Letter A
ATHERMOMA
A local collection of plaque build-up in a blood vessel.
ATHEROSCLEROSIS
Disease of the arteries that can cause narrowing. This is caused by abnormal fat and calcium deposits that build up in the wall of the artery.
ATHEROSCLEROTIC
Used to describe a diseased or abnormal blood vessel that contains plaque, or fat and calcium deposits. Please see “atherosclerosis”.
ATRIAL HORN
The back part of the lateral ventricle in the brain. The atrium is like the bottom of a glass where the water, or CSF, collects.
ATROPHIC
Appearing shrunken or smaller than normal size.
ATROPHY
To shrink.
ATTENUATION
Refers to brightness/whiteness on a CT scan. A CT scan picture is black and white. There are different shades of black and white (i.e. gray, bright white). Low attenuation means dark black, while high attenuation means bright white. This can help a radiologist determine the type of abnormal finding on your CT scan.
ATYPICAL DUCTAL HYPERPLASIA
This is the beginning stage of breast cancer formation but is not a breast cancer. You could consider it ‘pre-cancerous.’ Generally, the usual stages from normal tissue to cancer are: normal tissue –> atypical ductal hyperplasia –> ductal carcinoma in situ ( non-invasive breast cancer confined to the milk ducts) –> invasive ductal carcinoma (cancer spreading outside of the milk ducts).
AUTOIMMUNE
Disease process in which our immune system attacks our own body.
AVASCULAR NECROSIS
Bone death from lack of blood supply.
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