Medical Glossary N
Nasopharynx cancer: Cancer of the nasopharynx is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the tissues of the nasopharynx. The nasopharynx is behind the nose and is the upper part of the throat (also called the pharynx). The pharynx is a hollow tube about 5 inches long that starts behind the nose and goes down to the neck to become part of the tube that goes to the stomach (the esophagus).
Neck dissection (dye-SEK-shun): Surgery to remove lymph nodes and other tissues in the neck.
Neoplasia (NEE-o-play-zha): Abnormal new growth of cells.
Neoplasm: A new growth of tissue. Can be referred to as benign or malignant.
Nephrectomy (nef-REK-to-mee): Surgery to remove the kidney. Radical nephrectomy removes the kidney, the adrenal gland, nearby lymph nodes, and other surrounding tissue. Simple nephrectomy removes just the affected kidney. Partial nephrectomy removes the tumor, but not the entire kidney.
Nephrotomogram (nef-ro-TOE-mo-gram): A series of special x-rays of the kidneys. The x- rays are taken from different angles. They show the kidneys clearly, without the shadows of the organs around them.
Neuroblastoma: Neuroblastoma is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in certain nerve cells in the body. Neuroblastoma most commonly starts in the abdomen, either in the adrenal glands (located just above the kidney in back of the upper abdomen) or around the spinal cord. Neuroblastoma can also start around the spinal cord in the chest, neck, or pelvis.
Neurologist (noo-ROL-o-jist): A doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the nervous system.
Neuroma (noo-RO-ma): A tumor that arises in nerve cells.
Neurosurgeon (NOO-ro-SER-jun): A doctor who specializes in surgery on the brain and other parts of the nervous system.
Neutrophil (NOO-tro-fil): A type of white blood cell.
Nevus (NEE-vus): The medical term for a spot on the skin, such as a mole. A mole is a cluster of melanocytes that usually appears as a dark spot on the skin. The plural of nevus is nevi (NEE-vye).
Nitrosoureas (nye-TRO-so-yoo-REE-ahz): A group of anticancer drugs that can cross the blood-brain barrier. Carmustine (BCNU) and lomustine (CCNU) are nitrosoureas.
Non-Hodgkin’s lyphoma: Adult non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the lymph system. There are many types of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. Some types spread more quickly than others. The type is determined by how the cancer cells look under a microscope.
Nonmelanoma skin cancer: Skin cancer that does not involve melanocytes. Basal cell cancer and squamous cell cancer are nonmelanoma skin cancers.
Nonseminoma (non-sem-i-NO-ma): A classification of testicular cancers that arise in specialized sex cells called germ cells. Nonseminomas include embryonal carcinoma, teratoma, choriocarcinoma, and yolk sac tumor.
Nonsmall cell lung cancer: A form of lung cancer associated with smoking, exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, or exposure to radon. Nonsmall cell lung cancer is classified as squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinoma depending on what type of cells are in the cancer.