(*Terms from Ultrasound, MRI, pathology lab results.)

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abdominal distention:  increase in size or change in contour of the abdomen.  

abdominal hysterectomy:  removal of the uterus through an incision in the abdominal wall. 

adenomyoma:  a tumor made up of endometrium and muscle tissue, found in the uterus. 

adenomyosis:  is invasion of the muscular wall of the uterus by glandular tissue (uterine lining cells).  Adenomyosis is also referred to as internal endometriosis since both consist of endometrium in abnormal locations.  Adenomyosis can form collections (adenomyomas) in the muscle of the uterus indistinguishable from fibroids.

adhesion:  Scar tissue that abnormally joins organs to each other.  

adnexal structures (uterine)*:  includes the fallopian tubes and ovaries. 

anemia:   a condition in which the blood is deficient in red blood cells, in hemoglobin, or in total volume. 

angiography suite (uterine fibroids):  is a room where Uterine Artery Embolization is performed; watching under X-ray a Interventional Radiologist maneuvers the catheter into the main arteries supplying the uterus and injects small plastic particles to plug up the blood vessels supplying the fibroids.  X-ray dye is injected through the catheter to show the vessels during this process. 

anterior*:  situated at or directed toward the front of the body. 

asoprisnil:  a drug being researched for treating fibroids that blocks the action of progesterone on fibroid tissue, allowing the fibroid to shrink. 

asymptomatic:  presenting no symptoms of disease.

benign:  not a cancer (noncancerous); not recurrent or tending to progress. 

blood clot:  a semi-solidified mass of blood. 

blood transfusion:  introduction of blood directly into the bloodstream. 

calcified tissue*:  infarcted/dead fibroid tissue may accumulate calcium from the bloodstream over time.  This will appear “bright” on an ultrasound film/image. 

CBC (Complete Blood Count):  a blood count that includes separate counts for red and white blood cells. 

cervix:  the narrow lower end of the uterus (neck) between the isthmus and the opening of the uterus into the vagina;  this is the lowest part of the womb or uterus, and it is where a baby passes through during the birth process.

constipation:  abnormally delayed or infrequent passage of the bowels

cryomyolysis:  a probe freezes the uterine fibroid tumors. 

CT scan (CAT scan):  a sectional, three dimensional X-ray image of the body constructed by a computer (a method of producing an image of the internal structures of a human body). 

cystadenoma (ovarian cyst):  a benign tumor of a glandular structure (refer to ‘Epithelial Cysts’). 

cystectomy:  the surgical excision of an ‘ovarian cyst’.  If a cyst has a ‘solid’ area showing on the ultrasound results, causes severe pain, continues to grow, or doesn’t go away by itself within eight (8) weeks a Gynecologist may decide to perform this outpatient Laparoscopic procedure. 

D&C (dilatation and curettage):  a procedure where the cervix is dilated and a scraping instrument called a ‘curette’ is inserted into the uterus to scrape out the lining of the uterus for a biopsy and/or to remove polyps. 

dermoid cyst (ovarian cyst):  cysts that may have inside them hair and a variety of tissues.  The cyst will not go away by itself and may require surgery. 

emboli:  particles that block the flow within a blood vessel. 

endometrial ablation:  destruction of the lining of the uterus to prevent heavy bleeding, not to be used for women who might wish to become pregnant. 

endometrial biopsy:   involves placing a small suction tubing through the cervix, and "vacuuming" a small amount of the endometrium (lining of the uterus) to be evaluated by a pathologist to see if pre-cancer or cancer is present.  

endometrioma cysts: created with tissue that is similar to the uterine lining, which becomes trapped inside the Ovary (this cyst color is red-brown and reminds you of chocolate). 

endometriosis:  is the presence of endometrial tissue in abnormal locations; presence of endometrial glands or stroma outside the uterus. 

endometriosis function test:  The EFT is almost a proprietary test and is not by most considered a part of the standard workup. It is similar to the quad screen normally performed in early pregnancy in that it looks at a number of markers produced in typical patterns by the normal endometrium. One then compares the various values to the actual timing in the cycle to see if the lining is developing normally. The main problem is that the test has not been adequately validated esp with the test of time. Perhaps more importantly, there's little one can do with the results. Treatment of abnormalities is almost always progesterone. Although some physicians recommend estrogen in addition, this has not been adequately shown (in my opinion) to make a significant difference. In other words, test results will not to my knowledge make any significant impact on the treatment options; ensure good stimulation (which produces the estrogen) and ensure adequate progesterone support.

endometrium:  the mucous membrane lining the uterus. 

endophytic change:  tending to grow inward into tissues in fingerlike projections from a superficial site of orgin - used of tumors.

epithelial cysts:  created when the outer cells of the ovary accidentally get trapped inside the Ovary, which causes fluid to build-up within the ovary and an Epithelial cyst to form.  Surgery is the only treatment option for this type of cyst.  A cystadenoma is a common, benign type of epithelial cyst. 

estrogen:  a female sex hormone that is produced by the ovaries. 

exophytic fibroid:  tending to grow outward beyond the surface epithelium (a membranous cellular tissue that covers a free surface or lines a cavity) from which it originates - used of tumors.

FACOG (Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology):  a medical title for a gynecologist who has passed written and oral examinations and has been in good standing for two (2) years before this title is awarded. 

fallopian tubes:  are tubes that are attached to the upper part of the uterus that serve as tunnels for the eggs to travel from the ovaries to the uterus.  

femoral artery:  an artery in the leg which leads to the uterine artery. 

fibroid (uterus) - (i.e. uterine myoma, leiomyoma uteri, fibroid tumor, uterine fibroid):  are benign tumors of the uterus. They are not cancers, but can cause symptoms such as excessive bleeding during or between periods, pressure on the bladder or rectum, discomfort during sexual relations or interference with fertility.  (Fibroids can grow in other organs of the body - example:  in the intestines.) 

Foley catheter:  a tube that is inserted into the bladder to drain urine into a bag. It has an inflatable balloon tip to hold it in the bladder. 

FSIR (Fellow of the Society of Interventional Radiology):  is an honor given to members of the SIR who are subspecialty board-certified in Interventional Radiology in recognition of significant contributions to the Society and the field of Interventional Radiology through teaching, research, and/or work done for the Society. 

functional cysts (ovarian cyst):  are the most common cysts.  Functional cysts are the result of an over-production of fluid around a developing egg.  On ultrasound, they appear entirely clear inside and are called ‘simple’ cysts.  However, other things can also appear this way (all benign – not cancerous).  So, all functional cysts are simple appearing on ultrasound.  But, not all simple cysts are functional.   Functional Cysts usually dissolves within one to three menstrual cycles and very rarely needs further treatment.  It is rare for a menopausal woman to have this type of cyst since they are caused by the formation of eggs for the menstrual cycle.

fundus:  the rounded end of the uterus remote from its junction with the cervix;  top of the uterus.

gelatin sponge:  is a material that has been used for many years in surgery to help stop bleeding.

GI (gastrointestinal tract):  the stomach and intestine as a functional unit.

GnRHa (Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone Analogues):  the GnRH analogues are used to create a false menopause by switching off hormones from the brain that stimulate the ovaries to produce the female hormones estrogen and progesterone, causing the hormone production to stop. The advantage of these drugs is that they stop heavy bleeding and, in most women a reduction of size of fibroid tumors by as much as forty to sixty percent after three months of use.

HCT (hematocrit):  is the amount of blood that is occupied by red blood cells.  A low hematocrit number is a good indicator of anemia.

hemorrhagic cysts:  have blood and blood clots inside of them, which usually dissolves after several weeks. 

HGB (hemoglobin):  is a protein used by red blood cells to distribute oxygen to tissues and cells in the body.  A low hemoglobin number is a good indicator of anemia.

HRT (hormone replacement therapy):  is medication containing one or more female hormones, commonly estrogen plus progestin (synthetic progesterone).  For women who had a hysterectomy (uterus removed) estrogen only therapy may be prescribed.  The medication can be administered by using a pill, vaginal cream, vaginal ring or a patch.  The therapy helps relieve some of the symptoms from menopause (sleep disorder, mood swings, lack of sexual desire, hot flashes, and vaginal dryness). 

hyaline degeneration:  is a fancy term for ‘scar’ formation (tissue degeneration), which happens naturally to fibroids after menopause. 

hyperplasia (uterine lining overgrowth):  increase of volume of a tissue or organ caused by the formation and growth of new cells. 

hysterectomy: is the removal of the uterus. 

hysterosalpingogram:  examination of the uterus and fallopian tubes by X-ray after injection of a contrast medium (i.e. uterosalpingography).

hysteroscopic resection:  an instrument is put into the uterus (hysteroscope) to surgically remove fibroids or polyps. 

hysteroscopy:  a small device, hysteroscope, is inserted through the vagina and into the uterus to inspect the uterus.  

hysterosonography (i.e. sonohysterogram):  is a relatively new procedure and way of performing pelvic ultrasound.  The essence of the study is that sterile saline distending the endometrial cavity significantly improves the clarity of transvaginal ultrasound assessment of endometrial abnormalities.  

inactive/weakly proliferative-type endometrium with breakdown*:  term used on an D&C (dilatation and curettage) pathology report that shows old endometrial lining cells weren’t sloughed off during menstruation.

infarcted tissue:  tissue that is dead (i.e. process that happens to the fibroid tissue after uterine artery embolization is performed on uterine fibroids).  

inferior*:  situated in a lower position.

interligamentous fibroid:  it can grow sideways between the layers of the broad ligament (a band of fibrous connective tissue that supports the uterus). 

Interventional Radiologist:  a doctor that is trained to perform radiologist and surgical procedures by using x-ray imaging during a procedure.  

intramural fibroids:  they stay mostly embedded within the middle of the wall of the uterus.

laparoscopic:  a procedure where a doctor inserts a small telescope, laparoscope, through an incision in the abdomen to inspect the outside of the uterus, tubes, ovaries or other abdominal organs.

laparoscopic hysterectomy:   a small telescope (laparoscope) is placed through the belly button, and several other tiny incisions are made to place other instruments.  These instruments are used to free the uterus. 

laparotomy (i.e. abdominal myomectomy):  a surgical procedure to cut fibroids out of the wall of the uterus. The defects in the uterine wall are then closed with suture. This is the procedure that is usually chosen by women who want to preserve fertility and/or preserve their uterus.

LAVH (laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy):  hysterectomy performed using a laparoscope for part of the surgery and the remainder of the procedure is performed through the vagina. 

lobulated*:   made up of, provided with, or divided into lobules (tumors) 

LSH (laparoscopic supra-cervical hysterectomy):  hysterectomy in which the cervix is left in place, it is performed by using a laparoscope.

LUS (lower uterine segment):  is located at the neck (bottom part) of the uterus. 

malignant:  a term for ‘cancer’. 

microspheres:  one of the concepts, which are attractive for a new embolic material is a spherical particle, which can (in theory) block flow with a single particle for each vessel.

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging): is a highly sensitive, very useful method for taking pictures of various parts of the human anatomy.  Its major advantages include that it does not use radiation as does an x-ray and it provides a substantial degree of detail in its pictures. 

MRI-Guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery (FUS):  is a non-invasive way to shrink fibroids by focusing (using MRI) ultrasound energy (as heat) on a fibroid. 

myomacoagulation:  is a laparoscopic procedure using electric current that is applied to the uterine fibroid tumors. The current coagulates the blood vessels supplying the fibroids and, over time, they shrink. 

myomectomy:  a surgical procedure to cut fibroids out of the uterus.

nathobian cysts:  they are natural structures in the cervix that are filled with fluid and very rarely need medical intervention. 

necrosis*:  death of a portion of tissue (example:  necrosis of a fibroid). 

neoplasm:  a new growth of tissue serving no physiological function (including benign tumor, malignancy, cancer).              

NSAIDS:  Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (i.e. Motrin). 

ovary:  is the organ that produces female hormones and holds egg cells.  There are two ovaries, one on each side of the uterus. 

papanicolaou smear (i.e. pap smear):  is a test to screen for cervical cancers, which involves staining exfoliated cells by a special technique to differentiate diseased tissue. 

parasitic fibroid:  this fibroid attaches itself to another organ, such as the tube, the mesentery, or a loop of bowel.  Its uterine stalk gradually degenerates until the fibroid is no longer a part of the uterus at all. (This fibroid is the rarest of all the types.) 

partial (subtotal) hysterectomy:  this is another term for supra-cervical hysterectomy. 

patient controlled analgesia (PCA) pump:  is self-administered by the patient.  The patient pushes the demand button to receive pain medication through the IV. 

pedunculated fibroid:  this type of fibroid can develop when a fibroid grows on a stalk, which is called a pedicle.  This can be a subserosal fibroid growing out into the abdomen or a submucosal fibroid growing into the endometrial cavity. The stalk can get twisted which can cause severe pain, although this is extremely rare. 

pelvic cavity: the space inside the pelvis that holds the reproductive organs. 

perinatologist:  a specialist concerned with high-risk obstetrical care.

physiologic size*:  characteristic of or appropriate to an organ’s health or normal functioning. 

polycystic ovarian disease:   the follicles appear clumped together, and the Ovary does not go through its regular cycle of ovulation.  The exact cause of this condition is not understood. Surgery is not necessary for this problem. 

polyps:  are overgrowths of endometrial tissue - like a skin tag growing inside the uterus. They are usually benign, but can be a cause of abnormal bleeding. 

posterior*:  situated toward the back/hind part of the body. 

proteiomics (it will have other commercial names when it is made available): a blood test that matches proteins in the blood to proteins known to occur with ovarian cancer or other cancers.  

PVA (poly-vinyl alcohol):  some UAEs (at least in the USA) are performed using PVA particles.  PVA has been used as an embolic material since the 1970s (at least), and has an excellent safety profile. 

quality-of-life questionnaire:  a tool used by doctors to assess the effects an illness and its therapy have on a patient.  Information obtained from the questionnaire is used to compute a score of the patient’s view of his/her quality of life after a medical procedure. 

radical hysterectomy:  this procedure is usually used for cervical cancer.  The doctor removes the cervix, uterus, both fallopian tubes, and both ovaries.  It may entail removing varying amounts of the surrounding tissues to ensure that as much of the cancer is removed as possible. The surgical method may also be different.  

RBC (red blood cells):  count of the red blood cells that carry the oxygen to the tissues and are responsible for the red color of blood.  A low RBC can indicate anemia, which can lead to fatigue.  

red degeneration:  the uterine fibroid (tumor) degenerates and bleeds inside the tumor giving it a red appearance.  This can be a very painful process. 

referred pain (UAE): Immediately after UAE the uterus swells and there is inflammation of the fibroids/uterus. This can irritate the nerves passing through the walls of the pelvis. Your body does not know how to respond to signals that a nerve is irritated, so it 'assigns' the irritation to the anterior and medial aspects of the thighs. This is called 'referred pain' and is fairly common after UAE. The best example of referred pain is the well-known phenomenon of a heart attack being felt as pain in the left shoulder and arm.

Reproductive Endocrinologist:  is a medical title for a ‘Fertility Specialist’. 

RU-486 (Mefipristone):  more commonly known as the "Abortion Pill" is a drug, which has gained notoriety primarily for its ability to produce early abortion. By blocking the action of progesterone, it causes fibroids to shrink. 

sarcoma:  a malignant neoplasm arising in the uterine muscle wall. It can spread to neighboring tissue or by way of the bloodstream. 

secretory endometrium*:  term use on an endometrial biopsy lab report to describe uterine lining cells that show hormonal changes that occur after ovulation.

septated cyst:  usually is a ‘simple’ cyst with a thin wall in the middle of the cyst. 

simple cyst (ovarian cyst):  refer to ‘functional cysts’. 

slough:  is dead tissue separating from living tissue, which is a medical term often used when fibroid tissue is expelled after UAE. 

sonogram (i.e. ultrasound):   sound waves have different velocities in tissues which differ in density and elasticity from others.  This property permits the use of ultrasound in outlining the shape of various tissues and organs in the body.

submucosal (or submucous) fibroid:  this type is located beneath the lining of the uterus.  The fibroid can develop a thin stalk or even enter the vagina.

subserosal (or subserous) fibroid:  this type grows towards the outside of the uterus and can press on the organs surrounding the uterus such as the bladder or rectum.

supra-cervical hysterectomy:  the part of the uterus above the cervix is removed.  Tubes and ovaries may or may not be removed.

thalassemia:  the globin part of hemoglobin is made up of 4 polypeptide chains (usually 2 chains of one type and 2 chains of another type of chain).  In thalassemia, there is a mutation (change) in one of the types of globin chains.  Depending upon which globin chain is affected, the mutation typically leads to underproduction (or absence) of that globin chain, a deficiency of hemoglobin, and anemia. Cooley's anemia is controlled by a series of allelic genes that cause reduction in or failure of synthesis of one of the globin chains making up hemoglobin and that tend to occur especially in individuals of Mediterranean, African, or southeastern Asian ancestry.  Sometimes it is used with a prefix (alpha-, beta-, delta-) to indicate the hemoglobin chain that is affected.

total hysterectomy (sometimes called “simple hysterectomy”):   the uterus (with the cervix) is removed.  Tubes and ovaries may or may not be removed.

total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy:  the entire uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries are removed.

transdermal scopolamine patch:  is put behind the ear for nausea and is kept in place for 4 more days after the uterine artery embolization (UAE) procedure. 

transmural fibroid:  fibroid lies between several layers of the uterine wall or involving the whole thickness of a uterine wall.

UAE (uterine artery embolization) (i.e. uterine fibroid embolization - UFE):  one of the most effective treatments for bleeding is to stop the blood supply to the area that is bleeding by blocking the vessels from the inside, this is known as “embolization”.   Embolization of the arteries to the uterus has been used as a treatment for severe uterine bleeding after surgery or childbirth since at least the late 1970s, and is used as a treatment for uterine fibroids. 

ultrasound (i.e.  transabdominal and transvaginal (pelvic) ultrasound, sonogram):  in pelvic ultrasound, not only are the reflected sound waves received back, but an image is created from the various sound waves such that a picture is made of internal organs. This is very useful and accurate in diagnosing things in the pelvis and abdomen. 

uterine artery:  the blood vessels that supplies the uterus with oxygen and nutrients. 

uterine artery occlusion:   is an attempt to cut off the blood supply to fibroids and cause shrinkage. Laparoscopic ligation of the Uterine Arteries results in blockage of the vessels. 

uterine fibroid:  refer to ‘fibroid’. 

uterine fibroid degeneration:  the fibroid stops growing (infarcted/dead) and shrinks in size. 

uterus:  the womb; the muscular organ in a women’s pelvis which a pregnancy grows; the organ which sheds its lining (the endometrium) each month in the process known as the menstrual period. 

vagina:  it is a tube that joins the cervix to the outside of the body (e.g. birth canal).

vaginal hysterectomy:   the uterus is removed through the vagina, so an abdominal incision is not required.  It may not be possible to do this with a very large uterus, or if there is other disease in the pelvis that needs to be treated.   The cervix is removed during a vaginal hysterectomy.

WBC (white blood cells):  the count or the total number of white blood cells in blood usually stated as the number of cells in one cubic millimeter.  WBC are produced by the immune system to help defend the body against infection.

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