| ABMT |
Autologous Bone Marrow Transplant |
| Absolute Neutrophil Count |
The corrected number of neutrophils present in
the white blood cell count. Also named Absolute Granulocyte
Count. Formula: (% neutrophils + % bands) * WBC = ANC |
| Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia |
Leukemia of early cells of the lymphocyte series.
Occurs more frequently in children |
| Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia |
Leukemia of very early granulocytes (myeloid
cells). Occurs more frequently in adults. Several subtypes
including acute (myelo-)monocyic leukemia and acute Promyelocytic
leukemia |
| Adjuvant therapy |
Additional drug or other treatment designed to
enhance the effect of the primary therapy. |
| AGC |
see Absolute Neutrophil Count |
| ALG |
see Anti-thymocyte globulin |
| ALL |
see Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia |
| Allogeneic |
Originating from a donor (allo = other; Greek)
|
| Allograft |
Stem cells from a donor to be sued for transplant
|
| Alopecia |
Loss of hair |
| AML |
see Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia |
| Amphotericin |
Drug to prevent or treat fungal and yeast infections.
Mostly given by I.V.infusion; sometimes given by mouth |
| Anaphylaxis |
Acute allergic reaction with shortness of breath,
rash, wheezing, and/or low blood pressure |
| ANC |
see Absolute Neutrophil Count |
| Anemia |
Too few red cells in the blood, leading to insufficient
oxygen being carried to the tissues |
| Antibiotic |
Drug used to fight bacterial infections |
| Antibody |
Protein produced by the body, in response to
a foreign substance, to fight the invading organism |
| Antiemetic |
Drug to prevent or treat nausea or vomiting |
| Antifungal |
Drugs to prevent or treat fungal infections |
| Antigen |
Substance that evokes a response from the body's
immune system, resulting in the production of antibodies or
other defensive action by white blood cells. |
| Anti-thymocyte Globulin |
Anti-T-lymphocyte agent, used in preparative
regimens, or to treat prevent graft-versus-host disease. Also
called ATG, or ALG (anti-lymphocyte globulin). |
| Antiviral |
Drug to prevent or treat viral infections |
| Apheresis |
Procedure to withdraw plasma or cells from the
patient's/donor's blood with a machine. Can be used to obtain
plasma, platelets, or stem cells for transfusion; also to
remove diseased plasma or excessive white cells |
| Aplasia |
Empty bone marrow, resulting in very low blood
counts |
| Aplastic Anemia |
Non-cancerous disease, in which the bone marrow
is empty, and the blood counts are very low. |
| Approved Provider |
Healthcare provider (e.g., transplant center)
that meets plan requirements to be considered for reimbursement
|
| Ascites |
Accumulation of fluid in the abdomen outside
the bowels (in the "peritoneal cavity") Often caused by liver
failure |
| Aspergillus |
Type of fungus; may cause dangerous infections,
primarily of lungs and sinus |
| Aspirate |
Removal by suction, as in bone-marrow aspirate
|
| Assignment of benefits |
Option to have the insurance company make its
payments directly to the provider (or to you) |
| ATG |
see Anti-thymocyte globulin |
| Autograft |
Bone marrow or blood stem cells removed from
the body to be used for autologous transplant |
| Autologous |
From the patient him/herself; as in autologous
stem-cell transplant (autos = self; Greek) |
| Benign |
Non-cancerous |
| Bilirubin |
Pigment produced when the liver processes waste
products. A high bilirubin level causes jaundice (yellow skin
and eyes) |
| Biopsy |
Removal of tissue for examination under a microscope
to make the proper diagnosis. May be obtained with a needle
or with surgery |
| Bisulfan |
Chemotherapy drug, often used in preparative
regimen. Usually given by mouth (Myleran®), now
also Available for I.V. infusion (Busulfex®). |
| Blast cell |
Very early (immature) cells |
| Blast crisis |
Progression of disease in patient with Chronic
Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) to an more acute phase which resembles
Acute Myeloblastic leukemia (AML) with the appearance of many
very immature cells (blast cells) in bone marrow and blood
|
| Blood type |
Specific proteins of red cells that are inherited
from the parents, and are important to find compatible (matched)
blood. Tested with antisera in the blood bank |
| BMT |
Bone marrow transplant |
| Bone marrow |
Spongy tissue in the cavities of bones, such
as pelvis, vertebrae, ribs, and skull. Produces the cells
that circulate in the blood |
| Busulfan |
Chemotherapy drug, often used in preparative
regimen. Usually given by mouth; now also available for I.V.
infusion (Myleran®) |
| Candida |
Most frequent type of yeast in human body (oral
cavity and gut). May cause infections |
| Catheter |
Small, flexible plastic tube inserted into a
portion of the body to administer or remove fluids |
| CBC |
Complete blood count. Determines numbers of red
cells, white cells, and platelets in the blood |
| Central line |
see Central venous catheter |
| Central venous catheter |
Small, flexible plastic tube inserted into a
large vein, through which drugs and blood products can be
given, and blood samples withdrawn painlessly. Mostly inserted
into a vein above the heart (subclavian vein), sometimes inserted
into a vein in the groin Different types, such as HICKMAN®,
GROSHONG®, etc. |
| CGy |
centiGray; unit of irradiation, also called rad
|
| Chemotherapy |
Drugs used to treat cancer by destroying abnormal
cells or slowing their growth |
| Chest X-ray |
View of the chest area which includes the heart,
lungs, and ribs |
| Chronic |
Persisting for a long time |
| Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia |
Leukemia of mature lymphocytes. Mostly slowly
progressive. Occurs mainly in older adults |
| Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia |
Leukemia of the granulocytes. Starts with cells
that still mature normally. After a certain period of time
may transform into a more acute leukemia (blast crisis), frequently
via a transition ("accelerated") phase |
| Clinical trial |
Study of the effectiveness of a drug or treatment
|
| CLL |
see Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia |
| CML |
see Chronic Myelogenoud Leukemia |
| CMV |
see Cytomegalovirus |
| CNS |
Central nervous system |
| Colony-stimulating factors |
Proteins (drugs) that stimulate the production
and growth of certain types of blood cell. Examples are Neupogen®
and Leukine® |
| Conditioning regimen |
see Preparative regimen |
| Co-payment |
Part of charges the patient is responsible to
pay until a certain maximum amount is paid. Usually paid directly
to the provider at time of service |
| Covered services |
Medical services considered eligible for coverage
by your insurance plan |
| Cryopreservation |
Process to preserve by freezing, as in stem
cell cryopreservation |
| CSF |
see Colony-stimulating factors |
| CT-scan |
Three-dimensional X-ray. Also called CAT-scan
|
| Cyclophosphamide |
Chemotherapy drug frequently used in preparative
regimen (Cytoxan®) |
| Cyclosporine |
Immuno-suppressive drug used for the prevention
of graft-versus-host disease. Called Neoral® when used
in oral form |
| Cytogenetics |
Study of chromosome. Important to establish diagnosis
and estimate prognosis in many cases of leukemia. Also used
to document engraftment |
| Cytomegalovirus |
Virus that may lie dormant for many years in
patients who were infected in the past. Frequently causes
infection in transplant patients. Probably mostly transferred
by oral contact, but can also be transferred by blood products.
Drugs to prevent or treat the infection exist |
| Diff |
see Differential |
| Differential |
Distribution of various types of white cells
in the blood. Used to determine Absolute Neutrophil Count
(ANC) |
| DMSO |
Liquid used to prevent cell damage during cryopreservation.
(Di-Methyl SulfOxide) |
| Dysplasia |
Change in the size, shape, or organization of
cells |
| Edema |
Abnormal accumulation of fluid |
| EKG |
Electrocardiogram; tracing of the electrical
activity of the heart |
| Electrolytes |
Minerals found in the blood, such as sodium,
potassium, calcium, phosphorus, chloride, and magnesium |
| Engraftment |
Process of recovery of blood cells after transplant.
Often expressed as day that ANC > 500/mm3 (0.5 x 109/l) or
that white cells > 1,000/mm3. May be confirmed with tests
that cells come from donor (allogeneic transplant) |
| Enzyme |
Protein capable of facilitating a chemical reaction
|
| EOB |
Explanation of benefits; information your insurance
company sends to you and to your provider explaining what
is paid of billed charges. Also explains denials of payment
and your rights to appeal |
| Experimental |
Terms in your insurance contract describing a
possible category of excluded services under the plan. Each
plan may have different criteria to define what it considers
experimental and investigational. This can be challenged.
|
| FACT |
Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular
Therapy. Organization that accredites stem-cell programs on
the basis of a strict set of criteria. |
| FAHCT |
Foundation for the Accreditation of Hematopoietic
Cell Therapy. Old name of FACT. |
| FK506 |
see Tacrolimus |
| Foley catheter |
Flexible plastic tube inserted into the bladder
to provide continuous urinary drainage |
| Fungus |
Organisms that are bigger than bacteria, and
are normally present in mouth and gut. Can lead to very serious
infections in patients with immune deficiencies. Related to
yeasts and molds |
| Gastrointestinal |
Refers to stomach and intestines |
| G-CSF |
Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (Neupogen®);
stimulates the growth and maturation of early granulocytes
|
| GM-CSF |
Granulocyte-macrophage stimulating factor (Leukine®);
stimulates the growth and maturation of early granulocytes
and monocytes |
| Graft rejection |
Process by which the donated stem cells are rejected
by the patient's body |
| Graft-versus-Host Disease |
Condition that can occur following an allogeneic
stem cell transplant, in which some of the donor's stem cells
attack the patient's tissues and organs |
| Granulocyte |
Sub-class of white cells, so named because of
the presence of granules in the cell. These cells protect
the body against bacterial infection. Also called Neutrophils
or Polys |
| GROSHONG® (catheter) |
see Central venous catheter |
| Growth factor |
see Colony-stimulating factor |
| GvHD |
see Graft-versus-host disease |
| Hematocrit |
Part of the blood made up of red cells (expressed
as percentage) |
| Hematology |
Study and science of blood and blood-forming
tissues, and their disorders |
| Hemoglobin |
Protein in the blood that carries the oxygen
(expressed as grams per deciliter) |
| Hemorrhage |
Bleeding |
| Hemorrhagic cystitis |
Bleeding from the urinary bladder because of
an inflammation caused by cyclophosphamide or a virus |
| Hepatitis |
Inflammation of the liver |
| HICKMAN® (catheter) |
see Central venous catheter |
| HLA |
see Human Leukocyte Antigens |
| Human Leukocyte Antigens |
Genetic "fingerprint" on human white cells (and
platelets), composed of proteins that play a critical role
in activating the body's immune system to respond to foreign
organisms. Inherited from both parents. Determined by HLA-typing,
which can be performed with antisera and with DNA techniques
|
| Herpes virus |
Class of virus that cause cold sores and other
infections |
| Hyperalimentation |
Intravenous feeding that provides patients with
all essential nutrients when they are unable to feed themselves.
Also called hyperal, TPN or CHA |
| Iliac crest |
Hip bone in which a large amount of bone marrow
is concentrated and which can be reached with large needles
|
| Immune system |
Body's defense network againts infections and
foreign substances |
| Immunocompromised |
Condition in which the immune system is not functioning
normally |
| Immunoglobulin |
Antibody |
| Immunosuppression |
Condition in which the patient's immune system
is functioning at a lower than normal level. Sometimes done
on purpose (e.g., to allow donor stem cells to engraft), often
as side effect of transplant or therapy for side effects |
| In-networkprovider |
Provider (person or facility) that is part of
a managed-care provider network |
| Intravenous |
Through (or into) a vein; also called I.V. |
| Interstitial Pneumonitis |
Inflammation involving the inter-alveolar areas
of the lungs; often caused by viruses (e.g. CMV), but may
also be caused by irradiation and drugs. |
| Investigational |
see Experimental |
| Jaundice |
Yellowing of the skin and eyes. Mostly caused
by liver disease |
| Laminar air-flow room |
Isolation room with an air-filtering system in
which the entire back-wall of the patient's room is one big
filter. The air will come out in a "laminar" :fashion, causing
little turbulence |
| Length of stay (LOS) |
Number of days in the hospital |
| Leukocyte |
White blood cell |
| LFT's |
see Liver function tests |
| Liver function tests |
Laboratory tests from a blood specimen that give
information about liver function. For example: bilirubin,
SGOT, SGPT, GGT, Alkaline phosphatase |
| Lymphocyte |
Type of white cell that fights infections by
producing antibodies and regulating the immune system response
|
| Malignant |
Cancerous |
| Managed Care |
Term to describe various approaches to provide
and pay for healthcare in an attempt to limit fees for health
services and control or manage those services. |
| Medically necessary |
Term relating to an evaluation process used by
insurance companies to decide whether requested health care
services will be covered. |
| Metastatic |
Spread of disease from the organ or tissue of
origin to another part of the body |
| Mini-transplant |
see Non-Myeloablative Transplant. |
| Mobilization |
Process to increase the number of stem cells
in the blood stream. May be accomplished by the daily injections
of CSF, or by a combination of chemotherapy and CSF |
| Monoclonal antibody |
Antibodies that are all identical, derived from
a single "clone". Sometimes used in "purging", a process by
which certain cells are removed from bone marrow before infusion
into patients |
| Monocyte |
Type of white cell that fight against infection
by eating and killing bacteria and fungi |
| Mucositis |
Inflammation, ulceration, and sloughing of the
lining cells of the mouth and/or throat Usually side effect
of chemotherapy and irradiation; may also be caused by herpes
virus. |
| MRI |
Magnetic Resonance Imaging; three-dimensional
X-ray |
| MUGA-scan |
Multiple Gated Pool scan; nuclear medicine test
to assess the function of the left ventricle of the heart
|
| NCI |
National Cancer Institute |
| Neutropenia |
Low level of granulocytes in the blood. Mostly
considered to exist when ANC < 500/mm3 |
| Neutrophils |
see Granulocytes |
| NMDP |
National Marrow Donor Program. Federally supported
organization that has the largest registry of volunteer (unrelated)
stem cell donors. Located in Minneapolis, MN |
| NPO |
Do not take anything by mouth |
| Non-Myeloablative Transplant |
Allogeneic stem-cell transplant that uses a less
aggressive, less toxic, preparative regimen. |
| Oncology |
Study of cancer |
| Packed Red Blood Cell |
Red blood cells collected from one individual
that are packed into a small volume for transfusion into a
patient |
| Pancytopenia |
Deficiency of all types of blood cells |
| PBSC |
see Peripheral blood stem cells |
| PBSCT |
Peripheral blood stem cell transplant |
| Peripheral blood stem cells |
Stem cells obtained from the blood stream through
an apheresis procedure. Process of "mobilization" increases
the number of peripheral blood stem cells that can be collected
|
| Petechiae |
Small red spots on the skin (like flea-bites)
that usually indicate a low platelet count |
| Photopheresis |
Treatment in which white blood cells are exposed
to ultraviolet light in the presence of a sensitizing agent.
Used for skin lymphomas and for graft-versus-host Disease. |
| Plasma |
Fluid and protein-containing portion of the blood
|
| Platelets |
Type of blood cell. Important to control bleeding;
smallest cell element in the blood. |
| Pluripotent stem cell |
Earliest stem cells; can mature into all cell
types in the blood, but also maintain their own numbers |
| Polycythemia |
Increase in the total number of red cells in
the bloodstream |
| Polys |
see Granulocytes |
| Pre-certification |
Requirement to receive prior approval for hospital
admission and certain other services. Feature of many managed
care health plans |
| Pre-existing condition |
Refers to a clause in your insurance contract
which may exclude coverage for certain disease(s) because
they were present before the plan went into effect. |
| Preparative regimen |
Chemotherapy and/or Radiation therapy given prior
to a stem cell transplant. Duration varies between 2 and 10
days. Goals are to kill malignant cells, create space for
the new stem cells, and break the immune system of the patient
(allogeneic transplants only). Also called conditioning regimen
|
| Prognosis |
Predicted or likely outcome |
| Protocol |
Plan of treatment |
| Purging |
Process by which certain types of cells are removed
from stem cells prior to infusion into the patient. In autologous
transplantation, stem cells may be purged to remove lingering
cancer cells. In allogeneic transplants, donor stem cells
may be purged to remove T-lymphocytes that cause graft-versus-host
disease |
| Randomization |
Assignment of a patient to a treatment protocol
that is decided at random. This may be done when a new treatment
is being compared to a standard one |
| RBC |
see Red blood cells |
| Red blood cells |
Cells in the blood that transport oxygen from
the lungs to the tissues. A deficiency of red cells causes
anemia |
| Relapse |
Recurrence of the disease following treatment
|
| Remission (complete) |
Condition in which no cancerous cells can be
detected by a microscope, and the patient appears to be disease-free
|
| Remission (partial) |
Means that be all methods used to measure the
existence of tumor, there has been at least a 50% regression
of the disease following treatment |
| Sepsis |
Presence of micro-organisms in the blood stream
leading to clinical symptoms (low blood pressure, fever etc)
|
| Sicca syndrome |
Dryness of eyes and mouth; may be caused by graft-versus-host
disease |
| Stem Cell |
"Mother" cell from which all types of blood cell
originate |
| Steroids |
Class of drugs commonly used to decrease nausea
after chemotherapy, and fight graft-versus-host disease. Specific
drugs are Solumedrol® given i.v., and prednisone given
by mouth |
| Stomatitis |
see Mucositis |
| Subclavian catheter |
see Central venous catheter |
| Syngeneic |
Originating from an identical-twin donor |
| Tacrolimus |
Immunosuppressive drug used to prevent graft-versus-host
disease (Prograf®) . Alternative for cyclosporine |
| TBI |
see Total body Irradiation |
| T-cell depletion |
see Purging |
| T-lymphocytes |
Sub-class of lymphocytes. Considered to be responsible
for graft-versus-host disease |
| Thrombocyte |
see Platelets |
| Thrombocytopenia |
Low level of platelets in the blood; increases
risk of bleeding |
| Total Body Irradiation |
Treatment in which the entire body receives irradiation.
Mostly given over several days. |
| Total parenteral nutrition |
see Hyperalimentation |
| TPN |
see Hyperalimentation |
| Transplant-lite |
see Non-Myeloablative Transplant |
| Tumor burden |
Size of the tumor or number of abnormal cells
in the organ or tissue |
| Urokinase |
Intravenous thrombolytic agent used to restore
patency to central venous catheters |
| Veno-occlusive disease |
Complication of transplant in which the small
blood vessels that carry blood through the liver become swollen
and clogged. May lead to abdominal pain, jaundice, and ascites
|
| Virus |
Tiny micro-organism that invades cells, alters
their genetic machinery, and turns them into factories for
production of more of the virus |
| VOD |
see Veno-occlusive disease |
| WBC |
White blood cells |
| Xerostomia |
Dryness of the mouth caused by malfunctioning
salivary glands |
