Medical Terms

 

Abscess

A pocket or collection of pus.

5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA)

The active component of sulfasalazine; known generically as mesalamine.

Anemia

Lower than normal amounts of hemoglobin in the red cells of the blood.

Ankylosing Spondylitis
A form of spinal arthritis that strikes some people with IBD, and which sometimes causes fusion of the joints of the spine.

Arthralgia
Pains in the joints, frequently experienced by persons with IBD.

Arthritis
Inflammation of a joint, accompanied by pain, swelling, heat, or redness.

Asacol¨
See mesalamine.

Asceptic Necrosis
A complication of the prolonged use of high-dose steroids, in which one or both of the hip joints may suddenly undergo massive deterioration.

Autoimmunity
An inflammatory reaction to one's own tissues.

Azathioprine
An immunosuppressive drug sometimes used in the treatment of ulcerative colitis that has not responded to other medications.

Azulfidine¨
See sulfasalazine.

Barium Enema
An x-ray examination of the colon and rectum after liquid barium has been infused through the rectum.

Biopsy
A small piece of tissue taken from the body for examination under the microscope.

Bypass Operation
A surgical re-routing of intestine so that intestinal contents bypass a diseased segment.

Catheter
A thin tube placed into a body cavity, organ, or vessel for the purpose of administering or draining fluids.

Clinical
Involving the direct observation and treatment of patients.

Colectomy
Removal of part or all of the colon.

Colon
The large intestine.

Colonoscopy
A test in which a flexible, lighted tube is inserted through the rectum to examine the colon.

Colostomy
A surgically created opening of the colon to the abdominal wall, allowing the diversion of fecal waste.

Continent Ileostomy
The surgical creation of a pouch inside the lower abdomen to collect waste. No external appliance is required; the pouch is emptied regularly with a small tube inserted through a nipple opening in the abdomen.

Contraindication
Any circumstance making a form of medical or surgical treatment inadvisable.

Cortisone
An anti-inflammatory drug, part of a group of drugs known as corticosteroids.

Dipentum¨
See olsalazine.

Distal
Closer to the anus; downstream.

Distension
An uncomfortable swelling feeling in the abdomen, often caused by excessive amounts of gas and fluids in the intestine.

Dysplasia
Alterations in cells that may predict the development of cancer.

Edema
Accumulation of excessive amounts of fluid in the tissues, resulting in swelling.

Elemental Diet
A specially prepared liquid meal that contains all necessary nutrients.

Electrolytes
Acids, bases, and salts essential for maintaining life.

Endoscopy
The examination of the inside of a hollow organ, such as the bowel, using special lighted tubes.

Epidemiology
The study of the frequency and distribution of diseases in a given population.

Erythema Nodosum
Red swellings occasionally seen on the lower legs during flareups of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Exacerbation
An aggravation of symptoms or an increase in disease activity; a relapse.

Excision
Surgical removal.

Febrile
Running a fever. An indication of increased disease activity.

Fissure
A crack in the skin, usually in an area of the anus in Crohn's disease.

Fistula
An abnormal channel occuring between two loops of intestine, or between the intestine and another structure, such as the bladder, vagina, or skin.

Folic Acid
One of the vitamins responsible for the maintenance of red blood cells.

Fulminant
Disease that develops with extreme rapidity.

Gastroenterologist
A physician specially trained in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with gastrointestinal disease.

Granulomas
Microscopic abnormalities characteristic of Crohn's disease.

Gut
General word for intestine or bowel.

Hemorrhage
Abnormally heavy bleeding.

Hemorrhoids
Painful, dilated veins of the lower rectum and anus, sometimes seen as a complication in persons with IBD.

Hyperalimentation
A means of supplying patients with additional nutritional support by vein or mouth so that their nutritional requirements are met. Also known as total parenteral nutrition (TPN).

IBD
Acronym for inflammatory bowel disease.

Idiopathic
Of unknown cause.

Ileoanal Anastomosis
A newer operation for ulcerative colitis (also known as the pull-through) in which an internal pouch is created after colectomy. Because the rectal tube is retained, the patient continues to evacuate through the anus.

Ileostomy
A surgically created opening of the abdominal wall to the ileum, allowing the diversion of fecal waste.

Ileum
The lower third of the small intestine, adjoining the colon.

Ileus
Temporary paralysis of the bowel, often resulting from sugery, abdominal infection, or electrolyte imbalance.

Immunology
Study of the body's immune response to disease.

Immunomodulators
Drugs that supress or amplify the body's immune response.

Imuran¨
See azathioprine.

Incontinence
In IBD, the inability to retain feces, usually because of rectal inflammation.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
A collective term for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Intractable
Unrelieved by medical treatment.

In Vitro
Observed in a test tube.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Altered motility of the small and large intestine, causing diarrhea and abdominal discomfort. Sometimes mistakenly called "spastic colitis," this condition does not cause inflammation of the colon and has no relationship to ulcerative colitis.

Lactose Deficiency/Lactose Intolerance
A condition caused by a decrease or absence of the enzyme lactase, which aids in the digestion of milk sugar (lactose).

Lactose Tolerance Test
A test involving the drinking of a liquid rich in milk sugar. Blood samples are then taken over a period of time to determine whether there is a deficiency in lactase.

Leukocytosis
An increased number of white blood cells in circulation.

6-mercaptopurine (6-MP)

An immunosuppressive drug sometimes used in the treatment of ulcerative colitis that has not responded to other medications.

Mesalamine
The generic name for 5-ASA, a relatively nontoxic and well-tolerated drug used to test inflamed intestine.

Motility
Movement of the muscles that propel food through the intestinal tract.

Mucus
A whitish substance produced by the intestine, which may be found in the stool.

Nasogastric Tube
A thin, flexible tube passed through the nose or the mouth. Used to remove liquids and air that collect in the stomach when the bowel is obstructed or after intestinal surgery.

Obstruction
A blockage of the small or large intestine that prevents the normal passage of intestinal contents.

Occult Blood
Nonvisible blood in the stool, often an indication of disease activity. Simple lab tests can determine the presence of occult blood.

Olsalazine
An oral preparation of 5-ASA containing two 5-ASA molecules bonded together.

Ostomy
The surgical creation of an artifical excretory opening, such as a colostomy.

Pathogen
A bacterium or virus capable of causing disease.

Pathogenesis
The origin and development of disease.

Pentasa¨
See mesalamine.

Perforation
Formation of a hole in the bowel wall, allowing intestinal contents to enter the abdominal cavity.

Perianal
The area around the anal opening that often becomes inflamed and irritated in persons with IBD.

Peristalsis
Normal rhythmic movements of the stomach and intestine.

Peristomal
The area immediately surrounding the stoma.

Peritonitis
Inflammation of the peritoneum (the membrane enclosing the abdominal organs), usually resulting from an intestinal perforation.

Prednisone
A form of cortisone given in tablet form to reduce the inflammation of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.

Proctectomy
Removal of the rectum.

Proctitis
Inflammation of the rectum.

Proctocolectomy
Removal of the entire colon and rectum.

Prolapse
The falling or protrusion of an organ, such as the rectum or stoma.

Proximal
Closer to the mouth; upstream.

Purinethol¨
See 6-mercaptopurine.

Pyoderma Gangrenosum
A type of sore that sometimes occurs on the extremities of persons with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease.

Regional Enteritis
Another name for Crohn's disease affecting the small intestine.

Remission
A lessening of symptoms and a return to good health.

Resection
Surgical removal of a diseased portion of intestine.

Reservoir
A surgically created pouch, made from the distal ileum, which collects waste.

Rowasa¨
Mesalamine in an enema or suppository form.

Short Bowel Syndrome
A condition in which so much diseased bowel has been surgically removed that the remaining intestine can no longer absorb sufficient nutrients.

Sigmoidoscopy
A test in which a lighted tube is passed through the rectum into the sigmoid colon.

SMA12
A lab test which allows for the measurement of 12 blood chemistries from a single blood sample.

Small Bowel
Small intestine.

Sphincter
A ring of muscle tissue keeping certain sections of the digestive tract (e.g., the anus) closed.

Stenosis
A narrowing of an area (e.g., a segment of intestine).

 

Stoma
A surgically created opening of the bowel onto the skin, the result of ostomy surgery.

Stricture
A narrowed area of intestine caused by active inflammation or scar tissue.

Strictureplasty
A surgical procedure that widens narrowed areas of intestine (strictures).

Subt
Removal of part or most of the colon, leaving a part (usually the rectum) intact.

Sulfasalazine
A medication combining a sulfa component with a drug in the aspirin family.

Sutures
Materials used in surgery to rejoin cut tissues and close wounds.

Tenesmus
A persistent urge to empty the bowel, usually caused by inflammation of the rectum.

Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN)
The intravenous infusion of all nutrients through a catheter placed in a large vein near the collarbone. Also known as hyperalimentation.

Toxic Megacolon
Acute dilation of the colon in colitis (or occasionally in Crohn's disease), which may lead to perforation.

Upper G.I. Series
An x-ray exam of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum performed in the fasting patients after the ingestion of liquid barium. The duration of the exam can be prolonged to allow for visualization of the entire small intestine, including the terminal ileum. The x-ray is then known as an upper G.I. series with small-bowel follow-through.