Glossary

A localized, blood filled dilatation (balloon like bulge) of a blood vessel caused by a weakening of the wall by disease, injury or abnormality present at birth.

The plaque which builds up in the arteries leading to vascular disease.

A disease of the blood vessel walls. Also called coronary artery disease (CAD) in the heart or Peripheral Vascular disease in the legs etc. Over time, progression of plaque build up (CAD) can narrow the arteries or even close off blood supply to essential organs. People with this disease have an increased risk for heart attack and stroke.

An old medical procedure used to examine and diagnose problems of the colon (large intestine). X-ray pictures are taken while barium sulphate fills the colon via the rectum. This is increasingly being replaced by CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy).

The pressure of circulating blood against the walls of the blood vessels.

A measure of a persons weight in relation to their height.

A protein that can be found in the blood and is useful in detecting and evaluating ovarian cancer.

Computed Tomography

CT scanning technology takes high definition images of specific parts of your body using x-rays.

A malignant tumour derived from epithelial tissue.

A fat like substance that is made by the body and is naturally found in animal foods such as meat, fish, poultry, eggs and dairy products. Cholesterol is carried in the blood. High levels are thought to be associated with an increased risk of atheromatous arterial disease.

A malignant tumour of the colon. It is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer related death in the western world.

An invasive medical procedure where a long fibreoptic instrument is passed round the colon to inspect for polyps and cancers. This always requires a full bowel preparation and usually sedation.

Identifies the presence and extent of calcified atheromatous plaque in the coronary arteries – the vessels that supply oxygen – containing blood to the heart.

The inability of the body to produce adequate amounts of the human hormone insulin. This is essential for normal metabolism. Diabetics are at increased risk of developing arterial disease.

Electrocardiogram – is a recording of the electrical impulses from the heart and plays an key role in the diagnosis of heart disease.

Membranous tissue covering internal organs and other internal surfaces of the body.

The leading cause of death in the developed World.  An umbrella term for a variety of different diseases affecting the heart, the commonest form of which is coronary artery disease.

Disease of uncontrolled cell growth in the tissues of the lungs.  This is the commonest form of cancer with 90% of cases occurring in current or ex smokers.  The vast majority of primary lung cancers are carcinomas of the lung derived from epithelial cells.

Spirometry - meaning the measuring of breath.  Measures the lung function and lung capacity.  Poor lung function may indicate conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, emphysema and obesity etc.

When describing a tumour, one which tends to spread and can result in death.

The spreading of disease (usually cancer) to another part of the body.

A unit of ionizing radiation equal to 1/1000 of a sievert (Sv). The average background exposure in the UK is 2.5 mSv per year but in parts of Cornwall and Scotland can be as high as 10mSv per year. Exposures below 100 mSv per year have not been proven to be associated with any harmful effects in man

A small congenital pigmented spot on the skin.

A disease of the bone that leads to an increased risk of fracture. In osteoporosis the boned mineral density (BMD) is reduced.

Prostate specific antigen: a protein manufactured exclusively by the prostate gland.

An abnormal growth of tissue projecting from a mucous membrane.

Energy that is radiated or transmitted in the form of x-rays, waves or particles.

A specialist or technician in radiography.

A radiologist is a medical doctor who specializes in the reading and interpretation of X-rays and other medical images. Many years of training are required to be able to diagnose the presence of tumors and other abnormalities with a low rate of errors.

Measure the amount of haemoglobin, melanin and collagen in the outer most layer of the epidermis to a depth of 2mm.

An invasive medical examination of the lower part of the large intestine from the rectum through to the sigmoid colon in a search for polyps or cancer.

Cancer that forms in tissues of the skin, when cancer forms from cells that make pigment it is called melanoma.

A non-invasive medical imaging procedure which uses x-rays (CT scan) to produce two and three dimensional images of the colon to diagnose polyps, cancer and diverticular disease.

A radiograph made by projecting x-rays through organs or structures of the body onto photographic film.