What Is Mesenteric Lymph Node Cavitation And Hyposplenism? Mesenteric lymph node cavitation and hyposplenism combination is a rare lymphatic entity. It is characterized by involution (degeneration) of a mesenteric lymph node (abdominal) and absence of functional spleen tissue. Q: What ...
Read More »Pulmonary Hemosiderosis, Idiopathic (Lane-Hamilton Syndrome)
What Is Idiopathic Pulmonary Hemosiderosis? Pulmonary hemosiderosis (IPH) is a rare and severe pulmonary syndrome characterized by a triad of recurrent episodes of alveolar hemorrhage (bleeding into air sacs), hemoptysis (coughing blood), and iron deficiency anemia. Q: What is the prognosis ...
Read More »Hashimoto’s Disease (Autoimmune Thyroiditis Causing Hypothyroidism)
What Is Autoimmune Thyroiditis (Hypothyroidism)? Autoimmune thyroiditis, also called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or Hashimoto’s Disease, is an autoimmune destruction of thyroid tissue characterized by insufficient thyroid hormone circulating in the body that causes formation of a goiter (enlarged thyroid gland) and ...
Read More »Lymphoma, Enteropathy-Associated T-Cell (EATL)
What Is Enteropathy-Associated T-Cell Lymphoma? Enteropathy associated T-cell lymphoma (EATL), although rare, is a tumor of intraepithelial lymphocytes. It is the most common primary gastrointestinal T-cell lymphoma and is characterized by its aggressive course and poor prognosis. Primary means this ...
Read More »Diarrhea, Chronic
What Is Chronic Diarrhea? Chronic diarrhea is an intestinal motility disorder characterized by 1) alteration in stool formation causing loose to fluid movements and quantity of movements with or without abdominal pain and 2) interference with normal carbohydrate salvage by ...
Read More »Weight Loss, Unexpected/ Inability To Gain Weight
What Is Unexpected Weight Loss? Unexpected weight loss is unintentional loss of body mass composition or inability to gain weight marked by decreased serum proteins and increased stool fat.1 What Is Unexpected Weight Loss In Celiac Disease and/or Gluten Sensitivity? ...
Read More »Bone Fractures
What Are Bone Fractures? Bone fractures, or broken bones, are breaks in skeletal bones that occur usually from trauma to the bone itself or by a sudden violent contraction of muscle attached to it. Q: Are there other causes of ...
Read More »Alopecia, Diffuse (Balding Hair Loss)
What Is Diffuse Alopecia? Diffuse alopecia is characterized by abnormal hair loss or baldness. Hair loss usually develops gradually and may be patchy or all over (diffuse). The average scalp contains about 100,000 hairs. Roughly 100 hairs are shed from the head ...
Read More »Alopecia Areata
What Is Alopecia Areata? Alopecia areata is an autoimmune attack on hair follicles characterized by sudden hair loss involving scalp or beard, although any hairy area may be affected. Areas of hair loss have a patchy pattern with sharply defined ...
Read More »Bronchiectasis
What Is Bronchiectasis? Bronchiectasis is a pulmonary disorder characterized by chronic dilation of bronchi (main airways) and bronchioles (small airways) with chronic inflammation and swelling, increasing the risk of infection. In bronchiectasis, mucus produced to trap foreign substances, such as ...
Read More »Cancer Of The Pharynx
What Is Cancer Of The Pharynx? Cancer of the pharynx is a malignant growth of stratified squamous cells that line the pharynx, or throat. Q: What are stratified squamous cells that line the pharynx? A: Stratified squamous cells are thin, flat epithelial ...
Read More »Polymyositis
What Is Polymyositis? Polymyositis is a body-wide connective tissue disease resulting from autoimmune attack of skeletal muscles that is characterized by inflammatory and degeneratory changes. The course is unpredictable being marked by spontaneous flare-ups and remissions. Polymyositis can begin slowly or abruptly according ...
Read More »Asthma
What Is Asthma? Asthma is a chronic immune respiratory condition characterized by narrowing and inflammation of the lung airways (large bronchi, bronchial tubes and small bronchioles) in response to an allergen as the trigger or stimulus. As such, asthma occurs ...
Read More »Adenocarcinoma Of Small Intestine (Cancer)
What Is Adenocarcinoma Of Small Intestine? Adenocarcinomas are malignant tumors, or cancer, of the small bowel arising out of glandular tissue. They fall in the category of rare neoplasm, comprising only 3% of all gastrointestinal malignancies. Primary adenocarcinoma is the ...
Read More »Arthritis, Juvenile Idiopathic
What Is Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis? Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a rheumatic disorder characterized by chronic, inflammatory disease of large and small synovial joints and other organs in children under age 16 years. Growth and development may be impaired in ...
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