Medical Terms
Acute Hepatic Porphyria (AHP) refers to a family of rare genetic diseases characterized by potentially life-threatening attacks and, for some people, […]
Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is a rare metabolic disorder that is characterized by partial deficiency of the enzyme hydroxymethylbilane synthase (also […]
Additional cancer treatment given after the primary treatment to lower the risk that the cancer will come back. Adjuvant therapy may […]
Aflatoxins are a family of toxins produced by certain fungi that are found on agricultural crops such as maize (corn), peanuts, […]
Aminolevulinic acid, an endogenous non-proteinogenic amino acid, is the first compound in the porphyrin synthesis pathway, the pathway that leads to […]
ALAD Porphyria (ADP) is a very rare genetic metabolic disease characterized by almost complete deficiency of the enzyme delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) […]
Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is an enzyme mainly found in the liver. The ALT test measures the level of ALT in the […]
Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) is an enzyme found in in large amounts in your liver, bile ducts, and other parts of your […]
Amino acids are organic compounds that contain amine (–NH2) and carboxyl (–COOH) functional groups, along with a side chain (R group) […]
Anabolic steroids are synthetic, or human-made, variations of the male sex hormone testosterone. The proper term for these compounds is anabolic-androgenic […]
Angiography or arteriography is a medical imaging technique used to visualize the inside, or lumen, of blood vessels and organs of […]
Angioplasty is a procedure to restore blood flow through the artery. You have angioplasty in a hospital. The doctor threads a […]
Anticoagulants are medicines that help prevent blood clots. They’re given to people at a high risk of getting clots, to reduce […]
Aspartate Transaminase (AST) is an enzyme found in large amounts in the liver and other parts of the body. The AST […]
Autoimmune is an immune response by the body against its own tissue, cells, or molecules. In people with autoimmune disease, their […]
Autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic (long-term) liver disease in which the immune system attacks the liver.
Biliary atresia is a rare disease of the bile ducts that affects infants. In babies with biliary atresia, the bile ducts […]
Bland embolization is a way to treat cancer in the liver. It can be used for cancer that began in the […]
Blood plasma is a yellowish liquid component of blood that holds the blood cells of whole blood in suspension. It is […]
Budd–Chiari syndrome is caused by blood clots that completely or partially block blood flow from the liver. The blockage may occur […]
Budd-Chiari syndrome is a condition in which the hepatic veins (veins that drain the liver) are blocked or narrowed by a […]
Cancer is the name given to a collection of related diseases. In all types of cancer, some of the body’s cells […]
A substance that may be found in the blood of people who have colon cancer, other types of cancer or diseases, […]
Cardiac arrhythmia refers to a group of conditions that cause the heart to beat irregular, too slowly, or too quickly. There […]
Chemoembolization is a palliative treatment for liver cancer. This can be a cancer originating in the liver or a cancer that […]
Budd–Chiari syndrome is caused by blood clots that completely or partially block blood flow from the liver. The blockage may occur […]
A cancer in the slender tubes that carry the digestive fluid bile through the liver. It’s a rare but aggressive form […]
Cholestasis is a liver disease. It occurs when the flow of bile from your liver is reduced or blocked. Bile is […]
Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation and ulcers (sores) in your digestive tract. Ulcerative colitis affects […]
A clinical trial is a medical research study conducted to find answers to health questions. Clinical trials often are conducted to […]
The common hepatic duct is the part of the biliary tract formed by the convergence of the right hepatic duct (which […]
In medicine, comorbidity is the presence of one or more additional conditions often co-occurring with a primary condition. Comorbidity describes the […]
A CT scan is an imaging test that uses x-rays to get detailed pictures of the body.
Costochondritis is an inflammation of the cartilage that connects a rib to the breastbone (sternum). Pain caused by costochondritis might mimic […]
Creatinine is a breakdown product of creatine phosphate in muscle, and is usually produced at a fairly constant rate by the […]
Crohn’s disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It causes inflammation of your digestive tract, which can lead to […]
De novo lipogenesis (DNL) is a complex and highly regulated metabolic pathway. In normal conditions DNL converts excess carbohydrate into fatty […]
Decompensated alcohol related liver disease (ARLD) occurs when there is a deterioration in liver function in a patient with cirrhosis, which […]
Distal cholangiocarcinoma occurs in the portion of the bile duct nearest the small intestine.
A dysplastic nodule is a nodular region of hepatocytes at least 1 mm in diameter with dysplasia but without definite histologic […]
An echocardiogram (echo) is a graphic outline of the heart’s movement. During an echo test, ultrasound (high-frequency sound waves) from a […]
Encephalopathy means any disorder or disease of the brain, especially chronic degenerative conditions. In modern usage, encephalopathy does not refer to […]
Chronic liver failure, also called end-stage liver disease, progresses over months, years, or decades. Most often, chronic liver failure is the […]
Endometriosis is an often painful disorder in which tissue similar to the tissue that normally lines the inside of your uterus […]
Extrahepatic bile duct cancer is a rare disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the part of bile duct that […]
See nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, now called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease or MASLD. Last updated on December 13th, 2023 at […]
Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia […]
In vertebrates, the gallbladder is a small hollow organ where bile is stored and concentrated before it is released into the […]
A gastroenterologist is a doctor who specializes in the study of digestive organs including the liver.
Gestational diabetes is diabetes diagnosed for the first time during pregnancy (gestation). Like other types of diabetes, gestational diabetes affects how […]
The graft-to-recipient weight ratio (GRWR) is an important selection criterion for living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). The generally accepted threshold is […]
Guillain-Barre syndrome is a rare disorder in which your body’s immune system attacks your nerves. Weakness and tingling in your extremities […]
A record of information about a person’s health. A personal health history may include information about allergies, illnesses, surgeries, immunizations, and […]
Hemochromatosis is a genetic condition in which the body stores too much iron and the iron builds up in the liver.
Hemodialysis, also spelled haemodialysis, or simply dialysis, is a process of purifying the blood of a person whose kidneys are not […]
Hemoglobin (American English) or haemoglobin, abbreviated Hb or Hgb, is the iron-containing oxygen-transport metalloprotein in the red blood cells (erythrocytes) of […]
Hepatectomy is the surgical resection (removal of all or part) of the liver. While the term is often employed for the […]
The hepatic artery proper (also proper hepatic artery) is the artery that supplies the liver and gallbladder. It raises from the […]
The hepatic veins are the veins that drain de-oxygenated blood from the liver into the inferior vena cava. There are usually […]
Hepatic hydrothorax refers to the presence of a pleural effusion (usually >500 mL) in a patient with cirrhosis who does not […]
The portal vein or hepatic portal vein (HPV) is a blood vessel that carries blood from the gastrointestinal tract, gallbladder, pancreas […]
The hepatic veins are the veins that drain de-oxygenated blood from the liver into the inferior vena cava. There are usually […]
Hepatic veno-occlusive disease is a clinical syndrome characterized by hepatomegaly, ascites, weight gain and jaundice, due to sinusoidal congestion which can […]
Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis B and hepatitis C, it does not become chronic (long-term). The […]
Hepatitis B is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). HBV causes the liver to swell and prevents […]
Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). HCV causes the liver to swell and prevents […]
A hepatocyte is a cell of the main parenchymal tissue of the liver. Hepatocytes make up 80% of the liver’s mass. […]
Hepatorenal syndrome (often abbreviated HRS) is a life-threatening medical condition that consists of rapid deterioration in kidney function in individuals with […]
Hereditary coproporphyria (HCP) is a rare inherited form of liver (hepatic) porphyria, characterized by neurological symptoms in the form of episodes […]
Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in your blood. Your body needs cholesterol to build healthy cells, but high levels of […]
Triglycerides are a type of fat found in your blood. Your body uses them for energy. You need some triglycerides for […]
Hyperlipidemia means your blood has too many lipids (or fats), such as cholesterol and triglycerides. One type of hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, means […]
High blood pressure (hypertension) is a common condition in which the long-term force of the blood against your artery walls is […]
Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps your immune system fight cancer. The immune system helps your body fight […]
The inferior vena cava (or IVC) is a large vein that carries the deoxygenated blood from the lower and middle body […]
Interferon is a protein used by the body to fight infection. It is prescribed as an injected medication for people with […]
The international normalized ratio (INR) is a calculation based on results of a PT and is used to monitor individuals who […]
In interventional radiology (also called IR), doctors use medical imaging to guide minimally invasive surgical procedures that diagnose, treat, and cure […]
Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma occurs in the parts of the bile ducts within the liver and is sometimes classified as a type of […]
Intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD) is fetal death that occurs after 20 weeks gestation but before birth. If the gestational age is […]
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder that affects the large intestine. Signs and symptoms include cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, […]
The Kasai procedure is a surgical technique used to replace blocked bile ducts outside of the liver with a piece of […]
A liver biopsy is a medical procedure used to remove a small piece of liver tissue that is studied in the […]
Liver failure is the inability of the liver to function and perform its jobs.
What are liver function tests? Liver function tests are sometimes called liver panels. They measure the levels of certain substances in […]
A liver transplant is the process of replacing a sick liver with a donated, healthy liver.
A living-related liver transplantation is the transplantation of a portion of a healthy person’s liver to a person with advanced liver […]
A MRI scan uses magnetic waves to obtain images of the liver or other organs.
The Model for End-Stage Liver Disease, or MELD, is a scoring system for assessing the severity of chronic liver disease.
Metabolic syndrome is the name for a group of risk factors that raises your risk for heart disease and other health […]
Metabolism is the set of life-sustaining chemical reactions in organisms. The three main purposes of metabolism are: the conversion of food […]
Having to do with metastasis, which is the spread of cancer from the primary site (place where it started) to other […]
Liver cancer, also referred to as hepatic cancer, develops in the tissues of the liver, one of the largest organs of […]
Picture a bustling city on a weekday morning, the sidewalks flooded with people rushing to get to work or to appointments. […]
Microflora is a term that refers to a community of bacteria that exist on or inside the body, and possess a […]
Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is a technique for viewing the bile ducts and the pancreatic duct. It can also show the […]
Magnetic resonance imaging is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to form pictures of the anatomy and the physiological processes […]
Treatment given as a first step to shrink a tumor before the main treatment, which is usually surgery, is given. Examples […]
Nephrotoxicity is toxicity in the kidneys. It is a poisonous effect of some substances, both toxic chemicals and medications, on renal […]
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)now called metabolic dysnfuntion-associated steatotic liver disease or MALSD is the build up of extra fat in […]
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), now called metabolic dysfunction associated steatohepatitis or MASH, is a severe form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease that […]
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a drug class that reduce pain, decrease fever, prevent blood clots and, in higher doses, decrease […]
An oncologist is a doctor who treats cancer and provides medical care for a person diagnosed with cancer. The field of […]
Palliative care is specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness. This type of care is focused on providing […]
Paracentesis is a form of body fluid sampling procedure, generally referring to peritoneocentesis (also called laparocentesis or abdominal paracentesis) in which […]
Pathogenesis is the process by which a disease or disorder develops. It can include factors which contribute not only to the […]
A pathologist is a medical healthcare provider who examines bodies and body tissues. He or she is also responsible for performing […]
Porphobilinogen is an organic compound that occurs in living organisms as an intermediate in the biosynthesis of porphyrins, which include critical […]
Perihilar cholangiocarcinoma, which is a rare primary malignancy, originates from the epithelial cells of the bile duct. Usually invading the periductal […]
Phlebotomy is when someone uses a needle to take blood from a vein, usually in your arm. Also called a blood […]
Polycystic liver disease (PLD) is an inherited disorder estimated to affect around 1 in 100,000 people. It is characterized by the […]
Polycythemia vera (pol-e-sy-THEE-me-uh VEER-uh) is a type of blood cancer. It causes your bone marrow to make too many red blood […]
Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is a type of porphyria or blood disorder that affects the skin. PCT is one of the […]
Porphyrins are a group of heterocyclic macrocycle organic compounds, composed of four modified pyrrole subunits interconnected at their α carbon atoms […]
Portal hypertension is hypertension (high blood pressure) in the hepatic portal system – made up of the portal vein and its […]
The hepatic portal vein is a vessel that moves blood from the spleen and gastrointestinal tract to the liver. It is […]
Portal vein thrombosis is blockage or narrowing of the portal vein (the blood vessel that brings blood to the liver from […]
Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and signs of damage to another organ system, most often the […]
Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) is a long-term liver disease that slowly destroys bile ducts in the liver.
Primary liver cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the liver.
Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a long-term liver disease that slowly damages the bile ducts in the liver.
Radiation therapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses beams of intense energy to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy most […]
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA), also called radiofrequency neurotomy is a procedure that involves heating a part of a pain-transmitting nerve with a […]
Radioembolization is a cancer treatment in which radioactive particles are delivered to a tumor through the bloodstream. The particles lodge in […]
Red blood cells (RBCs), also referred to as red cells, red blood corpuscles (in humans or other animals not having nucleus […]
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) occurs when fluid builds up in the tiny, elastic air sacs (alveoli) in your lungs. The […]
In epidemiology, a risk factor or determinant is a variable associated with an increased risk of disease or infection. Determinant is […]
Sarcopenia is a progressive and generalized skeletal muscle disorder involving the accelerated loss of muscle mass and function that is associated […]
A liver metastasis is a cancerous tumor that has spread to the liver from a cancer that started in another place […]
Segmental resection is a surgical procedure to remove part of an organ or gland, as a sub-type of a resection, which […]
Splenomegaly is an enlargement of the spleen. The spleen usually lies in the left upper quadrant (LUQ) of the human abdomen. […]
Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is the development of a bacterial infection in the peritoneum, despite the absence of an obvious source […]
Surfactants are compounds that lower the surface tension between two liquids, between a gas and a liquid, or between a liquid […]
Sustained virologic response (SVR) is a person’s successful response to antiviral medications when a virus is not present in the blood […]
Thoracentesis is a procedure to remove fluid or air from around the lungs. A needle is put through the chest wall […]
Transient elastography (FibroScan) is a non-invasive method proposed for the assessment of hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease by […]
Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS or TIPSS) is an artificial channel within the liver that establishes communication between the inflow portal […]
Abdominal Obesity A clinical form of obesity which is more common in men. Those with waists > 40 inches have a […]
Type 2 diabetes is an impairment in the way the body regulates and uses sugar (glucose) as a fuel. This long-term […]
Tyrosinemia is a genetic disorder characterized by disruptions in the multistep process that breaks down the amino acid tyrosine, a building […]
An ultrasound is an imaging technique that uses waves to see inside views of the body.
The urinary system, also known as the renal system or urinary tract, consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and the urethra. […]
Variegate Porphyria is a rare genetic metabolic disorder characterized by deficient function of the enzyme protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO or PPOX). This […]
Viral hepatitis is liver inflammation due to a viral infection. It may present in acute form as a recent infection with […]
A viral load is the amount of a virus, such as hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus, in the blood.
Wilson disease is a genetic condition in which the body stores too much copper and the copper builds up in the […]
Xanthelasma (also known as xanthelasma palpebra) is a well-circumscribed flat or slightly elevated yellowish growth that typically occurs on or around […]