GLOSSARY
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adenocarcinoma: cancer that begins in glandular tissue; also applies to tumors that show a glandular type of growth pattern; a gland is an organ that releases a substance into the body, e.g., the sweat gland
alveoli: tiny air sacs at the end of the bronchioles in the lungs; the actual exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide into and out of the blood occurs here
benign: not cancerous; benign tumors do not spread to tissues in other parts of the body
biopsy: the removal of tissue, cells or fluids for examination under a microscope for diagnostic purposes
brachytherapy: treatment of cancer cells involving implantation of radioactive materials that are in direct contact with cancer tissue
bronchi: the two main air passages that connect the trachea (windpipe) to the lungs
bronchial tree: the intricate network of air passages within the lungs; when inverted; this structure resembles a tree, with the trachea (windpipe) resembling the trunk
bronchioles: the smallest branches of the airways in the lungs; they end in small air sacs called alveoli; each lung has about 30,000 bronchioles that are about the same thickness as a human hair
bronchoscopy: a procedure in which a thin, lighted tube is inserted through the nose or mouth to examine the lungs and its airways. It is also used to collect tissue samples to diagnose lung disease
bronchus: one large airway that leads from the trachea (windpipe) to the lungs; the plural of bronchus is bronchi
chemotherapy: use of drugs to destroy cancer cells
chest x-ray: high-energy radiation used to take pictures of the inside of the chest to detect tumors, fluid accumulation or other abnormalities
CT-guided needle aspiration: use of a CT scan to help maneuver a needle for aspiration (see transthoracic needle aspiration)
CT scan: computed tomography scan, a type of imaging technique that uses computers and x-rays to show cross-sectional images of a person's internal organs; also called a CAT scan
electromagnetic navigation technology: a computer system that combines advanced imaging techniques with navigation software to help track the position of surgical tools within the body. When used in the lungs, this technology provides guidance to help locate lesions deep in the lungs that are often unreachable using traditional bronchoscopy tools
esophagus: the long muscular tube that carries food, after it is chewed, from the mouth to the stomach
histoplasmosis: a fungal infection spread by breathing in the spores of the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum, commonly found in soil or dust; the disease most often affects the lungs, producing a tuberculosis-like inflammation
Histoplasma capsulatum: a soil-borne fungus that causes histoplasmosis; found throughout the world but most prevalent in warm, moist and humid climates, e.g., India, Southeast Asia and certain areas of the United States
interstitial lung disease: a general term for approximately 200 lung disorders characterized by inflammation and scarring (fibrosis) of the lungs, leading to reduced oxygen levels in the blood and shortness of breath; sometimes called pulmonary fibrosis
large cell carcinoma: lung cancer in which the cells are large and look abnormal when viewed under a microscope
lobe: a rounded section of a lung; the right lung has three lobes and the left lung has two
lobectomy: surgical removal of an entire lobe of a lung
lymph nodes: small, bean-shaped organs located throughout the body; lymph nodes supply infection-fighting cells to the blood stream and filter out bacteria and other antigens
macrophages: large white blood cells that destroy invading organisms or foreign proteins
malignant: cancerous, refers to cells or tumors growing in an uncontrolled and progressive fashion; may also refer to a disease state that will become progressively worse and potentially fatal
mediastinal lymph nodes: lymph nodes located in the mediastinum or middle chest area between the lungs
mediastinum: the area in the middle of the chest between the lungs; it contains the heart, trachea, esophagus, bronchi and lymph nodes
morbidity: occurrence of a disease or ill health
mortality: death rate indicating frequency of number of deaths
non-small cell lung cancer or NSCLC: non-small cell lung cancer is the most common type of lung cancer; NSCLC usually grows and spreads more slowly than small cell lung cancer (SCLC)
pathogen: disease-causing microorganism (e.g., bacteria, parasite, virus or fungus)
peripheral: away from the center, on the edge
PET-scan: positron emission tomography scan, an imaging technique that uses a very low and safe dose of a radioactive compound that provides three dimensional pictures of body organs and showing the activity of tissues being examined
pleura: the thin membrane that covers the lungs and the inside of the chest wall; the pleura protects and cushions the lungs
pneumonectomy: surgical removal of the entire lung
pneumothorax: collapse of a lung due to leakage of air into the space between the lung and chest wall
radiation therapy: also called radiotherapy, a treatment that employs high-energy radiation for destruction and shrinkage of cancer cells
sarcoidosis: condition that causes small, fleshy swellings in the liver, lungs and spleen
small-cell lung cancer or SCLC: small cell lung cancer characterized by small and round cells when viewed under a microscope; it is typically aggressive and fast-growing
spores: microscopic seeds of fungi or mold
squamous cell carcinoma: cancer that begins in the squamous cells; squamous cells are thin, flat cells on the surface of organs such as the skin or lungs
thoracotomy: surgical procedure that involves making an incision (cut) into the chest wall to view the inside of the chest cavity.
throat: the hollow muscular tube that runs from the base of the tongue to the opening of the esophagus; the throat serves as a passageway for food and air
thymus: the master gland of the immune system located behind the breastbone; the thymus produces white blood cells that fight infections and destroy abnormal cells
transthoracic needle aspiration: insertion of a needle into the body to reach a tumor or cyst in the chest in order to collect tissue for diagnostic evaluation
video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS): a type of surgery using advanced video technology, computers and high-tech electronics to allow surgeons a view of the inside of the chest cavity; involves making very small incisions versus a standard thoracotomy
voice box: part of the respiratory system that contains the vocal cords and is used for breathing, talking and swallowing
wedge resection: surgery to remove a triangle-shaped slice of tissue, usually for removal of a tumor and small amount of normal tissue around it
windpipe: the windpipe serves as the main passage for air into the lungs; it connects the voice box to the bronchi (air passages to the lungs)