•
ABGs: arterial blood gases
• acidosis: a disorder caused when the body fluids have an
abnormally high acid content, as in uncontrolled diabetes
mellitus and in uremia.
• acrocyanosis: a blue discoloration of the hands and feet due
to a disturbance in blood circulation.
• adenocarcinoma: a neoplasm of glandular epithelium which is
malignant.
• adenoma: a benign tumor of gland-like structure or of
glandular origin.
• adhesion: an abnormal sticking together of organs or
tissues, sometimes resulting in obstructions requiring
surgery.
• alveoli: the air cells of the lungs.
• alveolitis: inflammation of the alveoli. In pneumonia, only
the localized segments of lung tissue are involved.
• alkalosis: a condition of increased alkalinity of the blood.
Caused by excessive intake of alkali or excessive acid loss
and may result in muscular irritability and convulsions.
• amosite: a type of asbestos of the amphibole variety
accounting for 3% of all asbestos used. Its color varies from
gray to yellow to dark brown, and its fibers are coarse in
texture. Fibers are somewhat pliable, have good flexibility
but only fair spinnability. Amosite was used for asbestos
cement, pipe, and roofing materials.
• anasarca: edema characterized by the normal accumulation of
serum in connective tissue.
• anthracosis: the benign deposition of coal dust in lungs
from inhalation of soot in the air.
• apices: the top portions of the lungs.
• asbestos bodies: inhaled asbestos fibril particles that are
coated with iron-containing mucoprotein and imbedded in lung
tissue. They are usually drumhead or dumbbell-shaped. Their
presence in sputum or in parenchymal tissue is considered
strong evidence of some exposure to asbestos.
• asbestos corns: these corns may develop when rigid and sharp
asbestos fibers penetrate the human skin (esp. the hands) and
cause a chronic skin irritation. Skin cancers are not induced,
and asbestos corns are not symptomatic of any disease entity.
• asbestosis: diffuse pulmonary fibrosis caused by the
inhalation of asbestos particles. The alveoli and bronchioles
respond to the asbestos fibers with macrophages, then
fibroblasts produce collagen, which forms the characteristic
fibrosis.
• ASHD: arteriosclerotic heart disease. A chronic disease
characterized by degenerative hardening and thickening of the
arterial walls, often resulting in deficient blood supply to
tissues and organs.
• ascites: the abnormal accumulation of serum in the abdominal
cavity. Also called hydroperitoneum.
• asthma, occupational: a diffuse, intermittent, reversible
airways obstruction caused by the inhalation of irritants or
allergenic particles or vapors from industrial processes.
• atelectasis: the collapse or incomplete expansion of a lung
or of part of a lung.
• athrocyte: a cell with the ability to pick up foreign matter
and store it in granular form in its cytoplasm.
To the top
• basilar: pertaining to the base part of an organ.
• benign pleural effusion: nonmalignant effusion, a clear
viscous serofibrinous fluid (occasionally bloody), found in
the pleural cavity. It is often accompanied by pleural
thickening.
• bilateral pleural thickening: thickening of the pleura of
both sides of the lungs.
• biopsy: the microscopic confirmation of the presence of
asbestos bodies or fibrosis in a small segment of tissue. This
is done by open chest biopsy, needle biopsy, or transbronchial
biopsy technique.
• bleb: an air-containing space seldom exceeding 1-2 cm.,
subpleural and most frequently developing over lung apices.
Development of blebs has been attributed to dissection of air
over a ruptured alveolus, where it accumulates in the visceral
pleura in the form of a cyst. Blebs basically represent
paraseptal emphysema and are usually regarded as the major
cause of spontaneous pneumothorax.
• bronchiectasis: a chronic inflammatory or degenerative
condition of one or more bronchi or bronchioles, marked by
dilation or loss of elasticity of the chest walls.
• bronchogenic carcinoma: a primary malignant tumor
originating in the bronchus of a lung.
• bronchiole: a small division of a bronchus.
• bronchitis: inflammation of the bronchial tubes.
• bronchoscopy, flexible fiberoptic: exam of the bronchi by
passing down a flexible tube containing glass fibers with
special optical properties which carries light down and
returns a clear magnified image.
• bronchus: one of the two terminal divisions of the trachea,
each of which carries air to one lung.
• bullae: intrapulmonary structures usually attributed to
excessive rupture of alveolar walls. They appear to affect
upper and lower lobes equally and may develop in the absence
of generalized emphysema. Their walls are composed of
compressed parenchymal tissue and strands of emphysematous
lung.
To the top
• calcification: the process of hardening of body tissues by
their infiltration with calcium.
• cancerophobia: an obsessive fear of cancer.
• carcinogenic: capable of producing carcinoma or cancer.
• carcinoid: a tumor, usually benign or of low-grade
malignancy, which is often found in the intestines.
• carcinoma: a malignant tumor of epithelial origin.
• cardiovascular: pertaining to the heart and the blood
vessels.
• CBC: complete blood count, consisting of a hemoglobin and
hematocrit determination, a red cell count, a white cell
count, and a differential count of the white cells.
• chronic bronchitis: a condition associated with prolonged
exposure to nonspecific bronchial irritants (usually cigarette
smoke) and accompanied by alterations in the bronchi. It is
characterized by a chronic productive cough.
• chrysotile: a type of asbestos of the serpentine variety
accounting for 90% of all asbestos used. Its fibers take the
shape of a spirally wound tube, are soft, flexible and small
in diameter. Its color is green, gray, amber, or white. It is
of high tensile strength and was used in asbestos cement,
pipe, sheet roofing, flooring, electrical and thermal
insulation and friction products.
• clubbing: a condition characterized by increased curvature
of the nails, blood congestion in nailbeds, and increased size
of the distal phalanges. Clubbing may appear in advanced cases
of asbestosis, but it appears more frequently in other types
of pneumoconioses.
• COHb: carboxyhemoglobin. A compound formed from hemoglobin
on exposure to carbon monoxide.
• collagen: an insoluble fibrous protein that appears in bones
and connective tissue fibrils.
• collagen disease: one of a group of chronic diseases
affecting the connective tissue as well as multiple joints and
organs.
• colloid: a substance (such as gelatin or starch) which, when
dissolved in water, diffuses very slowly through a membrane.
• contingency based payment: the payment for services
(generally legal services) is contingent, or depends on, the
settlement received. If no settlement is received, there is no
payment.
• COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. See
"obstructive lung disease."
• cor pulmonale: right-sided heart failure. The right
ventricle becomes hypertrophied and dilated due to the back
pressure within the pulmonary blood circuit created by
diseased lungs.
• costophrenic angle: the angle between the diaphragm and the
chest wall.
• coughing: an early, nonspecific symptom of asbestosis is a
dry cough, sometimes associated with chest pains. It is most
common in asbestos workers with a history of cigarette
smoking.
• crocidolite: a type of asbestos of the amphibole variety
accounting for 3 1/2% of all asbestos used. It is an
acid-resistant blue fiber with very high tensile strength, but
does not rate as highly in terms of resistance to destruction
by heat. It has good flexibility and fair spinnability and was
frequently used for thermal insulation, grouting, and lagging.
• cyanosis: a bruise-like discoloration of the skin and mucous
membranes, that is particularly caused by deficient oxygen
content in the blood.
• cytology: the branch of biology concerned with the study of
cells.
• cytoxic: toxic or destructive to cells.
To the top
• diffuse: not concentrated, or not localized.
• diffuse basilar rales: an early distinctive clinical sign of
respiratory disease. Rales are crackling noises, unaffected by
coughing or deep inspiration, that are heard in the lungs.
• diffusion: the process by which molecules move from a region
of high concentration to one of lower concentration, as in the
exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs.
• DLCO: diffusing capacity. A study of lung function defined
as the number of milliliters of carbon monoxide absorbed per
minute per millimeter of mercury.
• DOE: dyspnea on exertion.
• dyspnea: shortness of breath. It is an early nonspecific
symptom of the onset of pulmonary disease.
To the top
• echasia: a stretching of the alveolar spaces characteristic
of emphysema.
• edema: an abnormal accumulation of serous fluid in
connective tissue, or in a serous cavity (peritoneal or
pleural), causing swelling, distention, and compression. It is
usually associated with cardiac insufficiency or with kidney
malfunction.
• effusion: the abnormal escape of a fluid from anatomical
vessels by rupture or exudation; also free fluid within a
joint or cavity.
• electron microscopy: microscopic study utilizing streams of
electrons deflected from their course by an electrostatic or
electromagnetic field for the magnification of objects. Images
may be magnified up to 400,000 diameters.
• embolism, pulmonary: the lodging of a blood clot in a
pulmonary artery with subsequent obstruction of blood supply
to the lung parenchyma.
• emphysema, pulmonary: a chronic disease of the lungs in
which enough functional units (alveoli) have been destroyed by
disease to prevent proper exchange of gases within the units.
As a result, new air in the lung spaces cannot be efficiently
utilized for oxygenation purposes.
• empyema: an accumulation of pus within a cavity, especially
the chest cavity.
• epidemiology: the science of dealing with incidence,
distribution and control of disease in a population. Also,
those factors controlling the presence or absence of a
disease. The pathology regarding the specific cause of a
disease.
• epithelioma: a benign or malignant tumor derived from
epithelial tissue.
• epithelium: the layer of cells forming the surface of skin
and mucous membranes. In general, it serves to protect, absorb
and secrete, in addition to other specialized functions.
• etiology: the study of the causes of diseases.
To the top
• FACT: (Fibreboard Asbestos Compensation Trust) created to
handle asbestos-related personal injury claims against
Fibreboard Corporation under the Ahearn Settlement
• ferroprotein: the brown-colored protein produced by the
lung, which surrounds particles precipitated by iron salts and
other minerals.
• ferruginous body: a general term that describes any fiber
(glass, cotton, talc, etc.) in the lung that is covered by an
iron-containing coating.
• FEV: forced expiratory volume. Refers to the amount of air
breathed in and out in one second. It is a test of vital
capacity.
• fibroblast: a mesenchyme cell which produces collagen to
make connective tissue, blood, bone and cartilage.
• fibrosis: abnormal formation of fibrous tissue.
• Fibreboard Settlement Trust: trust created in 1992 to handle
the funds that would have been available to the FACT to pay
claims
• FRC: functional residual capacity. It is the volume of air
in the lungs at the end of a normal tidal expiration when all
respiratory muscles are relaxed.
• FVC: forced vital capacity. The maximum volume of air that
can be forcibly expired after a full inspiratory effort.
To the top
• glycogen: the form in which carbohydrate is stored in the
body for future conversion into sugar and subsequent use as a
source of energy.
To the top
• hematamesis: the vomiting of blood.
• hemidiaphragm: one half of the diaphragm.
• hemithorax: one side of the chest.
• hemothorax: blood in the pleural space.
• hemoptysis: expectoration of blood as a result of
respiratory tract bleeding. It is not to be confused with
blood-streaked sputum, a common complaint, but is usually
benign and seen with an upper respiratory tract infection.
• hilum: the root of each lung before division into separate
lobes.
• histochemistry: study of the chemistry of cells and tissues
by using both light and electron microscopy along with the use
of special chemical tests and stains.
• histology: the study of the microscopic structure of tissue.
• hydropneumothorax: a simultaneous collection of fluid and
air in the chest cavity resulting from lung disease or
penetrating injuries of the chest wall.
• hyperlucency: excessive radiolucency (overexposure) as
pertaining to radiographic films
• hypertension, pulmonary: a condition resulting from
increased pulmonary vascular resistance. As a consequence, the
right ventricle is forced to generate a higher pulmonary
artery pressure to maintain normal cardiac output.
• hypertrophy: a thickening and dilation.
• hypoxia: oxygen deficiency.
To the top
• infarction, pulmonary: hemorrhagic consolidation (often
followed by necrosis) of lung parenchyma resulting from
thromboembolic pulmonary artery occlusion.
• interlobar: between the lobes of the lungs.
• interstitial fibrosis: chronic inflammation of the alveolar
walls with a tendency to destroy the lung architecture by
consequent healing with progressively severe fibrosis. The
progressive nature distinguishes it from other self-limiting
forms of lung fibroses.
• interstitium: the area between air sacs of the lung where
the blood vessels are located and where oxygenation occurs.
• ischemia: the absence of blood supply to an area.
To the top
• koniphers: a single or cluster of dust-carrying cells.
To the top
• latency period: the time between exposure and the
development of symptoms
• lumen: the cavity or channel within a tubular organ, such as
a blood vessel.
• lymphocytosis: an increase in the number of lymphocytes in
the blood, usually associated with chronic infections or
inflammation.
To the top
• macrophages: scavenger cells that keep the lung's air sacs
clean.
• mediastinum: the mass of organs and tissue in the middle of
the chest, separating the lungs, containing the heart,
esophagus, and other vital structures.
• mesothelioma, malignant: diffuse cancers which spread
rapidly over the surface of the lung, abdominal organs, and
heart. Symptoms may include effusion, shortness of breath,
pain, weight loss, restrictive lung disease, and nodular
lesions (in pleural mesothelioma). The prognosis is rapid
deterioration and death usually within one to two years of
diagnosis.
• mesothelioma, peritoneal: cancer of the lining of the
abdominal cavity.
• mesothelioma tissue: consists of a single layer of flat
cells lining the surface of serous membranes in the lungs and
abdomen. Respiration of these cells is impaired by scar tissue
(fibrosis).
• metastasis: the movement of body cells, especially cancer
cells, from one part to another.
• morphology: the science of form and structure without regard
to function.
• mucous carpet: the lining of the bronchial portion of the
lungs. Its cells secrete mucus, which is swept through by
cilia, removing the majority of inhaled particles. This
material is then swallowed or spit out.
• MVV: maximal voluntary ventilation, a measurement of lung
function.
• myeloma: a malignant tumor of the bone, often multiple, and
characterized by the presence of a specific type of cell.
To the top
• neoplasia: an abnormal state, characterized by the growth
and development of benign or malignant tumors.
• neoplasm: a general term that includes any new or abnormal
growth, either benign or malignant.
To the top
• oat cell carcinoma: a cancer not generally associated with
asbestos exposure, particularly when it is found in the upper
portion of the lung.
• obstructive lung disease: characterized by an increase in
airway resistance as a result of narrowing of the air
passageways so that air flow is reduced. It is usually
associated with smoking, emphysema, bronchitis, and asthma.
• orthopnea: shortness of breath that occurs when lying down
and is relieved by sitting or standing.
To the top
• parenchyma: the essential parts of an organ that are
concerned with its function as opposed to its framework.
• parenchymal asbestosis: also known as diffuse interstitial
pulmonary asbestosis.
• pathogenic: causing or capable of causing disease.
• pathogenesis: the origin and development of a disease.
• peribronchial: situated around a bronchus.
• peribronchitis: a form of bronchitis consisting of
inflammation and thickening of the peribronchial tissue.
• peritoneum: the smooth transparent membrane that lines the
abdominal cavity.
• phagocyte: any cell that characteristically engulfs foreign
matter.
• pleura: the delicate serous membranous lining designed to
keep the lungs together and to prevent friction while
breathing. It covers the lungs and lines the chest wall. The
parietal pleura lines the inner surface of the chest wall, and
the visceral pleura covers the outer surface.
• pleural plaque: a localized abnormal fibrous thickening on
the surface of the parietal pleura. The presence of pleural
plaques indicates asbestos exposure and suggests ingestion of
asbestos fibers.
• pleurisy: inflammation of the pleura. Also referred to as
pleuritis.
• pneumococcus: the organism that causes pneumonia, among
other infectious diseases.
• pneumoconiosis: fibrosis of the lung due to dust inhalation.
It is a chronic (not acute) lung disease.
• pneumonia: inflammation of one or both lungs. In
bronchopneumonia, the inflammation is concentrated around the
bronchi. In lobar pneumonia, it involves one or more lobes of
the lung, and viral pneumonia is that caused by a virus.
• pneumonectomy: surgical removal of a lung.
• pneumothorax: free air in the pleural cavity, between the
visceral and parietal pleura.
• pulmonary: related to, or associated with, the lungs.
• pulmonary fibrosis: loss of elasticity of a lung due to
proliferation of the connective tissue in the lung.
• pulmonary function test: used to measure the ability of the
lungs to function normally.
• pulmonary insufficiency: a disorder occurring when the
exchange of respiratory gases between the circulating blood
and the ambient atmosphere is impaired. Chronic pulmonary
insufficiency is commonly caused by airways obstruction and
interstitial fibrosis.
To the top
•
radiographic changes: irregular opacities in the lung bases
that gradually extend into the upper lung zones that appear on
x-ray films The changes may be pleural thickening with
subsequent pleural plaques.
• rales: abnormal lung sounds accompanying normal respiratory
sounds. They indicate inflammation, fluid, or infection in the
air sacs of the lung.
• respiratory alkalosis: a condition involving less carbon
dioxide than normal. It is a sign of over-breathing in
compensation for lack of elasticity in the lungs.
• restrictive lung disease: asbestosis is considered a
restrictive lung disease. Fibrosis reduces the lung's
elasticity, and this "stiff lung" condition reduces all
volumes and capacities of the lungs. Vital capacity and total
lung volume decrease proportionately, and there is more rapid
breathing to compensate for diminished lung capacity.
• retrosternal: situated or occurring behind the sternum.
• RV: residual volume. A measure of lung function.
To the top
• sarcoidosis: a chronic disease characterized by the presence
of multiple, benign, tumor-like nodules in the lungs and in
various other tissues.
• sarcoma: a malignant tumor of the connective tissue. It
spreads by extension or via the bloodstream into neighboring
tissue.
• serous fluid: the clear yellowish fluid which exudes from
injured or inflamed tissues.
• silicosis: a fibrogenic pneumoconiosis caused by inhaling
crystalline free silica (quartz) dust and characterized by
nodular pulmonary fibrosis.
• SOB: shortness of breath.
• spirometer: the instrument that measures the amount of air
entering or leaving the lungs.
• squamous cell: a flat cell of the skin.
• squamous cell carcinoma: a malignant deterioration of some
of the squamous cells of the skin, frequently arising in the
larger bronchi and commonly spread by direct extension and
lymph node metastasis.
• statute of limitations: the amount of time allowed for a
suit to be filed. If a suit is not filed within the set time
there is a ban against receiving compensation.
• subcutaneous: beneath the skin.
To the top
• thoracentesis: the puncturing of the chest wall to obtain
fluid for diagnostic study, drain pleural effusions, or to
re-expand a collapsed lung.
• thoracotomy: any surgical incision made into or through the
chest wall.
• TLC: total lung capacity, a measure of lung function.
• TLV: threshold limit value. A pulmonary function indicator
noting the point at which a physiological effect begins to be
produced.
• toxicity: the potential of a drug or agent to poison the
system, or to cause adverse effects in addition to therapeutic
effect.
• tumor: an abnormal mass of tissue that is not inflammatory,
arises without obvious causes from cells of pre-existent
tissue, and possesses no physiologic function. A tumor can be
either benign or malignant.
To the top
• URI: upper respiratory infection.
To the top
• vascular: referring to or composed of vessels. It is also
used to describe tissue heavily saturated with blood vessels.
• VC: vital capacity. A pulmonary function value defined as
the maximum amount of air that a patient can exhale after
taking the deepest possible breath. |
