Medical dictionary

What is it?  Skin prick testing, sometimes called scratch tests, is a series of tests that are done to find out what substances may be causing an allergic reaction.These tests are considered the ideal method to diagnose potential allergies as they follow a safe and reliable process.        What does it involve?  Skin allergy tes

What is primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC)? Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic liver disease that affects the bile ducts. The disease causes inflammation and scarring in the bile ducts which causes the ducts to harden and narrow, affecting the transfer of bile liquid, which is used for digestion, from the liver to the small intestine. The disease eventually leads to cirrhosis o

What is photorefractive keratectomy? Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is a type of laser refractive surgery that can be used to improve vision affected by refractive errors. A refractive error is when the eye cannot refract (bend) light correctly. PRK uses a laser to adjust the shape of the cornea, which improves how light focuses on the retina. What can photorefractive keratectomy be u

What is being analysed? Procalcitonin (PCT) is a precursor protein of the hormone calcitonin, primarily produced by the thyroid gland. It serves as a biomarker for bacterial infections, particularly severe infections like sepsis. What does the result mean? Elevated levels of procalcitonin typically indicate bacterial infection, while low or normal levels suggest viral infection or non

What is being analysed? Progesterone is a hormone produced primarily by the ovaries in women and in smaller amounts by the adrenal glands in both men and women. It plays a crucial role in the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. What does the result mean? The result of a progesterone analysis indicates the level of this hormone in the bloodstream. It helps in diagnosing various reproductive

What is analysed in a programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) test? The PD-L1 test is performed to evaluate the amount of PD-L1 protein present in cancer cells. What does the result mean? The result of the PD-L1 test indicates the amount of PD-L1 protein present in cancer cells. The results are grouped into three categories: negative, low, and high. The category to which the result belongs

What is analysed?Prolactin is a hormone, produced by the anterior pituitary gland, that stimulates lactation (breast milk production).Prolactin levels are high during pregnancy and in the postpartum period. Concentrations will remain elevated as long as the mother continues breastfeeding, but will gradually fall back to pre-pregnancy levels afterwards.Besides pregnancy, the other primary cause of

What is prolotherapy? Prolotherapy is a regenerative injection therapy to treat chronic pain related to ligaments, tendons and joints. It is classified as alternative medicine or complementary medicine, in that its effectiveness outside of the placebo effect has not been proven. Why is prolotherapy done? The function of ligaments and tendons is to stabilise the joints and attach mu

What is the prostate?The prostate is a gland of the male urinary and reproductive system a little larger than a walnut. It is located between the bladder and the penis, behind the intestine, with the urethra running through it.   What is the function of the prostate?The main function of the prostate is to produce prostatic fluid, which is then secreted into the urethra. The prostati