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Dictionary C - E

C

Carpal tunnel release: Click here.

Carpal tunnel syndrome: Click here.

CAT scan: Pictures of structures within the body created by a computer that takes the data from multiple X-ray images and turns them in pictures on a screen. The CAT (computerized axial tomography) scan can reveal some soft-tissue and other structures that cannot even be seen in conventional X-rays.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS): A chronic debilitating medical condition with no known cause. Treatment is aimed at reduction of symptoms.

Chronic Illness: An illness that has persisted for a long period of time. It is a continuing disease process

Collagen: Collagen is the principal protein of the skin, tendons, cartilage, bone and connective tissue.

Connective tissue: A material made up of cells that form fibers in the framework providing a support structure for other body tissues. Cartilage and bone are specialized forms of connective tissue.

Connective tissue disease: A disease (autoimmune or otherwise) that attacks the collagen or other components of connective tissue. Lupus is a connective tissue disease.

Cortisone: A naturally occurring hormone produced in minute amounts by the adrenal gland. Synthetic cortisone acts, after it is converted by the body (metabolized) to cortisol, to exert its powerful antiinflammatory (and other) effects.

Cox-2 inhibitor: A class of anti-inflammatory drugs that selectively blocks a specific enzyme called COX-2. Traditional anti-inflammatory drugs block both Cox 1 and 2 enzymes, which causes stomach irritation along with the anti-inflammatory benefits. By only blocking COX-1 enzymes, they can provide the anti-inflammatory benefits with less stomach irritation.

D

Dermatomyositis: A chronic inflammatory disease of muscle, which is associated with patches of slightly raised reddish or scaly rash. The rash can be on the bridge of the nose, around the eyes, or on sun-exposed areas of the neck and chest. Classically, however, it is over the knuckles.

E

Erosion: An erosion is an eating away of a surface. From the Latin Erodere" which means to eat out.

Tina Underwood
Ron Griffin
Page last updated on March 12, 2000