cells causes anemia |
| Relapse | Recurrence of the disease following treatment |
| Remission (complete) | Condition in which no cancerous cells can be detected by a microscope, and the patient appears to be disease-free |
| Remission (partial) | Means that be all methods used to measure the existence of tumor, there has been at least a 50% regression of the disease following treatment |
| Sepsis | Presence of micro-organisms in the blood stream leading to clinical symptoms (low blood pressure, fever etc) |
| Sicca syndrome | Dryness of eyes and mouth; may be caused by graft-versus-host disease |
| Stem Cell | "Mother" cell from which all types of blood cell originate |
| Steroids | Class of drugs commonly used to decrease nausea after chemotherapy, and fight graft-versus-host disease. Specific drugs are Solumedrol® given i.v., and prednisone given by mouth |
| Stomatitis | see Mucositis |
| Subclavian catheter | see Central venous catheter |
| Syngeneic | Originating from an identical-twin donor |
| Tacrolimus | Immunosuppressive drug used to prevent graft-versus-host disease (Prograf®) . Alternative for cyclosporine |
| TBI | see Total body Irradiation |
| T-cell depletion | see Purging |
| T-lymphocytes | Sub-class of lymphocytes. Considered to be responsible for graft-versus-host disease |
| Thrombocyte | see Platelets |
| Thrombocytopenia | Low level of platelets in the blood; increases risk of bleeding |
| Total Body Irradiation | Treatment in which the entire body receives irradiation. Mostly given over several days. |
| Total parenteral nutrition | see Hyperalimentation |
| TPN | see Hyperalimentation |
| Transplant-lite | see Non-Myeloablative Transplant |
| Tumor burden | Size of the tumor or number of abnormal cells in the organ or tissue |
| Urokinase | Intravenous thrombolytic agent used to restore patency to central venous catheters |
| Veno-occlusive disease | Complication of transplant in which the small blood vessels that carry blood through the liver become swollen and clogged. May lead to abdominal pain, jaundice, and ascites |
| Virus | Tiny micro-organism that invades cells, alters their genetic machinery, and turns them into factories for production of more of the virus |
| VOD | see Veno-occlusive disease |
| WBC | White blood cells |
| Xerostomia | Dryness of the mouth caused by malfunctioning salivary glands |
*HICKMAN & GROSHONG are registered trademarks of C.R. Bard, Inc, and it's related company, BCR, Inc.
