Category: T

Chronic diarrhea in a person who has recently visited a tropical area. In tropical sprue, there are no signs of parasites or other infection. Diarrhea results from malabsorption (impaired absorption of nutrients through the small intestine). Because fat passes through the intestine unabsorbed, stools are bulky and strong smelling. Although the exact cause of tropical…

An extremely rare skin condition that causes large portions of the epidermis (the outer layer of skin) to fall off; also known as ten syndrome or toxic epidermolysis bullosa. Toxic epidermal necrolysis is usually caused by a severe drug reaction to medications such as sulfonamides or seizure medications. In t his condition, fever and cough…

Excessive breathing of poisonous fumes. Toxic gas inhalation can result from breathing a number of different fumes, including cyanide or carbon monoxide, which is produced by gasoline-burning engines, defective cooking equipment, charcoal grills, and fires. If inhaled in large amounts, carbon monoxide will replace the oxygen in the bloodstream and reduce the supply of oxygen…

Combinations of metals, usually tin, copper, and aluminum, used to modify the quality of orthovoltage x-ray beams to improve the penetrating ability.  

The depth to which heating to therapeutic temperatures is likely to extend.  

Certain materials, when subjected to ionizing radiation, will undergo an internal alteration in their crystal structure which will store a certain amount of that energy. When these materials are heated they release that stored energy as visible or ultraviolet light. A photomultiplier tube observing the sample will then generate an electrical signal whose magnitude can…

A temperature-sensitive semiconductor used for thermometry. An apparatus for quickly determining very small changes in temperature. Materials that alter their resistance to the flow of electricity as the temperature changes are used in these devices.  

The area over which therapeutic heating is likely to be produced.  

In hyperthermia treatment, temperatures between 42 and 45 °C.  

The ratio of the biological effect of a therapy on a tumor compared with the effect on surrounding normal tissue. Higher therapeutic gains mean lower complications of therapy.