Diseases & Conditions

Terms in this category

• AcinarAcinar refers to a small, cluster-like or grape-like grouping of cells or glands, often the smallest function…
• AdenocarcinomaAdenocarcinoma is a cancer that begins in glandular cells, the cells that produce mucus and other fluids in t…
• Adenomatoid TumorAn adenomatoid tumor is a small, benign growth that arises from mesothelial cells, the same cells that line b…
• AnthracosisAnthracosis is the buildup of black carbon pigment in lung tissue from inhaling coal dust, soot, diesel exhau…
• Appendiceal MetastasisAppendiceal metastasis refers to cancer that has spread to, or involves, the appendix, a small tube-shaped po…
• Asbestos CornsAsbestos corns are small, hard, callus-like skin growths that form when asbestos fibers become embedded in th…
• Asbestos-Related Pleural DiseaseAsbestos-related pleural disease is the umbrella name for the non-cancerous changes asbestos causes in the pl…
• AsbestosisAsbestosis is scarring (fibrosis) of the lung tissue caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. The scarring builds …
• AscitesAscites is a buildup of fluid inside the abdominal cavity, the space that surrounds the stomach, liver, intes…
• AtelectasisAtelectasis is the collapse or incomplete inflation of part or all of a lung, so that the affected air sacs c…
• BenignBenign means not cancerous. A benign growth or condition does not invade surrounding tissue or spread to othe…
• Benign Asbestos Pleural EffusionBenign asbestos pleural effusion is a buildup of fluid between the lung and the chest wall caused by asbestos…
• Biphasic MesotheliomaBiphasic mesothelioma (also called mixed mesothelioma) is a tumor that contains a mixture of two distinct cel…
• Bronchogenic CarcinomaBronchogenic carcinoma is cancer that arises from the cells lining the airways (bronchi) of the lungs. It is …
• Butchart Staging SystemThe Butchart Staging System is one of the oldest staging systems for pleural mesothelioma. It divides the dis…
• CarcinomaCarcinoma is a cancer that begins in epithelial cells, the cells that line the surfaces of organs, airways, g…
• Cardiac TamponadeCardiac tamponade is a medical emergency in which fluid builds up in the sac around the heart (the pericardiu…
• Colorectal CancerColorectal cancer is cancer of the colon or rectum, the large bowel. Asbestos exposure has been linked to a m…
• COPDCOPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) is a progressive lung disease in which the airways become narrow…
• Cor PulmonaleCor pulmonale is enlargement and weakening of the right side of the heart caused by long-standing lung diseas…
• CyanosisCyanosis is a bluish or purplish discoloration of the skin, lips, or nail beds caused by inadequate oxygen in…
• Deciduoid VariantThe deciduoid variant is a rare and aggressive subtype of epithelioid mesothelioma in which tumor cells resem…
• Desmoplastic MesotheliomaDesmoplastic mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive subtype of sarcomatoid mesothelioma in which more than hal…
• Desmoplastic Small Round Cell TumorDesmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor (DSRCT) is a rare and aggressive soft-tissue cancer that most often arise…
• Diffuse Pleural ThickeningDiffuse pleural thickening is widespread scarring and stiffening of the lining around the lungs, the pleura, …
• Disease ProgressionDisease progression means a disease is getting worse over time, spreading, growing, or causing more symptoms.…
• Dust PhthisisDust phthisis is a historical medical term for a chronic, wasting lung disease caused by long-term inhalation…
• DysphagiaDysphagia is difficulty or discomfort swallowing food, liquids, or even saliva. It can feel like food stickin…
• DyspneaDyspnea is the medical term for shortness of breath or the uncomfortable awareness of having to work harder t…
• EmphysemaEmphysema is permanent damage to the walls of the air sacs in the lungs, leaving larger, floppy air spaces th…
• EmpyemaEmpyema is a collection of pus in the pleural space, the gap between the lung and the chest wall. It is a ser…
• Environmental MesotheliomaEnvironmental mesothelioma is mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure that occurred outside of a workplace s…
• EpididymitisEpididymitis is inflammation of the epididymis, the coiled tube behind each testicle that stores and transpor…
• ErythemaErythema is redness of the skin caused by increased blood flow through small vessels near the surface. It is …
• Esophageal CancerEsophageal cancer is cancer of the esophagus, the tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach. A li…
• Extra-Abdominal Metastatic DiseaseExtra-abdominal metastatic disease refers to the spread of cancer from its original site to organs or tissues…
• FibrosisFibrosis is the buildup of stiff, scar-like connective tissue inside an organ in response to repeated injury …
• Fissure InvolvementFissure involvement refers to the spread of disease, most often tumor or thickened pleura, into the natural c…
• Germ Cell TumorA germ cell tumor is a growth that arises from the cells that normally develop into eggs or sperm. These tumo…
• GranulomaA granuloma is a tiny, organized cluster of immune cells that forms when the body tries to wall off something…
• HemoptysisHemoptysis is the coughing up of blood or blood-streaked mucus that originates from the lungs or airways. It …
• HemothoraxHemothorax is the buildup of blood in the pleural space, the thin gap between the lung and the chest wall. Ev…
• HydroceleA hydrocele is a collection of fluid between the layers of the tunica vaginalis, the thin membrane surroundin…
• Hypertrophic Pulmonary Osteoarthropathy (HPOA)HPOA is a syndrome in which the fingers and toes become clubbed, the long bones (often in the wrists, ankles,…
• HypoxiaHypoxia is a state in which the body's tissues are not receiving enough oxygen to function normally. It can a…
• Idiopathic MesotheliomaIdiopathic mesothelioma refers to a case of mesothelioma in which no clear cause, including asbestos exposure…
• Inguinal HerniaAn inguinal hernia is a bulge that occurs when part of the intestine or abdominal tissue pushes through a wea…
• Interstitial FibrosisInterstitial fibrosis is scarring of the interstitium, the thin web of tissue between the lung's air sacs whe…
• Interstitial Lung DiseaseInterstitial lung disease (ILD) is a broad group of conditions that cause scarring and inflammation in the in…
• Laryngeal CancerLaryngeal cancer is cancer of the larynx, the voice box at the top of the windpipe. Asbestos is a recognized …
• Localized Malignant MesotheliomaLocalized malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of mesothelioma that grows as a single, well-defined mass ins…
• Lung AdenocarcinomaLung adenocarcinoma is the most common type of non-small cell lung cancer. It begins in the glandular cells t…
• Lung CancerLung cancer is a malignant tumor that starts in the tissue of the lungs. Asbestos is a proven cause of lung c…
• LymphohistiocytoidLymphohistiocytoid mesothelioma is a rare variant of malignant mesothelioma in which the tumor is heavily inf…
• MalignantMalignant describes a tumor or disease process in which abnormal cells grow without normal limits, invade nea…
• Malignant MesotheliomaMalignant mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that forms in the mesothelium, the thin lining that covers the…
• Mesenchymal TumorA mesenchymal tumor is a growth that arises from the body's connective or supporting tissues, the cells that …
• MesotheliomaMesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that arises from the mesothelium, the thin layer of cells that lines the…
• Mesothelioma in SituMesothelioma in situ is the earliest recognized form of mesothelioma: a single layer of malignant mesothelial…
• Metsovo LungMetsovo Lung is a regional form of environmental asbestos-related disease first identified in residents of Me…
• MicropapillaryMicropapillary is a microscopic growth pattern in which tumor cells form small, finger-like clusters that flo…
• Multicystic Mesothelioma (MCM)Multicystic mesothelioma is a rare tumor of the mesothelium, the thin lining of body cavities, that forms clu…
• MyelomaMyeloma, usually called multiple myeloma, is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell that lives …
• Myxoid StromaMyxoid stroma is a soft, gel-like background material that pathologists see between tumor cells when they exa…
• NeoplasmA neoplasm is an abnormal growth of tissue caused by cells that divide and grow when they should not. Neoplas…
• NeutropeniaNeutropenia is a low level of neutrophils, the white blood cells that fight bacterial infection. It is a comm…
• Node-negativeNode-negative means that when lymph nodes were examined (either by imaging, biopsy, or after surgical removal…
• Non-epithelioidNon-epithelioid is a category used by pathologists to describe mesothelioma tumors that are not the epithelio…
• Non-Small Cell Lung CancerNon-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common category of lung cancer, including subtypes such as ade…
• Obstructive Lung DiseaseObstructive lung disease is any condition that narrows the airways so air cannot be breathed out quickly, suc…
• Occupational Lung DiseaseOccupational lung disease is any lung condition caused or worsened by breathing harmful substances at work, s…
• OtotoxicityOtotoxicity is damage to the inner ear caused by certain drugs or chemicals, which can produce hearing loss, …
• Ovarian CancerOvarian cancer is cancer that starts in the ovaries or nearby fallopian tubes. Asbestos is a recognized cause…
• Ovarian Serous CarcinomaOvarian serous carcinoma is the most common type of epithelial ovarian cancer, arising from cells that resemb…
• Paratesticular SarcomaParatesticular sarcoma is a rare malignant tumor that develops in the soft tissues surrounding the testicle, …
• Parenchymal FibrosisParenchymal fibrosis is scarring of the working tissue of the lung, the alveoli (air sacs) and the thin walls…
• PathologyPathology is the branch of medicine that diagnoses disease by examining tissues, cells, and body fluids under…
• Pericardial MesotheliomaPericardial mesothelioma is a cancer of the pericardium, the thin sac of tissue around the heart. It is the r…
• Peritoneal MesotheliomaPeritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer of the peritoneum, the thin tissue lining the abdominal cavity and coveri…
• Pharyngeal CancerPharyngeal cancer is cancer of the pharynx, the part of the throat behind the mouth and nose that leads to th…
• Pleural EffusionA pleural effusion is a buildup of fluid in the thin space between the lung and the chest wall. Normally only…
• Pleural MesotheliomaPleural mesothelioma is a cancer that develops in the thin membrane (the pleura) lining the lungs and the ins…
• Pleural Plaque MarginThe pleural plaque margin is the outer edge or border of a pleural plaque, a localized area of thickened, fib…
• Pleural PlaquesPleural plaques are localized areas of thickened, often calcified fibrous tissue that form on the parietal pl…
• Pleural ThickeningPleural thickening is scarring of the lining around the lungs (the pleura) that makes it thicker and stiffer …
• PleurisyPleurisy is inflammation of the pleura, the two-layered membrane that wraps the lungs and lines the inside of…
• Pneumatosis PulmonalisA rare condition in which gas-filled cysts or air-containing spaces form within the functional tissue of the …
• PneumoconiosisPneumoconiosis is the general medical term for a group of lung diseases caused by inhaling mineral or metal d…
• PneumonitisPneumonitis is inflammation of the lung tissue that is not caused by an infection. In people treated for asbe…
• PneumothoraxA pneumothorax is air that has leaked into the space between the lung and the chest wall, causing part or all…
• Primary Peritoneal CarcinomaPrimary peritoneal carcinoma (PPC) is a cancer that begins in the peritoneum, the thin tissue lining the abdo…
• Pseudomesotheliomatous AdenocarcinomaPseudomesotheliomatous adenocarcinoma is a lung cancer (usually adenocarcinoma) that spreads along the pleura…
• Pulmonary FibrosisPulmonary fibrosis is scarring and stiffening of the lung tissue that makes breathing progressively harder. A…
• Pulmonary HypertensionPulmonary hypertension is high blood pressure in the arteries that carry blood from the heart to the lungs. I…
• Reactive CellsReactive cells are normal body cells (usually mesothelial cells lining the pleura or peritoneum, or immune ce…
• Reactive Mesothelial HyperplasiaA benign, non-cancerous overgrowth of the mesothelial cells that line the pleura (around the lungs), peritone…
• Restrictive Lung DiseaseRestrictive lung disease is a group of conditions in which the lungs cannot fully expand, so they hold less a…
• RhabdoidRhabdoid describes a distinctive appearance of tumor cells under the microscope: large, round cells with an e…
• Rounded AtelectasisRounded atelectasis is a benign, rounded area of collapsed lung that forms next to thickened pleura, the lini…
• SarcomaSarcoma is a broad category of cancers that arise from connective or supporting tissues of the body, includin…
• SequelaA sequela is a health condition that develops as a direct consequence of an earlier disease, injury, or expos…
• Serous Papillary CarcinomaSerous papillary carcinoma is a type of cancer that arises from epithelial cells lining body cavities or orga…
• SilicosisSilicosis is a progressive scarring lung disease caused by inhaling fine particles of crystalline silica, the…
• Small Cell Lung CancerSmall cell lung cancer is a fast-growing type of lung cancer made up of small, tightly packed neuroendocrine …
• Solitary Fibrous TumorA solitary fibrous tumor is an uncommon, usually benign growth that often arises from the pleura, the lining …
• SpermatoceleA spermatocele is a benign, fluid-filled cyst that develops in the epididymis, the coiled tube behind the tes…
• Squamous Cell CarcinomaSquamous cell carcinoma is a type of cancer that begins in the flat, thin squamous cells that line many surfa…
• Stomach CancerStomach cancer, or gastric cancer, is cancer of the lining of the stomach. Some studies of heavily exposed wo…
• Synovial SarcomaSynovial sarcoma is a rare cancer of soft tissue that can occasionally arise in the pleura or chest wall. Und…
• Testicular MesotheliomaTesticular mesothelioma is an extremely rare cancer that arises from the tunica vaginalis, the thin mesotheli…
• Testicular TorsionTesticular torsion is a urological emergency in which the spermatic cord twists, cutting off blood flow to th…
• TrabecularTrabecular describes a pattern of tissue made up of small bands, cords, or interconnecting strands called tra…
• Tract MetastasisA tract metastasis is tumor that grows along the path made by a needle, chest drain, catheter or surgical por…
• Transitional MesotheliomaTransitional mesothelioma is a histologic pattern of malignant mesothelioma in which the tumor cells show fea…
• Trapped LungTrapped lung is a lung that cannot fully re-expand after fluid is drained from around it, because a stiff lay…
• Tuberculous pleurisyTuberculous pleurisy is inflammation of the pleura (the thin lining around the lungs) caused by infection wit…
• TubulopapillaryTubulopapillary describes a tissue growth pattern under the microscope in which tumor cells form small tubes …
• Unresectable Pleural MesotheliomaUnresectable pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lungs (pleura) that cannot be completely r…
• Well-Differentiated Papillary MesotheliomaWell-differentiated papillary mesothelioma (WDPM) is a rare tumor that grows from the lining (mesothelium) of…