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IARC Technical Report No10-2
IARC Technical Report No10-2
In the day-to-day operations of the registry, ing) .-algia which is derived from the Greek
the cancer registry personnel deal mostly with word algo (pain). Thus arthralgia means pain
cases of cancer. They will encounter various in the joint.
terms that refer to symptoms or signs of the The root, also known as stem, of a medical
illness, describe the tumour and refer to the term is usually the main part of the word and
site of origin, as well as the methods and refers to the organ or place where the illness
results of diagnosis and treatment. It is not originated. It is generally derived from a Greek
necessary to know the exact definition of all or Latin noun or verb. The root may be found:
these terms, but the worker should be able to - at the beginning, as in: osteoma,
decide whether they relate to the diagnosis or lingual, leukaemia
treatment of cancer, or whether they are used - in the middle: intercostal, hyper-
to describe the site or type of the tumour. This chromatic, prognosis
chapter provides general information on
symptoms of cancer, methods of detection
- at the end: anuria, neoplasm,
and forms of treatment. Common medical
hypogastric, mesoderm
terms are presented and defined. The Medical The meaning of a medical term is modified by
Terminology Course at the end of this manual the addition of a prefix (at the beginning) or a
should also be studied. suffix (at the end).
The prefix is often a preposition or an adverb
2.1 and it consists of one or two syllables added in
Medical terminology front of the root of the word which alters its
meaning. Examples are given below:
2.1.1 Word roots, suffixes and prefixes
Medical term Prefix Definition of prefix
In the process of cancer registration, particu-
larly during collection of information on submandibular sub- below
cases, personnel will meet medical terms hypogastric hypo- beneath, under,
which may refer to symptoms, to diagnostic deficient
procedures or to treatments. Registry workers aphoma a- without
do not have to memorize all these different anencephalic an- without
terminologies. However, it is important that endocardium endo- inside
they learn the meaning of the more common bilateral bi- two
word roots (or origins), prefixes (beginnings) contralateral contra- against, opposite
and suffixes (endings) (the parts of words
which are combined to make up medical A suffix refers to a syllable or group of syllables
terms) to help in understanding difficult attached to the end of the root to modify its
terms. This is especially useful as most medical meaning. Suffixes, as prefixes, modify the
records are handwritten with varying degrees meaning of a root element. Examples are:
of legibility. A simple medical dictionary is
Medical term Suffix Definition ofsuffl.x
very helpful. Examples of suitable dictionaries
on the market are given in the list of suggested Appendicitis -itisinflammation
further reading at the end of the Manual. Histology ...ology
study of
Most medical terms are derived from lan- Leukopema -penia
deficiency
guages such as Latin, Greek, French or Ger- Carcinoid -oid form, resembling
man. As an example, let us take the word Ovoid
} -oid form, like,
arthralgia which is based on the Greek word resembling
arthron (joint) as a root, and the suffix (end- Hepatomegaly -.megaly enlargement
2 Manual for Cancer Registry Personnel
Often, a root will be combined with a suffix In the list below different word roots are used
and put after another root, so forming the to describe the origin of the tumour or pri-
word ending, for example: mary site. These word roots are usually,
although not always, derived from Greek or
- Leukaemia - Root (aern = blood) + Latin. Look them up in your dictionary and
suffix (-ia = condition), added to
match the word roots with the sites.
another root (leuk- = white), to
form the word leukaemia.
- Carcinogenic - Genic is composed
-a. Gastr- 1. Skin
b. Nephr- 2. Breast
of a root (gen = forming, produc-
ing) + a suffix (-ic = condition of).
-c. Hepat- 3. Spleen
_d. Rhin- 4. Lung
In summary, the basic forms of medical terms -e. Cerebr- 5. Kidney
are: -f. Bronch- 6. Brain
Root plus suffix: -g. Mamm- 7. Nose
- Hepatorna: (hepa = liver) + (-orna = -h. Card- 8. Liver
tumour). -j. Derrn- 9. Heart
- Leukorrhea: (leuko = white) + (- j. Lieno- 10. Stomach
rrhea = flow).
Question 2(b):
Prefix plus root:
- Neoplasm: (neo- = new) + (plasm = In the list below word roots are used to
fluid substance of cells). describe the different body tissues. These are
combined with other word elements to
- Biology: (bio- = life, living) + (logy describe the histological type of the neoplasm.
= study of). Look up these word roots in your dictionary
- Pathology: (patho- = relating to and match them with the correct definition.
disease) + (logy = study of).
Prefix plus root plus suffix: _a. Angi- 1. Gland
- Epigastric: (epi- = on or upon) + b. Fibr- 2. Threadlike
(gastr = stomach) + (-ic = condition -c. Oste- 3. Marrow
of), relates to the epigastrium at the _d. Lei- 4. Fat
upper middle region of the abdo- -e. Aden- 5. Slime
men. -f. Cyst- 6. Membrane
- Dyspneic: (dys- = difficult) + (pne = -g. Lip- 7. Sac, Cyst
breathing) + (-ic = condition of), h. Myel- 8. Smooth
describes difficulty in breathing. -i. Mening- 9. Vessel
- Tachycardic: (tachy- = rapid) + —j. Rhabdo- 10. Rod
(card = heart) + (-ic = condition of), _k. Hem- 11. Cartilage
describes rapid heart rate. 1. Chondr- 12. Bone
_m.Myx- 13. Skin
Two roots: n. Demi- 14. Blood
- Carcinogen: (carcin(o) = cancer,
crab) + (gen = forming). Question 2(c):
- Scieroderma: (scler(o) = hard) +
(derma = skin). In the list below are prefixes commonly used
The vowel is in brackets because it has been with medical terms. Match the prefix with the
introduced to combine the two root words. correct definition:
The Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer KI
j remain at their site of origin and do not - breast carcinoma = breast cancer.
spread to other parts of the body. - gastric carcinoma = stomach cancer.
When describing a malignant tumour, three - hepatocellular carcinoma = cancer of
important elements must be identified: the liver: (hepato- = liver) cells.
site of origin of the tumour, the type of cells Carcinoma-in-situ refers to a malignant
involved in the malignancy, and the extent of tumour which is confined to the epithelium
the disease. (lining) and has not infiltrated into the tissues
Identification of the site of origin of the beneath it.
tumour (primary site) is important because Sometimes a malignant tumour is described
tumours in different organs or tissues behave by the type of cells involved, for example, ade-
differently to those in others. In the same way, nocarcinoma (adeno- = gland) + (carcinoma =
different histological types have different malignant tumour of epithelial origin) is a
behaviours (histology is the study of the malignant tumour arising from glandular tis-
minute structure of cells, tissues and organs in sue.
relation to their functions). The histological
type or morphology of the tumour is deter- Figure 2.2.
mined by microscopic examination of a piece Histological Aspect
of tissue which has been excised (ex- = out,
Normal tissue layers
cise = cut) by a biopsy or during surgery.
Biopsy is the removal of tissue from the living Epithelium
body for purposes of diagnosis by microscopic L
examination. Basal
membrane
There are three significant events in the life Underlying..
history of a malignant tumour: tissue
Abnormal tissue layers
- tumour growth
- spread to the lymph nodes
- spread to distant organs (distant
metastasis)
All these events are taken into consideration
in the determination of the extent of the dis-
ease or 'stage' of the disease. This serves as a
guide in the selection of the appropriate form
of treatment to be used. Generally, treatment
is more successful for small tumours, or those
which have not spread, so that stage (extent)
of disease is also used as a means of predicting (b) Sarcomas are malignant tumours arising
the possible outcome of the disease (progno- from connective tissues. The word is derived
sis). These will be discussed in more detail in from the root "sarco" meaning flesh plus the
the chapter on coding (Chapter 4). suffix "-orna" meaning tumour. Malignant
Generally, malignant tumours are either carci- tumours arising from the muscle tissue, fatty
nomas or sarcomas: tissue, fibrous tissue, vascular tissue, bone, car-
(a) Carcinomas are malignant tumours com- tilage and nervous tissue are sarcomas. They
posed of epithelial cells which tend to invade tend to metastasize to distant organs. Exam-
surrounding tissues and give rise to metas- ples are:
tases. Malignancies originating from the skin - Fibrosarcoma = a malignant tumour
and the cells that line the walls of hollow arising from fibrous connective tissues
organs (such as the intestinal tract) are carci- such as tendons: (fibr- = threadlike,
nomas. Carcinoma is derived from the word fibre) + (sarcoma = malignant connec-
root "cardri" meaning crab plus a suffix "- tive tissue tumour).
oma" meaning tumour. Examples are: - Chondrosarcoma = a malignant tumour
- bronchogenic carcinoma = lung cancer: arising from cartilage: (chondro- = carti-
(broncho- = windpipe) + (gen = produc- lage) + (sarcoma = malignant connec-
ing) + (-ic = condition of). tive tissue tumour).
6 Manual for Cancer Registry Personnel
are also known as tomograms, lamino- into a bile duct usually carried out
grams or planograms. under television monitor. This pro-
Radiological examinations using con- cedure demonstrates the presence
trast media: a contrast medium is a of obstruction either by a stone or
radiopaque substance which can be by a mass as in a tumour.
injected into the veins, arteries, lym- - Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopan-
phatic vessels or hollow cavities to creatography (ERCP): cannula into
obtain contrast with the surrounding the opening of the bile duct, by
tissues. The contrast medium does not using a flexible (fiberoptic) duode-
permit X-rays to pass through it so noscope. Contrast medium is intro-
that the structures containing it duced into the cannulated duct
appear white on the X-ray film, thus system and X-ray pictures are
delineating abnormal masses or taken. As the cannula is with-
growths and defining the contour of drawn, more X-ray films are taken
the body structures on X-ray. Some of in various projections.
the X-ray studies using contrast media - Operative cholangiography surgical
are: procedure of the gallbladder.
Angiography. (angio = vessel) + (-gra-
phy = method of recording), the radio-
- Upper GI Series (UGIS or barium swal-
low): the patient is asked to take
logical study of the blood vessels
barium (a contrast medium) orally,
(vascular system) or lymphatic vessels,
then a series of X-ray pictures is
Examples:
taken as the barium goes down
- Cerebral angiogram: X-rays of the from the pharynx to the oesopha-
blood vessels of the brain gus, stomach and small intestines.
- Cardiac angiogram: X-ray show- - Lower GI series (Barium Enema):
ing the blood vessels of the heart radiological studies of the rectum
and the large blood vessels and colon following introduction
- Lymphangiogram: X-ray studies of of barium through the rectum.
the lymphatic vessels
Bronchography (broncho = windpipe)
- Myelography. (myel(o) = spinal
cord) + (-graphy = method of
+ (-graphy = method of recording), recording), radiological study of
the radiological study of the airways the spinal cord.
(bronchi) of the lung.
- Bronchogram: x-ray of the bron- - Sialography. (sial(o) = salivary
gland) + (-graphy = method of
chiai system
recording), radiological study of
Cholecystography. (chole- = bile) + the salivary ducts.
(cyst(o) = sac) + (-graphy = method of
recording), the radiological study of - Urography. (uro = urine, urinary
the functions of the gallbladder and tract) + (-graphy = method of
bile ducts after introduction of an recording), radiological study of
opaque contrast medium. the urinary tract.
- Cholecystogram: X-ray of the gall.. - Cystography X-ray of the urinary
bladder bladder
Cholangiography. (chol(e)- = bile) + - Pyelography: X-ray of the kidneys,
(angi(o) = vessel) + (-graphy = method ureter with emphasis on the pelvis
of recording), the radiological study of of the kidney and ureters.
the bile ducts. - Intravenous pyelography (fVP): con-
- T-tube cholan,giography medium trast medium is injected intrave-
injected through a tube inserted nously and a series of X-rays is
during operation. taken as the contrast medium
- Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiog- quickly passes into the urine.
raphy (FTC): direct introduction of - Retrograde pyelography: a series of X-
contrast medium through the liver rays done after introduction of
14 Manual for Cancer Registry Personnel
cells have shown that there are two Leukopaenia: reduction in the number
types, the T and the B cells. of leukocytes in the blood
Monocytes: these are agranular leuko- Polycythaemia: excessive number of
cytes with phagocytic and bactericidal erythrocytes
capacities. They comprise about 4-8% Thrombocytopaenia: decrease in the
of all white blood cells. number of platelets
(iii) Platelets (thrombocytes) A table of normal values for blood
examinations is given below. The regis-
These are tiny cells or discs whose pri-
try personnel are not expected to mem-
mary function is haemostasis (clotting
orize these values. They are given as a
of blood).
guide for abstracting haematological
Peripheral blood is circulating blood reports. The diagnosis of haematologi-
obtained from blood vessels or the cal malignancies by peripheral blood
extremities. This may be obtained examinations is often based on an ab-
through a finger prick or through a normal cell count (usually a markedly
venipuncture (specimen taken directly elevated white blood cell count (WBC))
from a peripheral vein). The common and the presence of immature cells in
examinations for peripheral blood the smear. Registry personnel should
include: complete blood count (CBC), have a basic knowledge of what is nor-
platelet count, reticulocyte count and many expected in complete blood
peripheral smear. count examinations and peripheral
In examination of the peripheral smears in order to be able to recognize
blood, the peripheral smear is the values which are abnormal.
most important. Examination of the Bone marrow studies are essential in the
peripheral smear shows the size and diagnosis of a wide variety of haemato-
colour of the red blood cells, their logical disorders, especially leukae-
variations in size known as anisocyto- mias. The circulating blood cells are
sis: (an- = without) + (iso = equal-) + actively produced in the bone marrow.
(cyto = cell) + (-osis = increase), or A bone marrow sample can be obtained
variation in shape referred to as by needle aspiration or by biopsy of
poildiocytosis: (poikilo- = irregular) + bone marrow, and is considered as a his-
(cyto = cell) + (-osis = increased num-
tological examination (see 6/7 below).
ber), which are helpful in the diagno-
sis of specific anaemias. Normally,
Haematocrit Men 42-52%
immature forms of leukocytes are not
found in the peripheral blood. Hence, Women 37-47%
a markedly increased leukocyte count Haemoglobin Men 140-180 Gms/litre
with a number of immature forms, Women 120-160 Gms/litre
especially 'blasts', alerts one to the Erythro- Men 4.5-6.3 X 1012/
possibility of leukaemia. cytes (RBC): litre
Certain types of conditions associated
with abnormality of the blood cells are:
Women 4.2-5.4 x 1012 /
litre
Anaemia: deficiency in erythrocytes Reticulocyte count: 0.5-2% of red
or haemoglobin blood cells
Aplastic anaemia: a form of anaemia in Leukocytes 0.5-2% of red
which there is lack of formation of (WBC): blood cells
blood cells in the bone marrow
5x 109 - lox
Leukaemia: a malignant disease of the
109/litre
blood and blood-forming organs char-
acterized by uncontrolled proliferation Neutrophils: 40-60%
of leukocytes which is diagnosed by Band (stabs): 0-5%
microscopic detection of abnormal cells Juveniles: 0-1%
Leukocytosis: increase in the number of Myelocytes: 00/0
leukocytes in the blood Eosinophils: 1-3% -
The Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer 21
Answers 2(m):
2 a. Cobalt
5 b. BCG
3 c. Methotrexate
1 d. Mastectomy
4 e. Orchiectomy for prostatic cancer
1 f. Trans-urethral resection, prostate
2 g. Linear accelerator
4 h. Radiation ablation, ovaries foi
advanced breast cancer
2 j. Radium insertion for cervical
cancer
5 j. Interferon
Appendix 2.1
Acronyms and Abbreviations
Abbreviation.. Meaning
28
Acronyms and Abbreviations 29
Ba ............... barium
bas ............... basal
baso .............. basophil(e)
BBB .............. bundle branch block; blood-brain barrier
BBT ............... basal body temperature
BCC .............. basal cell carcinoma
B-cells ............ special lymphocytes formed in bone marrow
BCG .............. bacillus Calmette-Guérin
BE................ barium enema; below elbow
BID, bid ........... bis in die (twice a day)
bil, bilat........... bilateral
bil, bill, bilirub ..... bilirubin
BKA .............. below the knee amputation.
BM ............... bowel movement; basal metabolism; bone marrow
BMR.............. basal metabolic rate
BP, bp ............. blood pressure; boiling point
BPH .............. benign prostatic hypertrophy
BS ................ bowel sound; breath sound
BSA .............. body surface area
BSE, bse ........... breast self-examination
BSO .............. bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy
bsp............... bromsuphalein
30 Appendix 2.1
cpm, CPM ......... counts per minute (pertains to particles emitted after
administration of radioactive material)
CPR .............. cardiopulmonary resuscitation
D, d ............. deviation; dexter (right); dorsal (thoracic vertebra 1st, 2nd, etc.)
DBP .............. diastolic blood pressure
DC, dc ............ discontinue; discharge
D & C............. dilatation and curettage
DD ............... differential diagnosis
dec, decr .......... decreased
deg, degen ......... degeneration; degree
Derm ............. dermatology
DES .............. diethyistilbestrol
DH ............... dehydrogenase; delayed hypersensitivity
DHL .............. diffuse histiocytic lymphoma
DI ................ diabetes insipidus; diagnostic imaging; deterioration index
Dia, diath.......... diathermy; diametre
diag .............. diagnosis; diagnostic; diagram
DIC .............. disseminated intravascular coagulopathy
Duff Ct ............ differential count
DISCH ............ discharge
DL ............... direct laryngoscopy
DLCL ............. diffuse large cell lymphoma (diffuse histiocytic)
DLL .............. diffuse lymphoblastic lymphoma (diffuse lymphoblastic convoluted!
non-convoluted)
DM, dm ........... diabetes mellitus; decimetre
DML.............. diffuse mixed cell lymphoma (diffuse mixed lymphocytic histiocytic)
DNA .............. deoxyribonucleic acid
DOA .............. dead on arrival
DOB .............. date of birth
32 Appendix 2.1
GS . general surgery
GSW.............. gunshot wound
Hx .... history
Hyst, hyst ......... hysterectomy
L, i, it ............ Latin; left; length; (ligament); light; litre; lumbar (vertebra - 1st,
2nd etc.)
LA ................ left atrium; left auricle; long—acting; lanthanum (chemical
symbol for)
lab ............... laboratory
LAF............... laminar air flow
LAP, lap ........... laparotomy; leucine aminopeptidase; leukocyte alkaline
phosphatase
LASER............. light amplication by stimulated emission of radiation
Lat., lat............ lateral
lb ................ pound
LD, LDH........... lactate dehydrogenase; lethal dose; low density
LE ................ lower extremity; lupus erythematosus
LFT............... liver function test
LH ............... luteinizing hormone; left hand
Jig ................ ligament(s)
lin, linac........... linear (accelerator)
LIQ............... lower inner quadrant (breast)
LIS ............... lobular carcinoma in situ
LKS, 1.5K........... liver, kidney, spleen
LLE ............... left lower extremity
LLL............... left lower lobe (lung)
LLQ .............. left lower quadrant (abdomen or breast)
IMP .............. last menstrual period
Acronyms and Abbreviations 37
L.P., LP, ip ......... lumbar puncture; latent period; light perception; low power (with
reference to microscopy field); low pressure
LS ................ liver scan
L-S ...............lumbo-sacral
LTH ..............luteotropic hormone (prolactin)
LUL .............. left upper lobe (lung)
LUQ.............. left upper quadrant (of abdomen and breast)
lym, lymph, lympho. lym phocyte(s)
L & W ............ living and well
lvi, m ............ male; married; mass; metabolite; metre; milli- (thousand); Monday;
morphology; murmur; musculus (muscle)
mag, Mag, magn.... magnification; magnus (large)
malig ............. malignant
mas, masc ......... masculine; mass
mast .............. mastectomy
mc ............... mihicurie; megacycle(s)
MCG ............. microgram
MCH, MCHC....... mean corpuscular haemoglobin (count) or (concentration)
MCL .............. mid-clavicular line
MCV ............. mean corpuscular volume
MD, md ........... mano dextra (with the right hand); mean deviation; Doctor of
Medicine
MDR ............. minimum daily requirement
ME, me ........... methyl (chemical symbol for); middle ear
MED, med ......... medial; median; medicine(al); medium (bacteriology); minimal
..... effective dose
Med. Rec .......... medical record (department)
Med Tech .......... medical technology(ician) (see also MT)
mEq/l ............. milli-equivalent per litre
met, metas......... metastasis; metastasize; metastatic
mev .............. mifiion electron volts
Mg, mg, MG ....... magnesium (chemical symbol for); milligram(s); myasthenia gravis
MI, mi ............ mitral insufficiency; myocardial infarction
micro ............. microscopic
min .............. minute
ML, ml ............ malignant lymphoma; millilitre; mid line
mid .............. minimum lethal dose
MM, mm .......... millimetre; mucous membranes; muscles
mod, modif ........ moderate(ly); modification; modified
Mono, monos ...... monocyte(s)
MOTNAC.......... Manual of Tumor Nomenclature and Coding
MR ............... mitral regurgitation
38 Appendix 2.1
0' o ............. occi put; occulus (eye); oral(ly); oxygen (chemical symbol for)
OB, ob, OBS, obstet.. obstetrics(al); observation; obsolete
OB-GYN .......... obstetrics and gynecology
0cc............... occasional; occlusion
OD, od, o/d .........oculus dexter (right eye); omni die (once daily); on demand;
occupational disease
OF, op ............ outpatient; occiput posterior; operative procedure; osmotic pressure
OPD .............. outpatient department
Oph, ophth ........ ophthalmology(ist); ophthalmoscope(ic)
OR ............... operating room
Ortho ............. orthopaedic
OS, Os, os ......... oculus sinister (left eye); bone; mouth; opening
Osteo ............. osteomyelitis; osteopath(y)
OT, ot............. occupational therapy; objective test (psychology); orotracheal;
otolaryngology(ist)
OTO, Otol ......... otology(ist)
OU ............... oculi unitas (both eyes together); oculus uterque (for each eye)
oz ................ ounce (28 gr)
P, p .............. parte (part); per (by); phosphorus (chemical symbol for); pulse; pupil;
plasma
PA ................ posterior-anterior (back to front); paralysis agitans; pernicious
anaemia; pulmonary artery
P&A ............. percussion and auscultation
paip .............. palpable; palpate(ion)
Para .............. formula designating p-number of pregnancies; a-number of abor-
tions; -number of living children
PAS ............... peroxidase acid stain
Pase .............. phosphatase
Path, pathol........ pathology(ical); pathologist
PBI ............... protein-bound iodine
PC ............... post cibos (after meals); post cibum (after food)
pCO- ............. carbon dioxide content of the blood
PCV .............. packed cell volume
PD ............... poorly differentiated; peritoneal dialysis
PDA .............. Patent Ductus Arteriosus
PE, pe ............. physical examination; pulmonary embolism
PED, Pedia ......... paediatric(s)
PEEP .............. positive end-expiratory pressure
40 Appendix 2.1
PEG . pneumoencephalogram
PERLA ............ pupils equal, reactive to light and accomodation
PERRLA ........... pupils equal, round, reactive to light and accomodation
PF ................ platelet factor; pulmonary factor;-permeability factor
PH, PHx........... past history; public health
pH ............... symbol for expression of hydrogen ion concentration (acidity
and alkalinity)
phys.............. physiology
Phys Med.......... physical medicine
Q ............... quaque
quadrant; quantity; quart; quotient
q................. (each, every)
qd................ quaque die (every day)
qh ............... quaque hora (every hour)
qhs............... at bedtime
qid ............... quater in die (four times a day)
qm ............... quaque mane (every morning)
qn ............... quaque nocte (every night); quaque nox (every night)
QNS .............. quantity not sufficient
qt ................ quart; quantity; quiet
qtty .............. quantity
quad.............. quadrant(s)
quai .............. quality(ative)
q.v. ............... quod vide (which see)
relic ..............reticulocyte(s)
Relic ct ............ reticulocyte count
RF ................ renal failure; rheumatoid factor
RH, Rh ............ relative humidity; releasing hormone; rhesus (with reference to
blood factors); rhonchi (raies); right hand
RHD .............. rheumatic heart disease
RI ................ refractive index
RIA ...............radioimmunoassay
RICM ............. right intercostal margin
RIQ. .............. right inner quadrant (of breast)
RLE............... right lower extremity
RLL............... right lower lobe (of the lung)
RLQ .............. right lower quadrant (of the abdomen or breast)
RM ............... respiratory movement
RML .............. right middle lobe
RNA ............... ribonucleic acid
RO, RIO ........... routine order; rule out
Roent .............roentgenology(ist)
ROM ............. range of motion
ROQ.............. right outer quadrant of the breast or abdomen
ROS .............. review of systems; review of slides
rout .............. route
RR ............... respiratory rate; recovery room; response rate
R & R ............. rate and rhythm (of pulse)
RS, R—S ............ Reed—Sternberg cells (for diagnosing Hodgkin's disease)
RT, rt ............. radiotherapy; right; reaction time; recreational therapy
RTC .............. return to clinic
RUE .............. right upper extremity
RUL .............. right upper lobe
RUQ.............. right upper quadrant
RV ............... right ventricle
R—V .............. recto—vaginal
Rx, RX ............ recipe (take, used in prescription); therapy; treatment
S's .............. sacral (in vertebra); semis (half); single (marital status); sinister
(left); sulphur (chemical symbol for)
s ................. without (L. sine)
SA, Sa, sarc......... sarcoma; sino—atrial node
sat, satd, satn....... saturated; saturation
SB ................ small bowel
SBE............... subacute bacterial endocarditis
SBP............... systolic blood pressure
S, Sc.............. without correction; small cleaved
sci................ science(tîfic)
SD ............... standard deviation
SE ................ saline enema; standard error selinium (chemical symbol for)
Sed rate ........... sedimentation rate
Acronyms and Abbreviations 43
wt ................ weight
W/U .............. work-up
10 . first degree
211 ........... secondary; second degree
female
malle
increased
............ decreased
- ............ negative; subtract
+ ............ positive; add
p. ............ micron
i.&.mg, p.g ...... microgram
less than
more than; greater than
less than or equal to
more than or equal to
* birth
t ............ death
O ...........diametre
= ............ equal to
* ........... is not equal to
- ............ approximate
I ............ foot; feet
seconds; inch(es)
° ............ degree; hour
#............ number (before a figure e.g. #2)
% ........... percent; percentage
/ ............ per or divided by
x ............ multiplied by
ratio to
47
Appendix 2.3
Cancer Chemotherapeutic Agents
48