Dictionary of gastroenterology

The Dictionary of Gastroenterology is an expansive reference that includes terms and concepts related to the medical specialty that focuses on the digestive system and its disorders. This resource serves medical professionals, students, and researchers with interests in the study, diagnosis, and treatment of gastroenterological conditions.

A[edit | edit source]

Achalasia - A rare disorder making it difficult for food and liquid to pass into the stomach.
Ascites - The accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity, causing abdominal swelling.

B[edit | edit source]

Barrett's esophagus - A condition where the tissue lining the esophagus is replaced by tissue similar to the lining of the intestine.
Biliary atresia - A rare disease of the liver and bile ducts that occurs in infants.

C[edit | edit source]

Celiac disease - A serious autoimmune disorder where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine.
Colonoscopy - An exam used to detect changes or abnormalities in the large intestine (colon) and rectum.

D[edit | edit source]

Diverticulitis - Inflammation or infection of small pouches called diverticula that develop along the walls of the intestines.
Dysphagia - Difficulty or discomfort in swallowing, as a symptom of disease.

E[edit | edit source]

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) - A procedure that combines upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy and x-rays to treat problems of the bile and pancreatic ducts.
Esophageal varices - Abnormally swollen veins in the lower part of the esophagus.

F[edit | edit source]

Fatty liver disease - A condition where fat builds up in the liver.
Fecal occult blood test (FOBT) - A test to check stool for blood that can come from polyps, cancers, or other conditions.

G[edit | edit source]

Gallstones - Hardened deposits within the fluid in the gallbladder, a small organ under the liver.
Gastritis - Inflammation, irritation, or erosion of the lining of the stomach.

H[edit | edit source]

Hemochromatosis - A disease where too much iron builds up in your body (iron overload).
Hepatitis - Inflammation of the liver, usually caused by a viral infection or liver toxicity from medication.

I[edit | edit source]

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) - Chronic inflammation of all or part of your digestive tract.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) - An intestinal disorder causing pain in the belly, gas, diarrhea, and constipation.

J[edit | edit source]

Jaundice - A term used to describe the yellowish tint to the skin and the whites of the eyes that is caused by an excess of bilirubin.

K[edit | edit source]

Kaposi's sarcoma - A type of cancer that can form masses in the stomach or intestines, as well as other parts of the body.

L[edit | edit source]

Lactose intolerance - A disorder in which the body cannot easily digest lactose, a type of natural sugar found in milk and dairy products.
Liver cirrhosis - A late stage of scarring (fibrosis) of the liver caused by many forms of liver diseases and conditions.

M[edit | edit source]

Malabsorption - A condition in which the intestine cannot absorb enough of certain nutrients and fluids.
Motility disorders - Conditions that affect the movement of food through the GI tract.

N[edit | edit source]

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) - A liver disease that includes fat accumulation in the liver and inflammation.
Nutrition in gastroenterology - The study of diet and dietary supplements that affect the health of the digestive system.

O[edit | edit source]

Obesity - A disorder involving excessive body fat that increases the risk of health problems.
Ostomy - A surgical procedure creating an opening for the body to expel waste.

P[edit | edit source]

Pancreatitis - Inflammation of the pancreas.
Peptic ulcer disease - A condition where open sores develop on the inside lining of your stomach and the upper portion of your small intestine.

Q[edit | edit source]

Quality of life (Gastroenterology) - The impact of GI diseases on a patient's overall well-being and daily life.

R[edit | edit source]

Reflux esophagitis - Inflammation of the esophagus that occurs when acid from the stomach flows back up.

S[edit | edit source]

Stomach cancer - A growth of abnormal cells that form a mass in the stomach.
Sigmoidoscopy - A procedure used to see inside the sigmoid colon and rectum.

T[edit | edit source]

Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) - The feeding of nutritional products to a person intravenously, bypassing the usual process of eating and digestion.
Traveler's diarrhea - Digestive tract disorders that occur due to eating or drinking contaminated fare.

U[edit | edit source]

Ulcerative colitis - A chronic, inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation in the digestive tract.
Upper gastrointestinal (GI) series - A diagnostic test that examines the organs of the upper part of the digestive system.

V[edit | edit source]

Viral gastroenteritis - An intestinal infection marked by watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea or vomiting, and sometimes fever.
Visceral pain (Gastroenterology) - Pain that results from the internal organs of the body.

W[edit | edit source]

Wilson's disease - A rare inherited disorder that causes copper to accumulate in your liver, brain, and other vital organs.
Whipple procedure - A complex operation to remove the head of the pancreas, the first part of the small intestine (duodenum), the gallbladder, and the bile duct.

X[edit | edit source]

X-ray (Gastroenterology) - A form of electromagnetic radiation used to image the GI tract.

Y[edit | edit source]

Yellow fever - A viral infection that can affect the liver and cause jaundice.
Yersinia enterocolitica - A species of bacteria that can cause gastroenteritis.

Z[edit | edit source]

Zenker's diverticulum - A pouch that can form at the junction of the esophagus and the throat.
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome - A condition in which one or more tumors form

List of gastroenterology articles[edit | edit source]

External links[edit source]

NIH GI Topics

Glossaries, dictionaries, and lists in WikiMD[edit source]

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