Glossary Terms

Barium enema

Procedure for examining the lower intestine. The patient lies on an X-ray table. An enema of barium and water is squirted into the back passage (rectum) through a small plastic tube. The barium spreads through the lower bowel and shows up any lumps or swellings, which can be seen on the X-ray screen.

Barium swallow

This test looks at the foodpipe (gullet or oesophagus) and stomach. It is carried out in the X-ray room. The patient is given a drink of white barium liquid. The doctor may want to take X-rays while the liquid is being swallowed as well as when it is in the patient's stomach.

Barium x-ray

This investigates the outline of any part of the digestive system. A barium swallow is usually used to investigate the gullet or stomach, while a barium enema is used to investigate the lower bowel or colon. Barium is a white liquid that shows up clearly on an x-ray. It coats the inside of the gullet, stomach or bowel, so that tumours show up as irregular outlines extending from the wall of the affected organ.

Benign

Non-cancerous lump or tumour which grows slowly in one specific area and when removed by surgery rarely returns.

Biliary stenting

Bile ducts carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder. Bile helps the body to digest fats in food. Biliary stenting is used to treat blockages that occur in the bile ducts. It involves placing a plastic or metal tube inside the bile duct.

Biological agent

A substance that is made from a living organism (like a bacteria or virus) or its products. It is used in the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of cancer and other diseases.

Biopsy

Carried out if cancer is suspected in an area of the body, by examining a sample of tissue removed from that area.

Bone marrow

The spongy inner part of large bones where blood cells are made. Bone marrow aspiration or sampling is a procedure in which a fine needle is used to remove a small amount of bone marrow for examination.

Bone Marrow Test

This investigates whether there are cancer cells in the bone marrow. A small sample of marrow is taken (aspirated) using a syringe, usually from the hip. It can be used for any type of cancer if it is suspected that the bone marrow could contain cancer cells, but is most often done for cancers that affect the bone marrow, such as: Lymphomas (non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or Hodgkin’s disease). Leukaemias. Multiple myeloma.

Bone Scan

This involves injecting a radioactive substance into the bloodstream. This collects in the bones and is detected by a 'gamma camera'. More of the radioactive substance tends to collect in areas where there is a lot of activity in the bone, meaning it is breaking down or repairing itself. These 'hot spots' can be seen by the camera. They may be caused by other conditions, such as arthritis.

Brachytherapy

A type of radiotherapy in which radioactive materials are placed in direct contact with the tissue being treated. It allows high doses of radiation to be delivered to small areas of tissue, limiting normal tissue damage. Brachytherapy is commonly used to treat localized prostate cancer, cancer of the cervix (neck of the womb), lung cancer and cancers of the head and neck.

Breast reconstruction

Surgery to rebuild the shape of the breast(s) following mastectomy (removal of the breast).

Bronchoscopy

A procedure to examine the inside of the lung.