Abdominal aortic aneurysm 12/07/2006
Aneurysm - aortic
Causes, incidence, and risk factors: The exact cause is unknown, but risk factors for developing an aortic aneurysm include: High blood pressure Smoking High cholesterol Obesity Emphysema Genetic factors Male gender An abdominal aortic aneurysm can develop in anyone, but it is most frequently seen in males over 60 with one or more risk factors.
Abortion - elective or therapeutic 09/19/2006
Therapeutic abortion; Elective abortion
Causes, incidence, and risk factors: Elective abortions are those initiated by personal choice. Roughly 20% of all pregnancies (excluding miscarriages) end in elective abortion. It has been reported that since abortion was legalized in 1973 through 2002, over 42 million legal abortions have been performed.
Achilles tendinitis 07/29/2008
Tendinitis of the heel
Causes, incidence, and risk factors: There are two large muscles in the calf, the gastrocnemius, and soleus. These muscles generate the power for pushing off with the foot or going up on the toes. The large Achilles tendon connects these muscles to the heel. These are important muscles for walking.
Achondroplasia 10/11/2007
Achondroplasia is a disorder of bone growth that causes the most common type of growth hormone deficiency .
Causes, incidence, and risk factors: Achondroplasia is one of a group of disorders called chondrodystrophies or osteochondrodysplasias. Achondroplasia may be inherited as an autosomal dominant trait, which means that if a child gets the defective gene from one parent, the child will have the disorder. If one parent has achondroplasia, the infant has a 50% chance of inheriting the disorder.
Acne 04/14/2008
Acne vulgaris; Cystic acne; Pimples; Zits
Causes, incidence, and risk factors: Acne occurs when tiny holes on the surface of the skin, called pores, become clogged. Each pore is an opening to a canal called a follicle, which contains a hair and an oil gland. Normally, the oil glands help keep the skin lubricated and help remove old skin cells. When glands produce too much oil, the pores can become blocked, accumulating dirt, debris, and bacteria.
Acoustic neuroma 04/23/2008
Vestibular schwannoma; Tumor - acoustic; Cerebellopontine angle tumor; Angle tumor
Causes, incidence, and risk factors: These tumors are thought to occur when there is a defect in a gene that normally prevents tumors from forming. The cause of the genetic defect is not known. However, acoustic neuroma is often linked with the genetic disorder neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2).
Acoustic trauma 10/20/2006
Injury - inner ear; Trauma - inner ear; Ear injury
Causes, incidence, and risk factors: Acoustic trauma is a common cause of sensory hearing loss . Damage to the hearing mechanisms within the inner ear may result from an explosion near the ear, gunshots, or long exposure to loud noises (such as loud music or loud machinery).
Symptoms: Hearing loss
Usually partial and involving high-pitched sounds
May be slowly progressive Noises, ringing in the ear ( tinnitus )
Signs and tests: A good indicator of acoustic trauma is a hearing loss that follows exposure to noise.
Acrodermatitis 04/12/2007
Papular acrodermatitis of childhood; Gianotti-Crosti syndrome; Acrodermatitis - infantile lichenoid; Acrodermatitis - papular infantile; Papulovesicular acro-located syndrome
Causes, incidence, and risk factors: The cause of acrodermatitis is poorly understood, but its link with other infections is well- documented.
Actinic keratosis 10/17/2006
Solar keratosis; Sun-induced skin changes - keratosis; Keratosis - actinic (solar)
Causes, incidence, and risk factors: Actinic keratosis occurs most commonly in fair skin, especially in the elderly and in young individuals with light complexions. The growths occur in sun-exposed skin areas. The growths begin as flat, scaly areas that later develop a hard wart-like surface.
Acute bilateral obstructive uropathy 01/24/2008
Urethral obstruction; Acute urethral obstruction; Obstructive uropathy - bilateral - acute
Causes, incidence, and risk factors: In men, acute bilateral obstructive uropathy is most often a result of an enlarged prostate.
