The Gastrointestinal
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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
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the GASTROLAB Digestive Dictionary
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PAIR method A treatment of cystic echinococcosis, Puncture of cysts percutaneously, Aspiration of fluid, Introduction of protoscolicidal agent, Reaspiration.
Palliative medicin or treatment, a medicin or treatment that does not cure the disease but fives temporary relief from the symptoms. Palliative treatment is for example used in the managament of inoperable cancers.
Pan- (pre) All, whole, completely. E.g. pangastritis, an inflammation in all of the gastric mucosa.
Panacea A medicine, drug, that cures all diseases. A drug like that will never be invented, sorry to say.
Pancolitis Inflammation affecting all parts of the colon.
Pancreas annulare Annular pancreas, a band or a ring of pancreatic tissue which surround the descending part of the duodenum and sometimes causes obstruction of the duodenum. This disorder can cause symptoms soon after birth but sometimes it causes symptoms late in life, and probably many with this disease do not have any symptoms at all. This disorder was described by Ecker in 1862.
Pancreas divisum The result of a fetal disturbance of the development of the pancreas, where the ventral and the dorsal pancreas do not unite. This anomaly is common, occuring in up to 14% in autopsy series. As a result of the non-union the dorasl part of the pancreas drains by the small minor papilla. If the minor papilla is too small, the intraductal pressure is high which can predispose to pancreatitis.
Pancreatic Polypeptide A family of gastrointestinal hormone-like peptides release from the pancreas. PP increases in plasma after food ingestion, and it stimulates gastric secretion, inhibit pancreatic secretion and decrease contraction of the gall bladder, among other effects.
Pancreatoscope An instrument used in endoscopic examination of the pancreatic duct.
Pandemic An epidemic affecting vast numbers of patients in different countries. Cholera has caused several pandemics and the Black Death killing about one third of the population in Europe in the fourteeth century was a plague pandemic. AIDS is the pandemic of our time.
Pantoprazole A proton pump inhibitor (PPI), that is a drug minimazing the acid procuction in the stomach, most often used in the treatment of reflux disease and ulcer disease. The drug can also be used in combination with antibiotics in the eradication of Helicobacter pylori.
Papillotomy See Sphincterotomy
Para- (Pre) Near, beside, beyond, assistant (for example: paramedical)..
Paracetamol See acetaminophen
Paradigm From the Greek word paradeigma, example. A model that forms the basis of a theory or collection of theories.
Parageusia Incorrect taste perceptions.
Parosmia Unreal hallucintatory perceptions of smell caused by neurological or psychiatric illnesses
Pasterurella pseudotuberculosis A formerly used name for the Yersinia pseudotuberculosis-bacteria
PBC (abb) Primary Biliary Cirrhosis , see Primary biliary cirrhosis
PCR Polymerase Chain Reaction
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A pedunculated adenoma in the sigmoid colon
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Pedunculated (Adj) Provided with a stalk, a peduncle. The opposite is sessile. A large bowel polyp (e.g. adenoma) can typically be pedunculated or sessile. The longer the stalk, the easier endoscopic removal of a polyp is by diathermy.
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PEG (Abbr) Polyethylene glycol
Pegasys (RTM) A drug containing peginterferon alfa-2a used in the treatment of chronic C-hepatitis
Peginterferon Pegylated interferon, interferon covanlently bound to a polyethylene glycol moiety (PEG) for enhanced pharmacologic and clinical effect. Peginterferon has been showd to be more efficacious then standard interferon for the treatment of Hepatitis C and the long half life allows for once weekly dosing.
PEG-Intron (RTM) A drug containing peginterferon alfa-2b, used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C.
Pegylated interferon See Peginterferon
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease a general term that refers to infection and inflammation of the upper genital tract in women. It can affect the uterus (womb), fallopian tubes (tubes that carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus), ovaries, and other organs related to reproduction. The scarring that results on these organs can lead to infertility, tubal (ectopic) pregnancy, chronic pelvic pain, abscesses (sores containing pus), and other serious problems. PID is the most common preventable cause of infertility in the United States. (Definition by the US National Institutes of Health)
Pelvic tension myalgia See Levator ani syndrome
-peni (suf) Lack of, too little of. For exampel thrombocytopenia, a reduction in the number of platelets in the blood..
Pentasa (RTM) A drug containing mesalamine (5-ASA), used int hte treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases.
Pepsin A gastric enzyme that initiates the digestion of proteins. Pepcin is produced from pepsinogen, which is secreted by the gastric mucosa, under the influence of hydrochloric acid.
Peptein (Gr) to digest
Peptic (Adj) Related to digestion, related to pepsin
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A severe reflux oesophagitis
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Peptic oesophagitis Inflammation in the oesophagus due to reflux of acid stomach content. Peptic - also and usually callred reflux - oesophagitis is the most common pathological finding in the oesophagus. The severity of the disease is nowadays mainly classified according to the Los Angeles classification. The main symtoms are acid regurgitation and heart burn, but many patients complain of angina pectoris-like chest pain or respiratory troubles. Reflux oesophagitis is treated by changes in life style (weight reduction, avoidance of coffee and tobacco and so on), medical therapy mainly by Proton pump inhibitors or sometimes surgery.
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Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangiography(PTC), an examination often used to find the reason of a biliary obstruction. A thin needle is inserted trough the skin into a dilated bile duct, which is then filled with contrast.
Peri- (Pre) Around, near
Perianal Around or near anus
Perihepatitis Inflammation around the liver, usually caused by a chlamydial or gonococcal gynaecological infection. The symptoms are the same as in cholecystitits. Antibiotic treatment is usually effective. Also called Fitz-Hugh-Curtis-syndrome.
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A peristaltic wave in the gastric antrum
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Peristalsis or a Peristaltic wave is an involuntary wavelike movement progressing along the oesophagus, stomach or bowel, mediated through the autonomic nerve system and accomplished by the circular and longitudinal muscles in the wall of the hollow organ.
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Peritonitis, chemical A peritonitis caused by irritant fluids (bile, pancreatic juice, blood) leaking out into the peritoneal cavity.
Peritonitis, granulomatous A peritonitis caused by infections, e.g. tuberculosis, or diseases causing granulomas, e.g. sarcoidosis, Crohn´s disease.
Peritonitis, spontaneuous An acute or subacute bacterial peritonitis in patients with ascites due to liver cirrhosis or malignancy. The commonest bacteria found is Streptococcus pneumoniae and the disease is treated with antibiotics.
Peutz, Johannes Laurentius Augustinus (1886 - 1957) A Dutch internist who worked in a catholic hospital in The Hague. In 1921 he described a familial condition the features of wich was intestinal polyps and pigmentation of the skin and mucous membranes. This syndrome is known as Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.
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A rectal hamartomatous polyp (to the left) in Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome
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Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome is an autosomally inherited syndrome causing hamartomatous polyps in the small and large bowel and mucocutaneous brown to black melanin spots most common seen in the perioral area. The polyps can occur in the stomach, small bowel and large bowel. They cannot be distuingished from adenomas during endoscopy, and should be remowed if possible. The polyps can cause obstruction or gastrointestinal bleeding. There is a slightly increased risk of gastrointestinal and other malignancies in this disorder.
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PFIC (Abbr) Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis
PG (Abbr) Prostaglandin
PGH synthase Prostaglanding endoperoxide synthase, another name for COX, cyclooxygenase. See COX.
Pharmacobezoar A peristent foreign body in the stomach made up of drugs, for example slow release preparations or aluminium hydroxide. See Bezoar.
-phobia (suf) Fear
Photo- (Pre) Light-
Photophobia Fear of light, abnormal intolerance of light, usually due to an eye disease, migraine or an infectious disease as measles or meningitis. Photophobia can be an initial symptom of acute hepatitis.
Phytobezoar A peristent foreign body in the stomach made up of vegetable fibers. See Bezoar.
PID (Abbr) See: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Pilonidal disease A chronic infection in the skin in the cleft between the buttocks above the anus. The cause of this common disorder often affecting men between the age of 20 and 40 is thought to be a reaction to hairs embedded in the skin. Acute symptoms due to inflammation or abscess formation are treated with incision, and surgical treatment is often needed in severe or chronic cases.
PIN (Abbr) Personal Identification Number
Pint A liquid measure, measuring capacity. 1 pint is 0.568 litre and 1 litre is 1.76 pints.
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Three pinworms seen by a videoendscope in the colon ascendens
Pinworm, Enterobius vermicularis, also called oxyuris vermicularis, is an intestinal roundworm endemic in both temperate and tropical regions and common especially in schoolage children. It is especially common in group living conditions. The pinworm can be found in the caecum and colon. Anal pruritus is the most common symtom, but the infection can be associated with abdominal pain. The adult female pinworm is about 10 millimeters long, the male pinworm is much smaller. The female worm lays eggs in the perianal region, and the worm is transmitted from person to person via the infected persons hands, or by bedclothes. Enterobius vermicularis can be treated with several antihelminthic drugs, e.g. pyrantel pamoate, pyrvinium pamoate or mebendazole.
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PLC (Abbr) Phospholipase C
Plummer-Vinson syndrome Dysphagia caused by an oesophageal web in the upper part ot the oesophagus in patients with iron deficiency. This syndrome was initially described by two American doctors, Henry S Plummer (1874 - 1936) and Porter P Vinson (1890 - 1959).
PMC (Abbr) See Pseudomembranous Colitis
PMS See Premenstrual syndrome
Pneumatosis coli A rare disease in the large bowel, where multiple cysts of gas up to 2 cm in diameter are found in the colonic mucosa. The gas in the cysts consist of air, hydrogen and methane. Many patients are asymtomatic but some have symptoms, mostly diarrhea and pain. The disease is easily identified during colonoscopy and the cysts can be seen in a plain abdominal x-ray.
Polydipsia Intense and severe thirst. Polydipsia can be a symptom of a disease (for example diabetes mellitus or diabetes insipidus) or it can be psychogenic.
Polyethylene glycol An osmotic laxative used in the treatment of obstipation and as a preparation to endoscopic examinations of the large bowel.
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Benign gastric hyperplastic polyps
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Polyp A growth from a mucous membrane. Polyps are a common finding in the gastrointestinal canal. They are most often benign (for example hyperplastic polyps) but some polyps (for example adenomas) can become malignant and should be removed. A small portion of all polyps are malignant when found.
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Endoscopic polypectomy
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Polypectomy Removal of a polyp. A polypectomy can often be done during an endoscopic examination of the gastrointestinal canal. A wire snare is inserted through the endoscope and the stalk of the polyp is cut using diathermy. An endoscopic polypectomy is quite safe but there is a small risk of bleeding and perforation. It can most often be performed as an outpatient procedure.
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Polypharmacy Use of many drugs at the same time, often aimed at the treatment of one disease. Polypharmacy can occur if a (generally quite old) patient visits several doctors, which not are aware of the prescripitions other doctors have made. Polypharmacy can cause unnecessary side effects and interactions of different drugs.
Portopulmonary hypertension Hypertension in the pulmonary arteries associated with portal hypertension due to a chronic liver disease, most commonly liver cirrhosis.
Postcholecystectomy syndrome Return of symptoms after surgical treatment of gall stones. The etiology of this syndrome is either that the symptoms were not due to gall stone disease or operative complications - or any new unrelated disease in this area.
Posthepatic hyperbilirubinemia See hyperbilirubinemia
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Pouchitis
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Pouchitis Inflammation in an ileoanal reservoir, a pouch. Restorative proctocolectomy with a pouch made if the distal ileum is a common surgical procedure used in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. Postoperatively pouchitis is a common problem, occuring in between 6 and 30 % of the patients. Pouchitis is considered to be a relapse of the ulcerative colitis, now in the reservoir. Bacterial overgrowth in the reservoir is a contributing factor. The symptoms are diarrhea, pain, fever, bleeding, malaise and dehydration. Pouchitis is treated mainly by metronidazol, but corticosteroids are also effective.
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Pound Weight measure, measuring mass- 1 pound is 0.454 kilograms. 1 kg is 2.205 pounds.
PP (Abbr) Pancreatic Polypeptide
PPI (Abbr) Proton Pump Inhibitor, a drug that inhibits the proton pump in the parietal cell of the stomach, this inhibitin the secretion of gastric acid. PPI´s are used in the treatment of diseases related to gastric acid, as reflux oesophagitis and ulcer disease, and in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori-infection.. The first PPI in clinical use was omeprazole. The first "second generation" PPI is esomeprazole.
ppm (Abbr) Parts per million
PPoma A pancreatic endocrine tumour which produces pancreatic polypeptide. This hormon does not produce any symtoms and symtoms does not occur until the tumour is large enough to produce local symptoms, at which time the tumour is most often metastatic.
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Barrett´s oesophagus C3 M6
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Prague C & M Criteria Criteria used for grading of Barrett´s oesophagus presented by IWGCO (the International Working Group for the Classification of Oesophagitis)., presented in Prague in 2004. C is the circumferential extent of the Barrett´s oesophagus above the gastro-oesophageal junction, and M is the maximal extent of the metaplasia. These criterias have been shown to have a high validity in the classification of Barrett´s oesophagus, and they have a great value in clinical settings, as the risk of oesophageal cancer increase with the length of the Barrett metaplasia
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Precancerous (Adj) Nonmalignant, but associated with a great risk of malignancy if left untreated. Polyps like tubular adenomas in the bowel are precancerous lesions.
Prehepatic hyperbilirubinemia See hyperbilirubinemia
Premenstrual syndrome Tension and pain especially in the lower abdomen and pelvic area during the immediate premenstrual period.
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Small aphthoid ulcers due to colonoscopy preparation
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Preparation induced colitis Cleaning of the colon with a sodium phosphate preparation can cause slight mucosal lesions, mostly small aphthoid ulcers with a surrounding erythema. The finding can resemble aphthoid ulcers seen in Crohn´s disease. Biopsies reveal mild acute inflammation. (Image contributed by MD Phillip Lerner, FL, USA)
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Primary sclerosing cholangitis is the most frequent form of liver complication in ulcerative colitis. See Sclerosing cholangitis
Prion diseases A distinct group of fatal transmissable diseases that affects the central nervous system. Creutzfeldt-Jacobs disease is a prion disease. Inhibition av gastric acid secretion by PPI-inhibitors might increase the risk of prion diseases.
Pro- (Pre) Preceding, before, precursor
Probiotic Live microbial food ingredient, which can (favourably) effect the health of the user.
Probiotic therapy Treatment with organism which have a protective effect on the gut in order to alter the couse of a disease, for example a chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
Proct- (Pre) Concerning the rectum and/or anus
Proctalgia Pain in the rectal and anal region.
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Ulcerative proctitis
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Proctitis Inflammation in the rectum, affecting the rectal mucosa. The most common form of this disease is ulcerative proctitis, the mildest form of ulcerative colitis, and rectal involvement can often be seen in Crohn´s disease. Radiation therapy and some medications can cause proctitis. The main symptoms are rectal bleeding, anorectal pain and diarrhea or obstipation. Sigmoideoscopy (endoscopic examination of the rectum and distal large bowel) gives the diagnose. The treatment depends on the cause of the disease, ulcerative proctitis can often be treated topically.
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Proctocolectomy A surgical procedure where the rectum and colon are removed.
Proctodynia Pain in the rectal and anal region.
Proctology Medical specialty dealing with disorders in the rectum and anus.
Prolamine A protein fraction of gluten, one of the proteins in wheat, rye and barley. The prolamine fraction is ethanol-soluble, and probably the protein fraction responsible for the mucosal damage seen in coeliac disease. The wheat prolamines ar further subdivided into several groups of gliadins.
Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis A hereditary syndrome which presents in the first year of life with jaundice and cholestasis.
Propofol A drug belonging to a new class of hypnotics and sedatives. Propofol is shortacting making it a suitable drug for sedation of patients undergoing e.g. endoscopic procedures.
Propranolol A beta-blocker drug used in the prevention of bleeding (and rebleeding) from oesophageal varices.
Prostate specific antigen PSA, see Tumour marker
Protease inhibitors A group of drugs used in the treatment of viral infections, including Hepatitis C and HIV. These drugs interfere with the viral replication by inhibiting the activity of some enzymes, proteases. Two drugs for the treatment of Hepatitis C are now in the market, boseprevir and telaprevir.
Proton Pump Inhibitor PPI, a drug that inhibits the proton pump in the parietal cell of the stomach, this inhibitin the secretion of gastric acid. PPI´s are used in the treatment of diseases related to gastric acid, as reflux oesophagitis and ulcer disease, and in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori-infection.. The first PPI in clinical use was omeprazole. The first "second generation" PPI is esomeprazole.
Prucalopride A new drug used in the treatment of constipation in women. Prucalopride is a selective 5-HT4 receptor agonist which stimulates colonic movements. The drug i marketed with the trade name Resolor, and it is approved for the use in Europe.
Pruritus Itching
Pruritus ani Itching in the anal region. The cause of pruritus ani is often excessive cleaing av the anal region and escessive sweating. Alchohol consumption can contribute to the itching, which often is most troublesome in the night.
PSA Prostate specific antigen, see Tumour marker
Pseudo- (Pre) False, resembling but not real.
Pseudocholangitis A disease with the clinical picture of an acute bacterial cholangitis (fever, jaundice, pain in the right upper quadrant) without any bacterial infection. Some drugs can cause pseudocholangitis.
Pseudocyst A fluidfilled space within an organ without the lining of a real cyst. For example pancreatic pseudocyst.
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Colonoscopic finding in a patient with PMC
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Pseudomembranous colitis (PMC) An inflammation in the wall of the large bowel, usually caused by Clostridium difficile and precipitaded during or after antibiotic treatment. The main symptoms are bloody diarrhea, fever and abdominal pain. Conservative treatment (including stopping the antibiotic treatment during which the disease has begun and treatment with metronidazol or vancomycin) is often effective. This disease can however sometimes be quite severe and surgical treatment can be needed.
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Pseudomyxoma peritonei A rare slowly progressiong tumour producing large amounts of mucoid fluid filling up the peritoneal cavity. Treatment is surgical often combined with chemotherapy.
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Oesophageal pseudovarices
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Pseudovarices, Oesophageal are dilated veins in the upper part of the oesophagus, resembling varices secondary to liver disease, which usually are located in the distal part of the oesophagus. Pseudovarices do not have any clinical significance and no treatment is indicated, however it is important to differentiate these from real varices.
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PSC (Abbr) Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis, see sclerosing cholangitis
Psyllium A drug used in the treatment of obstipation, a bulk forming laxative, made from the seed of Plantago indica. The bowel is stimulated by the increased bowel content but does not get used to this drug. Psyllium decrease the absorption of cholesterol which often is a favourable side effect.
PT (Abbr) Prothrombin Time
PTC Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangiography, an examination often used to find the reason of a biliary obstruction. A thin needle is inserted trough the skin into a dilated bile duct, which is then filled with contrast.
Ptosis (suf) Lowered positon of an organ or a part of an organ
Ptyal- (pre) Concerning salvia, for example ptyalorrhoea, excessive flow of saliva
Ptyalin An amylase enzyme found in the saliva
Ptyalith A stone in a salivary duct or gland.
Puborectalis syndrome See Levator ani syndrome
Pylephlebitis A suppurative inflammation and thrombosis of the portal vein, usually caused by an infection in the region drained by the portal vein. The main symptom is fever. The diagnosis of this disease is often difficult, abdominal ultrasound with Doppler being the initial and most important examination. The disease is treated with a broad spectrum antibiotic therapy.
Pyostomatitis vegetans A rare oral disorder often associated with a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis or Crohn´s disease. The findings in this syndrome is miliary abscesses and pustular lesions in the oral mucosa and gingiva. Topical or systemic steroid therapy is usually successful.
Pyriformis syndrome See Levator ani syndrome
Pyrosis Heartburn
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