Search

Home | Contact | Patients & Carers

Glossary

These medical terms and definitions are not intended to replace medical information provided by licensed healthcare professionals. Please see a doctor if you need medical assistance.

Don't see the medical term you were researching? Send us an e-mail.

Adjunctive therapy

Treatments (chemotherapy or radiotherapy) that are given in addition to the main form of treatment (usually surgery) in the management of cancer

American Urological Association (AUA)

A US based association that aims to promote clinical care through education, research and in the formulation of health care policy.

Antegrade continence enema (ACE) channel

A surgical procedure to create a channel close to the anus to facilitate faecal evacuation using enemas; also known as a Malone procedure

Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG)

An immunotherapy used in bladder cancer to trigger the body's immune system to attack the cancer cells

Biopsy Specimen

Tissue removed from the body and examined under a microscope to determine whether disease is present.

Bladder

A membranous sac, such as one serving as a receptacle for a secretion, especially the urinary bladder.

Botulism Toxin

Botulism toxin can paralyse muscles and can be used medicinally in the form of 'Botox' for the management of incontinence.

Catheter

A thin flexible tube that is inserted into the body to add or remove fluids

Catheterize

To insert a catheter (a flexible tube) into the body to add or remove fluids; for example, a urinary catheter is inserted, via the urethra into the bladder in order to drain urine

Catheter Sterile Urine

Urine Sample collected from the sterile area of a catheter.

Chemotherapy

Medicines aimed at destroying cancerous cells

Clam Cytoplasty

An operation where the bladder is cut open like a clam and an extra piece of tissue is grafted into the gap to increase the size of the bladder. This can be used to relieve idiopathic destructor over activity. This procedure may also be called a bladder augmentation.

Computed tomography (CT, CAT scan)

A type of X-ray examination, in which a large number of cross-sectional pictures of the body are used to create a three-dimensional image of the internal organs

Continent urinary diversion

A method of collecting urine if the bladder has to be removed (e.g. because of cancer): a pouch is formed in the abdomen using a piece of bowel and it is emptied using a thin flexible tube (catheter)

Core Biopsy specimen

Tissue removed from a mass or lump in the body (via a needle inserted through the skin) and examined under a microscope to determine whether disease is present

Cyst

A closed pouch of tissue containing fluid; words beginning 'cyst-' or 'cysto-' refer to the bladder

Cystectomy

Removal of all or part of the bladder (e.g. to prevent the spread of cancer)

Cystometry

Measurement of the pressure and volume of fluid in the bladder during filling, storage and urination

Cystoscopy

The internal examination of the bladder, using a small tube with a camera on the end (a cystoscope), which is inserted into the urethra

da Vinci® Surgical System

a computer-assisted robotic system for performing minimally invasive surgical procedures, manufactured by Intuitive Surgical Inc, Sunnyvale, California, USA

Detrusor

A muscle that pushes down, e.g. the muscle that controls bladder voiding

DRE (Digital Rectal Examination)

Investigation of the prostate gland or rectum by the doctor, who inserts his or her finger into the rectal passage to feel for swelling or lumps

Endourology

A minimally invasive surgical procedure using small cameras and instruments inserted into the urinary tract, without the need to cut through the skin

End-stage renal disease (ESRD)

Life-threatening failure of the kidneys to function effectively (i.e. they are working at 10% or less of their capacity); usually develops after 10 to 20 years of chronic renal failure and can only be treated with dialysis or kidney transplantation

Enema

Introduction of fluid into the rectum to promote the evacuation of faeces or as a means of introducing nutrient or medicinal substances.

Extracorporeal shock-wave lithotripsy (ESWL)

The use of externally applied, focused, high-intensity acoustic pulses (shock waves) to break kidney stones into small pieces that can more easily travel through the urinary tract and pass from the body

Extracorporeal

Situated or occurring outside of the body

Histopathology

is the study of tissue sample to provide a precise diagnosis of disease.

Idiopathic

Self-originated; occurring without cause.

Idiopathic Detrusor Over activity

Bladder over activity without a known cause.

Incontinence

Loss of control of the bladder, the bowels or both.

Intravenous pyelography (IVP)

An X-ray examination of the kidneys, ureters or bladder, using a harmless dye injected into the bloodstream, which makes the organs stand out more clearly on the X-ray; also known as intravenous urography

Intravesical chemotherapy

Chemotherapy given directly into the bladder, so that it comes into direct contact with the cancer cells in the lining of the bladder

Intravesical immunotherapy

Introduction of a vaccine called BCG (bacille Calmette-Guérin) directly into the bladder; the vaccine sets up a reaction in the bladder that triggers the body's immune system to attack the cancer

Kidneys

A pair of organs on either side of body below the ribcage, which filter blood and remove waste products through the urine.

Laparoscopic surgery

Minimally invasive surgery, using a narrow tube with an attached fibre optic camera (a laparoscope) that can be slipped into the body through a tiny "keyhole" incision; this allows the surgeon to use far smaller incisions, thereby reducing the risk of haemorrhaging and postoperative pain.

Laparoscopic Urology

Urological surgical procedures performed with a laparoscope.

Lithotripsy

The crushing of a stone in the bladder and washing out of the fragments.

Malignancy

refers to cancerous cells that usually have the ability to spread, invade, and destroy tissue.

Mid Stream Urine Test (MSU)

Routine test for abnormalities in which urine is collected halfway through urination (so that any contaminating cells and organisms affecting the outer urethra are cleared first and do not distort the analysis).

Mitrofanoff procedure

The Mitrofanoff procedure is a surgical procedure to create a channel into the bladder, through which a catheter (a thin flexible tube) can be inserted to empty the bladder of urine, instead of passing urine through the urethra.

Nephrectomy

Surgical removal of a kidney

Nephro-

Referring to the kidneys

Neurogenic Incontinence

Neurogenic incontinence is abnormal bladder function caused by a nerve problem: the bladder may empty too often or at the wrong time, or the bladder may be unable to completely empty the urine (urinary retention), in which case urine may leak out of the overfilled bladder.

Neuropathic pain

Pain caused by damage to the nerves; also called neuralgia.

Non-malignant

Not cancerous (i.e. not likely to grow in an uncontrolled or destructive way or to spread to other parts of the body); contrast with Malignancy

Organ

Any body part that performs a special function (e.g. the heart, brain, kidneys, bladder or skin)

Paediatric

Of or related to children

Paediatric Urology

A surgical speciality that focuses on the urinary tracts of males and females, and on the reproductive system of males in children.

Pelvis

The lower portion of the trunk of the body, bounded anteriorly and laterally by the hip bones and posteriorly by the sacrum and coccyx.

Percutanious

Performed through the skin.

Perioperative

The period extending from the time of hospitalization for surgery and the time of discharge.

Polycystic Kidney Disease

Polycystic kidney disease is a genetic disorder characterised by the grown of cysts in the kidney. This can serve to enlarge the kidney, change the internal architecture of the kidney and may result in kidney failure.

Postoperative

After a surgical operation.

Postvoid residual volume (PRV)

A measure of the amount of urine left in the bladder after urination

Preoperative

preceding an operation

Prolapse

The falling down, or downward displacement of a part, e.g., prolapse of uterus, downward displacement of the uterus so that the cervix is within the vaginal orifice.

Prostate Cancer

A malignant or cancerous growth on the prostate gland.

Prostatectomy

Partial or full removal of the prostate. Full removal of the prostate is called a 'radical' prostatectomy.

Prostate Gland

A doughnut-shaped gland encircling the urethra in males, which secretes a slightly alkaline fluid that makes up approximately one-third of sperm volume; this help to counteract the acidity of the vagina thereby facilitating conception.

Prostatectomy

Partial or full ('radical') removal of the prostate gland

Prostate Specific Antigen 'PSA' Testing

The PSA test shows the amount of protein in the blood that is specifically produce by the prostate. If this protein amount is elevated, this may be an indicator of malignancy however; elevation of PSA levels may also be an indicator of infection or inflammation.

Pyeloplasty

An operation where a blockage is removed from the junction of the kidney and the ureter. This allows urine to flow freely from the kidney in to the ureter and then the bladder.

Renal

Referring to the kidneys

Retrograde ejaculation

When semen enters the bladder instead of being expelled from the body through the urethra.

Robotic Prostatectomy

Partial or full removal of the prostate using a surgical robot.

Robotic surgery

The use of robots in performing surgery. Some major advantages of robotic surgery are precision, miniaturization, smaller incisions, decreased blood loss, less pain, and quicker healing time. Further advantages are articulation beyond normal manipulation and three-dimensional magnification.

Stoma

An opening from the urinary tract or bowel through the skin, so that urine or faeces can be collected in a pouch

Suture

A stitch or series of stitches used to secure the edges or a surgical or traumatic wound.

Testicle

the male gonad; either of the paired egg shaped glands normally situated in the scrotum, in which spermatozoa develop. Also known as the 'Testes'.

Testicular Cancer

A malignancy or cancer of the testes.

Transurethral resection of a bladder tumour (TURBT)

A surgical procedure in which a superficial bladder cancer is removed by a cystoscope (the camera that allows the doctor to look inside your bladder)

Ultrasound (ultrasonography)

The use of sound waves to produce a picture of the inside of the abdomen

Ureter

The tubular organ through which urine travels from kidney to bladder.

Ureteroscopy

An examination of the upper urinary tract, usually performed with an endoscope (a small flexible tube) that is passed through the urethra and bladder into the ureter; the procedure is useful in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders such as kidney stones.

Urethra

The passage through which urine is discharged from the bladder to the exterior of the body.

Urinary retention

The inability to pass urine out of the body from the bladder

Urinary stress incontinence

Loss of control of the bladder when extra pressure is put on the bladder, e.g. through coughing, laughing, sneezing, or lifting or straining

Urinary Tract

the organs and tubes through which urine flows from the kidneys via the bladder out of the body; the structure of the urinary tract differs slightly between men and women (see images).

Urinary urgency

An urgent need to urinate; sometimes urine may leak out before a toilet can be reached.

Urodynamic testing

Measurement of the pressure and volume of fluid in the bladder during filling, storage and urination.

Urolithiasis

The formation of small stone-like objects (usually composed of mineral salts) in the urinary tract.

Urology

The surgical specialty focused on the urinary tracts of males and females, and on the reproductive system of males.

Urostomy

The most common way of providing a new storage place for urine if the bladder has to be removed (e.g. because of cancer): the ureters are redirected into a short piece of bowel so that the water comes out of a small hole in the abdomen (a stoma); urine is collected from the stoma in a bag attached to the skin.

Home | Contact | Patients & Carers | Fundraising & Donations