Glossary of Urological Terms

ablation
A technique used for reduction. For example, in the management of prostate cancer, hormonal ablation means the use of hormonal techniques to reduce the spread of prostate cancer cells.

adjuvant
Something that is added on. For example, adjuvant cryotherapy is cryotherapy added on to another form of therapy.

adenocarcinoma
A form of cancer that develops from a malignant abnormality in the cells lining an organ, such as the prostate.

adrenal glands
The two glands located above the kidneys. They produce a variety of different hormones, including sex hormones.

adrenalectomy
The surgical removal of one or both adrenal glands.

age-adjusted
A modification to take into account the age of an individual or group of individuals. For example, the prostate cancer survival data and average normal PSA values can be adjusted according to the ages of the groups of men involved in the study.

alpha-blockers
Pharmaceutical products that act on the prostate by relaxing certain types of muscle tissue. These pharmaceuticals are often used in the treatment of BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia).

analog
A synthetic chemical or pharmaceutical that behaves very much like a normal bodily chemical.

Anandron
The brand name for nilutamide.

androgen
The hormone that is responsible for male characteristics and the development and function of male sexual organs (e.g., testosterone).

aneuploid
An aberrant number of chromosomes in a cell. Usually associated with cancer diagnosis.

anterior
The front. For example, the anterior of the prostate faces forward.

antiandrogen
A compound (usually a synthetic pharmaceutical) that blocks the normal action of androgens.

antibiotic
A pharmaceutical that kills certain types of bacteria.

antibody
A protein produced by the immune system as a defense against an invading or "foreign" substance. For example, when you get a cold your body produces antibodies to the cold virus.

anticoagulant
A pharmaceutical product that helps stop your blood from clotting.

antigen
A "foreign" material introduced into the body, such as a virus or bacterium, or other material that the immune system considers to be "foreign" because it is not part of the body's normal biology.

anus
The entry point of the rectum.

apex
The bottom of the prostate.

aspiration
The use of suction to remove fluid or tissue. This is usually done through a needle.

asymptomatic
The lack of recognizable symptoms of a particular disorder.

autologous
Belonging to one's self. For example, autologous blood is a patient's own blood, which is removed prior to surgery in case a patient needs a blood transfusion.

base
Refers to the prostate. The base of the prostate is at the top of the prostate, close to the bladder.

benign
Non-cancerous

benign prostatic hyperplasia
See BPH

bicalutamide
A nonsteroidal antiandrogen used for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer

bilateral
Both sides. For example, a bilateral adrenalectomy is an operation in which both adrenal glands are removed.

biopsy
A sampling of tissue from a particular part of the body to check for abnormalities, such as cancer.

bladder
The human organ in which urine is collected and stored.

bone scan
A technique that uses radio-labeled agents to identify abnormal growths within or attached to bone.

bowel preparation
The cleaning of the bowels or intestines prior to abdominal surgery.

BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia)
Enlargement of the prostate.

brachytherapy
The implantation of radioactive seeds that emit low energy radiation in an effort to kill surrounding tissue.

cancer
The uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body.

capsule
The fibrous tissue that forms the outer lining of the prostate.

carcinoma
A form of cancer that originates in the tissues that line or cover an organ

Casodex
A brand name for bicalutamide.

castration
The use of surgical or medical techniques to lower the level of testosterone in the male.

catheter
A hollow tube used to drain fluids from or inject fluids into the body.

chemoprevention
The use of pharmaceutical or other substances to prevent the development of cancer.

chemotherapy
The use of pharmaceuticals to kill cancer cells.

clinical trial
A carefully planned experiment designed to evaluate a treatment or a medication.

complication
An unexpected or unwanted effect of a treatment, pharmaceutical or other procedure.

computer tomographic scan (CT scan)
An X-ray that reveals cross-section images of the body.

conformational therapy
The use of careful planning and delivery techniques to focus radiation on the areas of the prostate and surrounding tissue that need treatment, and to protect areas that do not.

constipation
Infrequent or hard stools, or difficulty in passing stools.

contractur
Scarring that occurs at the bladder neck after a radical prostatectomy and results in narrowing of the passage between the bladder and the urethra.

corpora cavernosa
A part of a man's penis that fills with blood when he is sexually excited, giving the organ the stiffness required for intercourse.

cremasteric reflex
The involuntary contraction of the dartos muscle of the scrotum when the inner thigh is scratched. Found to be absent when there is a testicular torsion.

cryoablation
See cryosurgery.

cryosurgery
The use of liquid nitrogen to freeze an organ to kill the tissue.

cryotherapy
See cryosurgery.

CT scan (computerized tomography, also known as computerized axial tomography or a CAT scan)
A method of combining images from multiple X-rays with a computer to produce sophisticated cross-sectional or three-dimensional pictures of internal organs.

cystitis
A bacterial infection of the lower urinary tract or bladder.

cystoscope
An instrument used to view the interior of the bladder and urethra.

cystoscopy
The use of a cystoscope to view the interior of the bladder and urethra.

DDAVP
The acronym for the drug desmopressin acetate. It is a nasal spray prescribed for children who have a problem with bed-wetting.

debulking
The reduction of the volume of cancer by one of several techniques. This term is most frequently refers to surgical debulking.

DES
See diethylstilbestrol

DHT
See dihydrotestosterone

diagnosis
The evaluation of symptoms and test results to determine the physical and biological causes and whether a specific disease or disorder is involved.

diethylstilbestrol
A female hormone commonly used in the 1960s and 1970s for treatment of prostate cancer.

digital rectal examination
A lubricated and gloved finger inserted into the rectum to feel for abnormalities of the prostate and rectum.

dihydrotestosterone
The male hormone active in the prostate.

differentiation
A tool that evaluates the differences between microscopic prostate cancer cells as a method to grade the severity of the disease.

diploid
One complete set of normally paired chromosomes

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
The basic chemical that defines the physical development of nearly all living organisms.

double-blind
A form of clinical trial in which neither the physician nor the patient knows the actual treatment which any individual patient is receiving. These are used as a way of minimizing the effects of the personal opinions on the results.

doubling time
The time it takes cancer to double in size.

downstaging
The use of hormonal or other forms of management to reduce the volume of prostate cancer prior to an attempted curative treatment.

DRE
See digital rectal examination

dysplasia
See PIN

dysuria
Urination that is painful or in some way problematic

ejaculate (verb)
The eruption of semen during an orgasm.

ejaculate (noun)
The substance released from the penis during an orgasm. It is composed of fluid and nutrients from the seminal vesicals and prostate and contains two to five percent sperm.

ejaculation
The sudden expulsion of semen.

Emcyt
A brand name for estramustine phosphate

endoscopy
The use of a fiber-optic tube connected to a light source to view a body cavity or organ.

epididymis
The structure that surrounds the testicle and collects sperm.

erection
The process by which the penis becomes enlarged with blood and rigid.

estramustine phosphate
A chemotherapeutic agent used for some patients with late stage prostate cancer.

estrogen
A female hormone. Some estrogens (e.g., diethylstilbestrol) are used in the treatment of prostate cancer.

Eulexin
The brand name for flutamide in the US.

experimental
An unproven or untested technique or procedure.

external beam
A form of radiation therapy delivered by a machine pointed at the area to be radiated.

Flutamide
An antiandrogen used in the hormonal treatment of advanced prostate cancer. It is sometimes used in the treatment of earlier stages of prostate cancer.

frequency
The need to urinate often.

frozen section
A method used by a pathologist to analyze tissue under a microscope to form a pathologic opinion of the presence or absence of prostate cancer. This is usually used for the pelvic lymph nodes.

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CHILDHOOD UROLOGICAL PROBLEMS : GLOSSARY : MEN'S KIDNEY PROBLEMS : WOMEN'S KIDNEY PROBLEMS : PROSTATE PROBLEMS : SEXUAL AND MALE GENITALIA PROBLEMS : MEN'S URINARY INCONTINENCE AND BLADDER PROBLEMS : WOMEN'S URINARY INCONTINENCE AND BLADDER PROBLEMS