Glossary of Medical Terms

A drug used with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), aldesleukin (IL-2), and 13-cis-retinoic acid to treat children with high-risk neuroblastoma. It is used in patients whose disease has gotten better with other anticancer treatment. Dinutuximab binds to a substance called GD2, which is found on some types of cancer cells. Dinutuximab may block GD2 and help the immune system kill cancer cells. It is a type of monoclonal antibody. Also called Ch14.18, MOAB Ch14.18, monoclonal antibody Ch14.18, and Unituxin.

A rare, fast-growing tumor that forms in cells called glial cells in a part of the brain stem called the pons. DIPGs tend to spread to nearby tissue and other parts of the brain stem, are hard to treat, and have a poor prognosis (outcome). They usually occur in children. Also called diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma.

A drug used to treat allergies and relieve cough and itching caused by insect bites, sunburn, and poison oak or ivy. It is also used to treat mild Parkinson disease, to prevent and treat motion sickness, to relieve cough and cold symptoms, and as a sleep aid. It is a type of antihistamine.

A drug or substance used to treat hypercalcemia (abnormally high blood calcium) and bone pain caused by some types of cancer. Forms of diphosphonates are also used to treat osteoporosis and for bone imaging. Diphosphonates inhibit a type of bone cell that breaks down bone. Also called bisphosphonate.

A drug that prevents blood cell clumping and enhances the effectiveness of fluorouracil and other chemotherapeutic agents.

An exam of the inside of the back of the eye using an ophthalmoscope (a flashlight-sized instrument with a light source and a set of rotating lenses).

An insurance plan that pays some of a person’s income when he or she is disabled from an illness or injury and cannot work. The two main types of disability insurance are short-term disability (STD) and long-term disability (LTD). STD may last for up to 2 years. LTD usually begins after STD ends and may last for a person’s lifetime.

In medicine, a fluid that comes out of the body. Discharge can be normal or a sign of disease. Discharge also means release of a patient from care.

Cancer that continues to grow or spread.

In cancer, the length of time after primary treatment for a cancer ends that the patient survives without any signs or symptoms of that cancer. In a clinical trial, measuring the disease-free survival is one way to see how well a new treatment works. Also called DFS, relapse-free survival, and RFS.