Medical dictionary

What is cancer screening? Cancer screening aims to detect cancers in their early stages and is carried out on people presumed to have no symptoms at all. Early detection improves the chances of treatment being successful and the chances of survival are better too. Some screening tests can prevent cancer from developing entirely, such as cervical screening. What does cancer screening invo

What is canthoplasty surgery? Canthoplasty surgery refers to several procedures that reposition the lateral canthus, which is the outer corner of your eyes where the upper eyelids meet the lower eyelids. The end result of canthoplasty surgery is generally a wider-eyed appearance, with the eyes more cat-eye in style (i.e. they slant slightly upwards). This procedure is performed using eithe

What is capsular contracture?   Capsular contracture arises when the body detects a foreign object inside the body and begins to create fibrous scar tissue in self-defence. It surrounds the foreign object like a capsule in order to barricade it from the body and eventually, it tightens and can become quite painful. Capsular contracture is a common complication of breast implants. Thi

What is a capsule endoscopy? A capsule endoscopy is a minimally invasive method of examining the digestive system. It was a breakthrough in the study of the digestive system due to its capacity to allow specialists to observe and diagnose injuries and conditions of the entire digestive tract, not only a part of it. Unlike a gastrointestinal endoscopy (in which a flexible tube with a c

What is being analysed? Carbamazepine analysis involves the measurement of the levels of carbamazepine in a patient's blood. Carbamazepine is a medication primarily used to treat epilepsy, bipolar disorder, and trigeminal neuralgia. What does the result mean? The result of carbamazepine analysis indicates the concentration of the drug in the bloodstream. This information is crucia

What is carboxytherapy? Carboxytherapy is a non-surgical treatment used to treat and improve the appearance of cellulite, stretch marks and dark under-eye circles. This treatment is less invasive than other treatments used for cellulite reduction. Carboxytherapy uses infusions of carbon dioxide that are injected beneath the skin. Carboxytherapy is said to improve skin elasticity, circulation a

What is being analysed? Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a protein present in the tissues of a developing baby in the womb. It is also produced in small amounts by healthy adult tissues, but elevated levels can indicate various types of cancer, particularly colorectal cancer.   What does the result mean? Elevated levels of CEA in the blood may indicate the presence of certain

What is cardiac arrest? Cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly stops beating. This means that blood is no longer being pumped around the body, which prevents oxygen from reaching the brain. Cardiac arrest is very serious and if the heart is not restarted promptly, it quickly results in the death of the individual. What's the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arres

What is cardiac ablation? Cardiac, or catheter ablation is a treatment which is used to treat heart rhythm problems such as atrial fibrillation. Cardiac ablation uses either heat energy (radiogrequency) or cold (cryoablation) to target diseased areas of the heart to treat heart rhythm abnormalities and prevent these from arising and triggering arrhythmias. Why is cardiac ablation perform