What is extracorporeal photopheresis? Extracorporeal photopherisis is a process by which blood is removed from the body, seperated into components, and the white blood cells are treated with medication and light before returning to the bloodstream. This helps improve lymphoma and other conditions. Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is a therapeutic procedure for advanced cutaneous T-cell lymphoma...
Introduction to Strabismus Strabismus, also known as crossed eyes, is a condition in which the eyes don't look towards an object together. One of the eyes may look in or out, or turn up or down. The eye turning can occur all of the time or only sometimes, such as during stressful situations or illness....
Cochlear implants have a high success rate Cochlear implants have a high success rate as a medical prosthesis because only less than 0.2% of recipients reject them. Adults often benefit immediately after the placement of the implant. The sound quality continues to improve for about 3 months after the initial tuning sessions. Cochlear implant users’...
Autopsy facts An autopsy (also known as a post-mortem examination or necropsy) is the examination of the body of a dead person and is performed primarily to determine the cause of death, An autopsy is the examination of the body of a dead person. An autopsy may be restricted to a specific organ or region...
What is the pancreas? Illustration of the pancreas The pancreas is an organ approximately six inches long that is located in the abdomen behind the stomach and in front of the spine and aorta. The pancreas is divided into three regions: the head, the body, and the tail. The head of the pancreas is located...
Are hives (urticaria) contagious? Readers Comments 2 Share Your Story Hives are a particular rash that's characterized by itchy, raised, whitish or pinkish welts on the skin. They may occur on one area of the body, such as the stomach or arms, or occur all over the body. Hives rash is triggered by the release...
Chickenpox facts Readers Comments 55 Share Your Story What does chickenpox look like? Chickenpox is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes shingles. Chickenpox is highly contagious and spreads by closeness and contact with someone with chickenpox. Fever, malaise, and a very itchy rash (red spots, fluid-filled tiny blisters, and crusted lesions) are all...
What is Coats disease? Eye doctors can usually diagnose Coats disease during a routine eye exam. Coats disease is a rare condition in which abnormal blood vessels in the retina dilate and leak fluid, resulting in damage to the retina and possibly vision loss. It most often appears at 8-10 years of age, affects males...
Chronic kidney disease (CKD), or chronic kidney failure, is slow and progressive loss of kidney function over several years. CKD is a long-term condition where the kidneys do not work effectively. Chronic kidney disease (CKD), or chronic kidney failure, is slow and progressive loss of kidney function over several years. Kidney disease is a term...
What is the medical definition of myxedema (crisis) coma? Is it common? Coma is a state of decreased consciousness whereby a patient cannot react with the surrounding environment. Myxedema (crisis) coma is a loss of brain function as a result of the severe, longstanding low level of thyroid hormone in the blood (hypothyroidism). Myxedema coma is...