Medical terms - Letter B (page 13) | MedicalVocabulary.org

BRCA breast cancer gene

Breast cancer gene: One of several genetic mutations linked to breast cancer and ovarian cancer. There is now convincing evidence that every woman with a BRCA mutation is at high risk for breast cancer, irrespective of…
BRCA1

A gene that normally acts to restrain the growth of cells in the breast but which, when mutated, predisposes to breast cancer. The gene's full name is breast cancer 1, early onset. The BRCA1 gene belongs to a class of…
BRCA1 breast cancer susceptibility gene

A mutated (changed) version of the BRCA1 gene that makes a person susceptible to developing breast cancer. See: BRCA1
BRCA2

A gene that normally acts to restrain the growth of cells in the breast and ovary but which, when mutated, may predispose to breast cancer and to ovarian cancer. BRCA2 mutations have also been discovered to be…
Breadbasket

A popular term for the stomach in both senses: 1. The digestive organ, as to hear the breadbasket rumble with hunger. 2. The belly, as to have a big breadbasket. The term comes from the basket once used to hold bread…
Breakbone fever

An acute mosquito-borne viral illness of sudden onset that usually follows a benign course with headache, fever, prostration, severe joint and muscle pain, swollen glands (lymphadenopathy) and rash. The presence (the…
Breast

G=4 cel ODYvAlign=top bgColor=#cccccc colSpan=2> vAlign=top width='100%' bgColor=#ffffff>Our Breast Main Article provides a comprehensive look at the who, what, when and how of Breast Breast: The breast refers to the…
Breast abscess

A local accumulation of pus within the breast due to infection. Symptoms may include painful local swelling of the breast, a breast lump, and redness and tenderness of the breast. If the abscess forms in spite of…
Breast absence

Breast absence: A rare condition wherein the normal growth of the breast or nipple never takes place. They are congenitally absent. There is no sign whatsoever of the breast tissue, areola or nipple. There is nothing…
Breast aplasia

Breast aplasia: A rare condition wherein the normal growth of the breast or nipple never takes place. They are congenitally absent. There is no sign whatsoever of the breast tissue, areola or nipple. There is nothing…
Breast augmentation

Breast augmentation: Enlargement of the breasts. Augmentation of the breast typically consists of insertion of a silicone bag (prosthesis) under the breast (submammary) or under the breast and chest muscle (subpectoral)…
Breast biopsy

ODYvAlign=top bgColor=#cccccc colSpan=2> vAlign=top width='100%' bgColor=#ffffff>Our Breast biopsy Main Article provides a comprehensive look at the who, what, when and how of Breast biopsy Breast biopsy: A procedure in…
Breast bone

Breast bone: Familiar name for the sternum, the long flat bone in the middle of the front of the chest. The sternum consists of three portions: the manubrium (the upper segment of the sternum, a flattened, roughly…
Breast cancer

Breast cancer: Breast cancer is diagnosed with self- and physician-examination of the breasts, mammography, ultrasound testing, and biopsy. There are many types of breast cancer that differ in their capability of…
Breast cancer gene

One of the genes that contributes to breast cancer. See also: BRCA breast cancer gene
Breast cancer gene BRCA1

A gene that normally acts to restrain the growth of cells in the breast but, when mutated, predisposes to breast cancer. BRCA1 and BRCA2 were the first breast cancer genes to be identified. Mutated forms of these genes…
Breast cancer gene BRCA2

See: BRCA2
Breast cancer metastasis suppressor 1 (BRMS1)

A gene that plays a role in preventing the metastasis (spread) of breast cancer to other parts of the body and so may improve breast cancer survival. The BRMS1 gene is on chromosome 11
Breast cancer susceptibility genes

Inherited factors that predispose to breast cancer. Put otherwise, these genes make one more susceptible to the disease and so increase the risk of developing breast cancer. Two of these genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, have…
Breast cancer, familial

A number of factors have been identified that increase the risk of breast cancer. One of the strongest of these risk factors is the history of breast cancer in a relative. About15-20% of women with breast cancer have…
Breast cancer, male

Breast cancer in a man. Male breast cancer is much less common than breast cancer in women. Fewer than 1% of persons with breast cancer are male. However, breast cancer is no less dangerous in males than in females…
Breast development, early

The beginning of breast development at puberty is known medically as thelarche. It is now a normal event at an earlier age (e.g., age 8) than in the past. The term thelarche comes from two Greek words: 'thele,' nipple +…
Breast discharge

The spontaneous flow of fluid from the nipple at any time other than during nursing. This can be due to an unrecognized pregnancy, trauma, surgery, overexercise, or certain drugs. It can also be due to cirrhosis of the…
Breast feeding

See: Breastfeeding
Breast fibroadenoma

A common benign (not malignant) tumor of the breast. Usually called simply a fibroadenoma. For more information, see: Fibroadenoma
Breast infection

Infection of breast tissue usually caused by bacteria, most often staph (Staphylococcus aureus), which are found on the skin and enter the breast through a break in the skin or nipple, as during breast-feeding. The…
Breast lump

A localized swelling, knot, bump, bulge or protuberance in the breast. Breast lumps may appear in both sexes at all ages. In women, the fear is usually of breast cancer but many breast lumps turn out, fortunately, to be…
Breast milk

Milk from the breast. Human milk contains a balance of nutrients that closely matches infant requirements for brain development, growth and a healthy immune system. Human milk also contains immunologic agents and other…
Breast pain

Pain in the breast or mammary gland, known medically as mastalgia. From the Greek masto-, breast + algos, pain
Breast reduction

Breast reduction: Surgical reduction of breast size in order to reduce the weight of the breasts and relieve symptoms from unusually large, pendulous breasts. The surgical procedure is also known as reduction…
Breast surgeon

A surgeon who is especially skilled in operating on the breast. A breast surgeon may biopsy a tumor in the breast and, if it is malignant, remove the tumor. A breast surgeon may also do breast reconstruction following a…
Breast trauma

Breast trauma: Physical damage to a breast. If a breast is injured by trauma, tiny blood vessels may rupture to cause localized bleeding (a hematoma). The hematoma can be felt as a lump. Trauma to the breast can also…
Breast, amastia

Breast, amastia: A rare condition wherein the normal growth of the breast or nipple never takes place. They are congenitally absent. There is no sign whatsoever of the breast tissue, areola or nipple. There is nothing…
Breast, infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the

Infiltrating lobular carcinoma is the second most common type of invasive breast cancer next to infiltrating ductal carcinoma, accounting for 5 to 10% of breast cancer. Infiltrating lobular carcinoma starts in the…
Breast, infiltrating lobular carcinoma of the

Ast, infiltrating lobular carcinoma of the : Infiltrating lobular carcinoma is the second most common type of invasive breast cancer next to infiltrating ductal carcinoma, accounting for 5 to 10% of breast cancer…
Breast, Paget disease of

See: Paget disease of the breast
Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding: Feeding a child human breast milk. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, human breast milk is preferred for all infants. This includes even premature and sick babies, with rare exceptions. It…
Breastfeeding practices

The practices to be followed in breastfeeding a baby. Human milk is the preferred feeding for all infants, including premature and sick newborns, with rare exceptions. When direct breastfeeding is not possible…
Breathing

The process of respiration, during which air is inhaled into the lungs through the mouth or nose due to muscle contraction, and then exhaled due to muscle relaxation
Breech

The buttocks
Breech birth

Literally, delivery of the baby by the buttocks first, rather than the head as is usual. Breech birth is more likely to cause injury to the mother or the infant. In many cases a baby in the breech position can be…
Breslow thickness

A method for determining the prognosis with melanoma. The thickness of a melanoma is related to the 5-year survival rate after surgical removal of the tumor. Named for the physician Alexander Breslow who in 1975…
Bridge

A set of one or more false teeth supported by a metal framework, used to replace one or more missing teeth. Bridges may be fixed or removable. A fixed bridge (a partial denture) is a prosthetic replacement of one or…
Bright's disease

Chronic inflammation of the blood vessels in the kidney with protein, specifically albumin, in the urine. There are a number of disorders that lead to Bright's disease. With nothing more sophisticated than a candle and…
Brill-Zinsser disease

Recrudescence of epidemic typhus years after the initial attack. The agent that causes epidemic typhus (Rickettsia prowazekii) remains viable for many years and then when host defenses are down, it is reactivated…
Brissaud's infantilism

An eponym that is little used (in the USA) for hypothyroidism (subnormal activity of the thyroid gland) that starts after birth and is manifest by features including delays in growth and development and myxedema…
British National Formulary

Osteogenesis imperfecta, not one but a group of genetic diseases, all of which affect collagen, a key component of connective tissue in tissues like bone, tendon and skin. All types of osteogenesis imperfecta result in…
Brittle bone disease

Osteogenesis imperfecta, not one but a group of genetic diseases, all of which affect collagen, a key component of connective tissue in tissues like bone, tendon and skin. All types of osteogenesis imperfecta result in…
Brittle diabetes

A type of diabetes when a person's blood glucose (sugar) level often swings quickly from high to low and from low to high. Also called 'unstable diabetes' or 'labile diabetes.
Broca's area

An area of the cerebral motor cortex in the frontal lobe of the brain that is responsible for speech development. Damage to Broca's area can cause speech disorders, including apraxia and dyspraxia of speech. See also…