Medical, Surgical, And Diagnostic Procedures

Front 1

chemical peel

Back 1

Chemical removal of the outer layer of the skin to treat acne scarring and general keratoses; also called chemabrasion.

Front 2

cryosurgery

Back 2

Use of subfreezing temperature (commonly liquid nitrogen) to destroy or eliminate abnormal tissue, such as tumors, warts, and unwanted, cancerous or infected tissue.

Front 3

debridement

Back 3

Removal of necrotized tissue from a wound by surgical excision, enzymes, or chemical agents.

Front 4

dermabrasion

Back 4

Rubbing (abrasion) using wire brushes or sandpaper to mechanically scrape away (abrade) the epidermis.

Front 5

fulguration

Back 5

Tissue destruction by means of high-frequency electric current; also called 'electrodesiccation'.

Front 6

photodynamic therapy (PTD)

Back 6

Procedure in which cells selectively treated with an agent called a 'photosensitizer' are exposed to light to produce a reaction that destroys the cells.

Front 7

biopsy (Bx, bx)

Back 7

Representative tissue sample removed from a body site for microscopic examination.

Front 8

frozen section (FS)

Back 8

Ultrathin slice of tissue from a frozen specimen for immediate pathological examination.

Front 9

needle

Back 9

Removal of a small tissue sample for examination using a hollow needle, usually attached to a syringe.

Front 10

punch

Back 10

Removal of a small core of tissue using a hollow punch.

Front 11

shave

Back 11

Removal of elevated lesions using a surgical blade.

Front 12

Mohs

Back 12

Layers of cancer-containing skin are progressively removed and examined until only cancer-free tissue remains.

Front 13

skin graft

Back 13

Transplantation of healthy tissue to an injured site.

Front 14

autograft

Back 14

Transplantation of healthy tissue from one site to another in the same individual.

Front 15

synthetic

Back 15

Transplantation of artificial skin produced from collagen fibers arranged in a lattice pattern.

Front 16

xenograft

Back 16

Transplantation (dermis only) from a foreign donor (usually a pig) and transferred to a human; also called 'heterograft'.

Front 17

allergy skin test

Back 17

Any test in which a suspected allergen or sensitizer is applied to or injected into the skin to determine the patient's sensitivity to it.

Front 18

intradermal

Back 18

Skin test that identifies suspected allergens by subcutaneously injecting small amounts of extracts of the suspected allergens and observing the skin for a subsequent reaction.

Front 19

patch

Back 19

Skin test that identifies allergic contact dermatitis by applying a suspected allergen to a patch which is then taped on the skin, usually on the forearm, and observing the area 24 hours later for an allergic response.

Front 20

scratch

Back 20

Skin test that identifies suspected allergens by placing a small quantity of the suspected allergen on a lightly scratched area of the skin, also called 'puncture' or 'prick test'.

Front 21

culture and sensitivity (C&S)

Back 21

Laboratory test that grows a colony of bacteria removed from an infected area (such as an ulcer, wound, or pus from an infection) in order to identify the specific infecting bacterium and then determine its sensitivity to antibiotic drugs.