Medical dictionary

What is mitral valve repair (minimally-invasive)? The mitral valve is a one-way valve that pumps blood into the left side of the heart. When open, the mitral valve pumps oxygenated blood into the left ventricle. When the blood is squeezed from the left ventricle to be delivered to the rest of the body, the mitral valve should close to prevent blood from flowing backwards, towards the lungs. If

What is Mohs surgery? Mohs surgery is an innovative surgical technique used to treat skin cancers. Thin layers of skin that contain cancer are removed and examined until cancer-free tissue remains. This is done without damaging the healthy tissue. The procedure is named after American surgeon Dr Frederich Mohs who pioneered the technique.   Why is Mohs surgery performed? Mohs su

What are moles? Moles are pigmented spots which appear on the skin. They can often appear during childhood or adolescence without a known cause. Most moles are nothing to worry about and only become a concern when they change colour, size, or shape. In some cases, people prefer to have them removed for aesthetic reasons, but this is largely done through the private sector as the NHS do not o

What is molluscum contagiosum? Molluscum contagiosum (MC) is a viral skin infection that causes papules or nodules with a pearly appearance on the skin. It can affect both children and adults and is contagious, being spread in a number of ways. People with weakened immune systems, such as those affected by HIV, have a higher risk of acquiring this virus. What are the symptoms of molluscu

What is being analysed? The lab analysis for mononucleosis primarily involves testing for the presence of antibodies against the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in the blood. Specifically, the test looks for antibodies called heterophile antibodies, which are produced by the immune system in response to EBV infection. What does the result mean? A positive result indicates the presence of het

What is morbid obesity? Obesity relates to being overweight and having excessive body fat. The most common method used to determine if a person is obese is known as the body mass index (BMI) calculator. This tool is used to measure whether your weight is within a healthy range in relation to your height.   A person who is morbidly or severely obese will have too much body fat for the

What is Morton’s neuroma? Morton’s neuroma (also known as Morton’s metatarsalgia or interdigital neuroma) is a painful condition of the foot caused by one of the nerves between the toes becoming irritated and the tissue around it becoming thickened. It most commonly affects the nerve between the third and fourth toes, but can also affect the nerve between the second and third

What is mosaicism?Mosaicism is when someone is born with two or more genetically different sets of cells in their body. Usually, each cell contains forty-six chromosomes (made up of twenty-three pairs), but for people with mosaicism, some of their cells may contain forty-seven chromosomes. Mosaicism is a result of an error occurring during mitosis, which is the process of cell divi

What is mouth cancer? Mouth cancer or oral cancer is the most common type of head and neck cancer. It can affect: The lips The gums The tongue The inside of the cheeks The floor and roof of the mouth Prognosis of oral cancer Cancer is a serious disease with a high mortality rate worldwide. In the case of oral cancer, the prognosis of the disease depends on numerou