Glossary of terms

Acucise
An instrument which consists of a heated wire which can cut through tissue

Adrenal
One of a pair of glands lying above each kidney which produce hormones to control blood pressure and other vital functions

Adrenalectomy
Removal of the adrenal

Balloon dilatation
A technique used to split a narrowed PUJ from inside it

Bladder
The organ in the pelvis which stores urine

Brachytherapy
Short-range radiotherapy for prostate cancer performed by inserting radioactive seeds into the prostate

Congenital
A condition present at birth

Continence
The ability to prevent leakage of urine

Cryotherapy
Destruction of prostate cancer by freezing

CT
A type (computerised tomography) of body scan

Cyst
A fluid-filled structure

Cystectomy
Removal of the bladder

Diaphragm
The partition separating the chest from the abdominal cavities

Endopyelotomy
An operation to cut through a narrowed PUJ from inside it

Fetus
Baby growing inside the mother

Gleason
Score a method of grading (2-10) prostate cancer cells according to their microscopic appearance; it predicts aggressiveness

Hormone
A chemical messenger in the blood

Impotence
Inability to achieve or hold an erection

Incontinence
The inability to prevent leakage of urine

Keyhole
Surgery surgery performed with a small or no incision

Kidney
One of a pair of organs which filters waste from the blood stream into urine

Laparoscopy
A technique of performing a surgical operation using instruments inserted through narrow hollow tubes or ports

Lithotripsy
Stone-breaking

Lymph node
2-5 mm structures found all over the body which filter fluid that is not contained in blood vessels and which can trap infection and cancer cells

MRI
A type (magnetic resonance imaging) of body scan

Nephrectomy
Removal of a kidney

Pelvis
The part of the abdomen lying below the belt-line

Percutaneous
Performed through a cut in the skin

Port
A narrow hollow tube inserted into the body through which instruments are inserted to perform laparoscopy

Prostate
A doughnut-shaped organ which lies at the base of the bladder; it has no essential function

Prostatectomy
Removal of the prostate

PSA
Prostate-specific antigen blood test which is raised by many conditions including prostate cancer

PUJ
Pelviureteric junction: the point at which the kidney joins the ureter

Pyeloplasty
An operation performed to relieve obstruction to the drainage of the kidney where it joins the ureter.

Radical
Denotes an operation for cancer

Scrotum
Skin sac which contains the testicles

Seminal Vesicle
one of a pair of organs attached to the back of the prostate which store sperm

Sphincter
The valve just below the prostate which allows continence

Stent
A fine, hollow, self-contained plastic tube inserted into the ureter through the bladder to support it during healing or to bypass obstruction

Stress
Response the chemical changes which occur in the body after surgery

UPJ
Ureteropelvic junction: the point at which the kidney joins the ureter

Testis
Testicle

TURP
Transurethral resection of the prostate: a technique used to remove the inner 2/3 of the prostate telescopically

Undescended
Not completely descended

Ureter
The tube which transports urine from the kidney to the bladder

Ureteroscopic
Using a fine telescope inserted through the bladder into the ureter

Urinary system
The kidneys, ureters, bladder and prostate

Urology
The study of the causes and treatment of diseases of the urinary system