This is a useful online medical dictionary:
www.online-medical-dictionary.org

This is a detailed dictionary of surgical terms:
www.surgeryencyclopedia.com

 

A

anemia – low level of red cells in the blood
ANC – absolute neutrophil count (x 109 cells)
angiogenesis – the process of growth of new blood vessels in the body
angiogenesis inhibitor – a drug which slows or stops the growth of new blood vessels
(e.g. a commercial drug that works this way is Avastin)
anterior – the front part
appendectomy – removal of the appendix
axilla – armpit

B

b.i.d. – twice a day (bis in die)
bilateral – referring to both sides of the body
bowel obstruction – blockage of the intestine
bowel perforation – a hole in the wall of the bowel (a life threatening condition)

C

CA-125 – cancer antigen 125, a protein made by ovarian cancer cells and certain other cells in the
body, used to monitor the progress of ovarian cancer
cachexia – state of being very thin and weak from malnutrition
carcinomatosis – widespread dissemination of tumours
ceruloplasmin – protein in the blood which carries copper
(this test is used to measure the amount of copper in the body)
CNS – central nervous system (referring to the brain and spinal cord)
CT – computerized tomography (x-ray scan which shows bones and internal organs of the body in slices)

cutaneous – referring to the skin

D

DCA – dichloroacetate sodium
dilatation – the condition of a tubular structure or opening being stretched beyond its normal size
distention – a condition of swelling or enlargement
dyspnea – difficulty breathing

E

edema – swelling
excision – surgical removal
exertional dyspnea – shortness of breath with activity or exercise

G

GI – gastrointestinal (referring to the stomach and intestines)

H

hallucination – a condition of perceiving something that is not actually present
hepatic flexure – a bend in the large intestine near the liver (right upper abdomen)
hyperesthesia – increased sensitivity to stimulation
hypertension – high blood pressure
hypothyroidism – under-active thyroid gland

M

metastases – spread of cancer to various parts of the body
mg – milligrams (1mg = 1/1000 of a gram)
mg/kg/day – milligrams of medication per kilogram of body weight per day
MRI – magnetic resonance imaging (a scan of the body which uses strong magnets
and radio waves to generate picture of internal organs)

N

neuropathy – abnormality of a nerve
neutropenia – low level of neutrophils in the blood
neutrophil – one of the 5 white blood cell types that fights bacterial infection

P

p.o. – by mounth (per os)
palliative – symptom management for an incurable illness
palpable – something which can be felt by touching by hand
peritoneum – membrane which lines the outside surface of the bowels, and all the other abdominal organs
pleura – membrane which covers the outer surface of the lungs
posterior – the back part
proximal – nearest, closer to any point of reference
pulmonary – referring to the lungs

Q

q.d. – once a day (quaque die)
q.i.d. – four times a day (quater in die)

R

renal – referring to the kidneys

S

s.c. – subcutaneous (under the skin)
splenic flexure – a bend in the large intestine near the spleen (left upper abdomen)
stent – a device used to hold open a tubular structure that is being narrowed
stereotactic radiation – radiation delivered by precise 3D positioning
(e.g. by a metal frame screwed to the skull for brain radiation)

T

t.i.d. – three times a day (ter in die)
thalamus – an oval shaped part of the brain which functions as a relay centre
for sensory impulses and coordination signals
transverse colon – the part of the colon (large intestine) that runs across the upper abdomen
tympanic – resonant like a drum
TM - ammonium tetrathiomolybdate