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Mesothelioma Help Center - Mesothelioma Dictionary

Mesothelioma Dictionary

Mesothelioma Dictionary of Legal & Medical Terms
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I

ICD-9
A 3 to 5-digit number code describing a diagnosis or medical procedure.
Idiopathic
A condition or disorder that occurs spontaneously for a unknown reason.
Ifosfamide
Antineoplastic alkylating agent that works by cross-linking DNA.
Ileostomy
A surgical opening in the abdomen connected to the small intestine to allow stool to be emptied into a collection bag.
Iliac Crest
Hip bone where a large quantity of bone marrow is concentrated.
Imaging
Method used to produce a picture of internal body structures, often used in mesothelioma diagnosis.
Imaging Tests
Taking pictures of the lungs and can detect problems such as a mass, an infection or air in the pleural space. Visual imaging tests include chest x-rays and CT scans.
Imatinib Mesylate
(also called Gleevec® or STI571) Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of some forms of adult and pediatric chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), and for the treatment of a rare form of cancer called gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST).
Immune System
Complex system which the body resists infection from microbes such as bacteria or viruses and rejects transplanted tissues or organs. The immune system may also help the body fight some cancers.
Immune
Protected against infection.
Immune-based Therapies
A way to make large quantities of targeted immune cells that one day may provide a life-saving defense against cancers and viral infections.
Immunity (Immune system)
The body's ability to fight infection and disease.
Immunization
Process which a person is protected against the effects of infection by a disease-causing microorganism.
Immunoaugmentive Therapy (IAT)
A developing treatment for mesothelioma that seeks to strengthen the body’s natural immune system by balancing four proteins found in the blood.
Immunocompromised
Condition where the bodies immune system is not working correctly.
Immunoglobulin (IG)
An antibody.
Immunohistochemical
Use of antibody-antigen stains to create reactions to locate markers specific to certain tissues or cells. This staining of human tissue is used to diagnose mesothelioma.
Immunohistochemistry (IHC)
The localization of antigens or proteins in tissue sections by the use of labeled antibodies as specific reagents through antigen-antibody interactions that are visualized by a marker such as fluorescent dye, enzyme, or colloidal gold.
Immunology
The study of how a body resists infection and other diseases. Knowledge gained in this field is important to those cancer treatments based on the principles of immunology.
Immunomodulator (Immune Modulator)
A substance capable of modifying functions of the immune system. Immune modulators include cytokines (e.g., IL-2, gamma interferon) and broad-acting agents.
Immunostaining
Specific proteins with color producing labels attached to them to stain tissue sections in order to differentiate one tumor from another. It is particularly important to use a battery of immunostains in order to tell whether the biopsy is a mesothelioma or a lung cancer.
Immunosuppressant
Drug that makes the body’s defenses less effective.
Immunosuppression
State in which the body's immune system does not work as it should. This condition may be present at birth, or it may be caused by certain infections (such as human immunodeficiency virus or HIV), or by certain cancer therapies, such as cancer-cell killing (cytotoxic) drugs, radiation, and bone marrow transplantation.
Immunotherapy
Treatment which helps activate the body’s own immune system to destroy disease. Treatment of disease by stimulating the body s own immune system. This is a type of therapy currently being researched as a treatment for cancer.
Implant
Small amount of radioactive material placed in or close to a cancer. Also, an artificial form used to restore the shape of an organ after surgery, for example, a breast implant.
Impotence
Unable to keep an erection of the penis.
IMRT (See Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy)
Utilizes a highly precise radiation system to deliver carefully calculated beams of intense radiation directly into a cancer.
In Situ
Confined to one area. A very early stage of cancer.
In Situ Hybridization
Method used to locate specific DNA or RNA sequences.
In Utero
In the uterus; typically refers to events that occur in the womb before birth.
In Vitro
Refers to work done in a test tube or culture medium in the laboratory.
In Vivo
Refers to work done using human or animal subjects.
Incidence
Number of new cases of a disease or condition in a specific population over a given period of time.
Incontinence
The loss of urinary control.
Indications
Diseases which a particular drug is effective against.
Induction
Initiation phase of a particular therapy
Infarction
Pulmonary hemorrhagic consolidation (often followed by necrosis) of lung parenchyma resulting from thromboembolic pulmonary artery occlusion.
Infiltration
The leaking of fluid into tissues, which can cause swelling.
Informed Consent
Legal Process by which a person learns key facts about a clinical trial, including potential risks and benefits, before deciding whether or not to participate in a study. Informed consent continues throughout the trial.
Infraclavicular nodes
Lymph nodes located beneath the collar bone.
Infusion
Putting fluids or medications into the bloodstream over a period of time.
Infusion pump
A device that delivers measured amounts of fluids into the bloodstream over a period of time.
Inhalation
Breathing. A hazardous substance can enter the body this way.
Injection
Putting a medication into the body with the use of a syringe and needle.
Injection, Subcutaneous
Injection into the fatty tissue under the skin.
In-Network Provider Physicians and other service providers who are contracted with a managed care plan.
Inpatient
A patient who is admitted to a hospital for at least a 24-hour period, and receives medical services from a physician.
Integrase
Enzyme that is produced by HIV that allows HIV DNA into the host cell's genetic material.
Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
Type of 3-dimensional radiation therapy that uses computer-generated images to show the size and shape of the tumor. Thin beams of radiation of different intensities are aimed at the tumor from many angles. This type of radiation therapy reduces the damage to healthy tissue near the tumor and is being explored in mesothelioma.
Intercostal Nerves
Nerves that are on the muscles between the ribs
Interferon
A naturally substance that interferes with the ability of viruses to reproduce. Interferon also boosts the immune system.
Interferon-Gamma
Substance that controls immune responses; produced by T lymphocytes.
Interleukin (IL)
A naturally produced chemical released by the body, Cytokine is secreted by immune cells that regulates a range of immune system functions.
Interlobar
Between the lungs.
Internal Radiation Therapy
Placing the radiation treatment source into or near the cancer or tumor. This procedure is also called brachytherapy or internal radiation.
Internal radiation therapy
Radiation therapy in which radioactive material is placed in or near a tumor.
Interrogatory
Series of questionnaires exchanged by the parties during the discovery process for the purpose of gaining information about issues and facts in the lawsuit.
Interstitial Disease
Scarring in the lungs.
Interstitial fibrosis
Chronic inflammation of the alveolar walls with a tendency to destroy the lung by consequent healing with progressively severe fibrosis. The progressive nature distinguishes it from other self-limiting forms of lung fibroses.
Interstitial Radiation Therapy
Treatment where a radioactive implant is placed directly into the tissue and is not in a body cavity.
Interstitium
Area between air sacs of the lung where the blood vessels are located and where oxygenation occurs.
Intractable
Resistant to treatment relief.
Intraepithelial Neoplasia
Abnormal cell growth that suggests possible malignancy. Common sites are the anus (anal intraepithelial neoplasia) and the uterine cervix (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia).
Intramuscular (IM) injection
Injection into the muscle.
Intraoperative Photodynamic Therapy
A developing treatment for mesothelioma, a drug that makes cancer cells more sensitive to light is injected into a vein several days before surgery. The drug helps the surgeon better identify and remove cancerous growths. A special light is shone on the area during the surgery, which increases the chance of the surgeon seeing, and therefore removing, more of the cancer.
Intrapartum
During birth.
Intrapericardial Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy drugs injected directly into the lining of the heart.
Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy
Treatment in which anticancer drugs are put directly into the abdominal cavity through a thin tube.
Intraperitoneally
Chemotherapy drugs that are inserted directly into the abdominal cavity.
Intrapleural Chemotherapy
Treatment in which anticancer drugs are put within the pleural cavity through a thin tube.
Intrapleural Interferon Gamma
The anti-cancer drug, that is directly administered into the affected area.
Intrapleurally
Chemotherapy drugs that are inserted directly into the chest cavity.
Intravenous (IV) Injection
Injection into the vein.
Intravenous
In or through a vein.
Invasive Cancer
Cancer that has spread beyond the layer of tissue in which it developed and is growing into surrounding, healthy tissues. Also called infiltrating cancer.
Ipsilateral
On the side of the body with the disease.
Irinotecan
A chemotherapy agent that is a topoisomerase 1 inhibitor. Chemically, it is a semisynthetic analogue of the natural alkaloid camptothecin. Its main use is in colon cancer, particularly in combination with other chemotherapy agents.
Ischemia
No blood supply to an area.
Itis
Inflammation.

Disclaimer: Mesothelioma Help Center’s Dictionary of Legal & Medical Terms is not designed to provide medical advice or professional services and is intended to be for educational use only. The information provided through Mesothelioma Help Center is not a substitute for professional care and should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or a disease. If you have, or suspect you may have, a health problem you should consult your doctor. If you need legal help you should consult an experienced mesothelioma lawyer.

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Mesothelioma Symptoms

The most common Mesothelioma symptoms are the following:

Recent onset of shortness of breath (31%)
Recent increase in shortness of breath (30%)
Chest pain (43%)
 
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