Pathophysiology Framework and Cancer Therapy
Etiology - ANS Study of causes or reasons for phenomena. Identifies causal factors that provoke a
particular disease.
Idiopathic - ANS Cause is unknown.
Iatrogenic - ANS Cause results from unintended or unwanted medical treatment.
Risk factor - ANS A factor that, when present, increases the likelihood of disease.
Signs - ANS Objective or observed manifestation of disease.
Symptoms - ANS Subjective feeling of abnormality in the body.
Syndrome - ANS Condition where the etiology of signs and symptoms has not yet been determined.
Latent period - ANS Time between exposure to an injurious agent and the first appearance of signs
and/or symptoms.
Prodromal period - ANS Time during which first signs and/or symptoms appear, indicating the onset
of a disease.
Subclinical stage - ANS Stage where the patient functions normally, but disease processes are well
established.
Acute clinical course - ANS Short-lived stage of a disease with potentially severe manifestations.
Chronic clinical course - ANS Stage of a disease that may last months to years, sometimes following
an acute course.
Exacerbation - ANS Sudden increase in severity of disease or signs/symptoms.
, Remission - ANS Decrease in severity, signs, or symptoms, which may indicate that the disease is
cured.
Convalescence - ANS Stage of recovery after a disease, injury, or surgical procedure.
Sequela - ANS Subsequent pathologic condition resulting from an illness.
Statistical Normality - ANS Estimate of diseases in a normal population based on a bell-shaped curve.
Sensitivity - ANS Probability that a test will be positive when applied to a person with a particular
condition.
Specificity - ANS Probability that a test will be negative when applied to a person without a particular
condition.
Epidemiology - ANS Study of the patterns of disease involving populations, examining occurrence,
incidence, prevalence, transmission, and distribution of diseases in large groups of populations.
Endemic disease - ANS Disease native to a local region.
Epidemic disease - ANS Disease spread to many people at the same time.
Pandemic disease - ANS Disease spread to large geographic areas.
Homeostasis - ANS State in which all systems are in balance, remaining stable while staying the
same.
Allostasis - ANS Ability to successfully adapt to challenges, maintaining or re-establishing
homeostasis in light of environmental and lifestyle changes.
Stress - ANS Physical, chemical, or emotional factor resulting in tension of body or mind, a real or
perceived threat to homeostasis.
Etiology - ANS Study of causes or reasons for phenomena. Identifies causal factors that provoke a
particular disease.
Idiopathic - ANS Cause is unknown.
Iatrogenic - ANS Cause results from unintended or unwanted medical treatment.
Risk factor - ANS A factor that, when present, increases the likelihood of disease.
Signs - ANS Objective or observed manifestation of disease.
Symptoms - ANS Subjective feeling of abnormality in the body.
Syndrome - ANS Condition where the etiology of signs and symptoms has not yet been determined.
Latent period - ANS Time between exposure to an injurious agent and the first appearance of signs
and/or symptoms.
Prodromal period - ANS Time during which first signs and/or symptoms appear, indicating the onset
of a disease.
Subclinical stage - ANS Stage where the patient functions normally, but disease processes are well
established.
Acute clinical course - ANS Short-lived stage of a disease with potentially severe manifestations.
Chronic clinical course - ANS Stage of a disease that may last months to years, sometimes following
an acute course.
Exacerbation - ANS Sudden increase in severity of disease or signs/symptoms.
, Remission - ANS Decrease in severity, signs, or symptoms, which may indicate that the disease is
cured.
Convalescence - ANS Stage of recovery after a disease, injury, or surgical procedure.
Sequela - ANS Subsequent pathologic condition resulting from an illness.
Statistical Normality - ANS Estimate of diseases in a normal population based on a bell-shaped curve.
Sensitivity - ANS Probability that a test will be positive when applied to a person with a particular
condition.
Specificity - ANS Probability that a test will be negative when applied to a person without a particular
condition.
Epidemiology - ANS Study of the patterns of disease involving populations, examining occurrence,
incidence, prevalence, transmission, and distribution of diseases in large groups of populations.
Endemic disease - ANS Disease native to a local region.
Epidemic disease - ANS Disease spread to many people at the same time.
Pandemic disease - ANS Disease spread to large geographic areas.
Homeostasis - ANS State in which all systems are in balance, remaining stable while staying the
same.
Allostasis - ANS Ability to successfully adapt to challenges, maintaining or re-establishing
homeostasis in light of environmental and lifestyle changes.
Stress - ANS Physical, chemical, or emotional factor resulting in tension of body or mind, a real or
perceived threat to homeostasis.
