Glossary of Terms
When it comes to your prostate health, knowledge is power. We at Dattoli Cancer Center understand that on your journey to acquire information about prostate cancer, related research, and various treatments, you will come across medical and scientific jargon that might need further explanation. Here we've provided a Glossary of Terms related to the topics of prostate health, prostate cancer, prostate cancer research and prostate cancer treatments and cures. You can search for a term numerically or alphabetically by selecting a character in the box below or simply scroll down through the list of terms and their corresponding definitions.
False Negative:
An erroneous negative test result. For example, an imagine test that fails to show the presence of a cancer tumor later found by biopsy to be present in the patient is said to have returned a false negative result.
False Positive:
A positive test result that mistakenly identifies a state or condition that does not in fact exist.
Fistula
With regard to prostate cancer, an abnormal passage due to injury or disease that connects an abscess or hollow organ to the surface of the body or to another hollow organ. If there is significant damage to the rectal wall proximate to the bladder, a fistula may occur between the bladder and rectum.
Flare Reaction
A testosterone surge caused by the initial use of an LHRH analog, causing a temporary increase of tumor growth and symptoms (known as clinical flare), or an increase in PSA (biochemical flare).
Flutamide
The generic name of Eulexin, an anti-androgen used in hormonal therapy for the palliative treatment of advanced prostate cancer and for adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatment of earlier stages of prostate cancer.
Foley Catheter
A catheter inserted in the penis and threaded through the urethra to the bladder where it is held in place with a tiny, inflated balloon. It removes urine from the bladder and can be used to irrigate the urethra and prevent blood clots.
Free PSA
PSA that is unattached to any major protein in the blood. Free PSA is associated with benign prostate growth. The percentage of free PSA is derived by dividing the free-PSA level by the total-PSA x 100. Studies have shown that men with free PSA%>25% were at low risk for prostate cancer, while men with PSA%<10% were at high risk for having prostate cancer.
Frozen Section
A technique in which removed tissue is frozen, cut into very thin slices and stained for microscopic examination. A pathologist can rapidly complete a frozen section analysis, and for this reason, it is commonly used during surgery to quickly provide the surgeon with vital information.
