Cauterize Health Dictionary

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Cauterize: From 1 Different Sources

vb. to destroy tissues by direct application of a heated instrument (known as a cautery): used for the removal of small warts or other growths (see also curettage) and also to stop bleeding from small vessels. —cautery n.
Health Source: Oxford | Concise Colour Medical Dictionary
Author: Jonathan Law, Elizabeth Martin

Cervicitis

Inflammation of the cervix, usually due to an infection, such as gonorrhoea, chlamydial infections, or genital herpes (see herpes, genital). Cervical infection may follow injury to the cervix during childbirth or surgery. The acute form of cervicitis often does not produce symptoms, although there may be a discharge from the inflamed cervix. The chronic form may produce a vaginal discharge, irregular bleeding from the vagina, and pain low in the abdomen. Untreated cervicitis can spread to cause endometritis, salpingitis, or pelvic inflammatory disease. If cervicitis is present in the mother, her baby may be infected during delivery resulting in neonatal ophthalmia or, less commonly, pneumonia due to chlamydial infection.

Treatment is with antibiotics or with antiviral drugs. If symptoms persist, the inflamed area of cervix may be cauterized by electrocoagulation, cryotherapy, or laser treatment.... cervicitis

Polyposis, Familial

A rare, inherited disorder, also known as polyposis coli, in which many polyps are present throughout the gut, but mainly in the colon. If not treated, cancer of the colon (see colon, cancer of) is almost certain to develop. The polyps may appear from age 10. They may cause bleeding and diarrhoea; however, there are often no symptoms until cancer has developed. The polyps are detected by colonoscopy.

Since there is a 50 per cent chance that children of an affected person will inherit the disease, medical surveillance is necessary from around the age of 12.

Individual polyps may be cauterized (see cauterization).

The high risk of developing cancer often means that a colectomy and an ileostomy are performed.... polyposis, familial

Glomus Tumour

1. a benign tumour arising from *paraganglion cells associated with the vagus or glossopharyngeal nerves in the neck (see paraganglioma). In the middle ear they are called glomus tympanicum tumours; around the jugular vein they are called glomus jugulare tumours. 2. (glomangioma) a harmless but often painful tumour produced by malformation and overgrowth of a *glomus, usually in the skin at the ends of the fingers or toes. It may be cauterized or removed surgically.... glomus tumour

Thermocautery

n. the destruction of unwanted tissues by heat (see cauterize).... thermocautery

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