5-alpha Reductase: Enzyme in prostatic cells that converts testosterone to the more active dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Certain drugs such as finasteride (Proscar), referred to as 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, block this enzyme.
ABCD staging system: Older staging system to evaluate size and extent of prostate cancer. Now largely replaced by TNM system. Synonyms: American staging system, Whitmore-Jewett staging system.
Ablation: Destruction or removal.
Adenocarcinoma: Cancer which arises from gland-forming tissue and consists of malignant glands.
Adjuvant therapy: Additional treatment that acts independently or synergistically with the major or central treatment.
Adrenal androgens: Androgens secreted by the adrenal gland. These account for about 5% of male androgens.
Adrenal gland: Small triangular organ above each kidney which is hormonally active, producing about 5% of male androgens.
Adverse effect: Undesirable result of therapy.
Alpha-blocker: A drug that relaxes smooth muscle tissue. Commonly used in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.
American Staging System: Older staging system to evaluate size and extent of prostate cancer. Now largely replaced by TNM system. Synonyms: Whitmore-Jewett staging system, ABCD system.
Analog: Synthetic equivalent of a natural substance.
Anastomosis: Surgical site where two or more tissues have been joined together, usually with sutures. Example: urethra proximal and distal to the prostate are joined together after radical prostatectomy to create the urethral anastomosis.
Androgen: Male hormone. Examples include testosterone and dihydrotestosterone.
Androgen Blockade: Treatment which decreases or eliminates androgens. Example: surgical castration removes the testicles, the principle source of androgens. Synonym: Androgen deprivation, total androgen blockade.
Androgen deprivation therapy: Treatment that decreases or eliminates androgens. Example: surgical castration removes the testicles, the principle source of androgens. Synonym: androgen blockade.
Androgen-dependent: Requiring androgens for survival. Examples include benign or cancerous prostate cells whose growth is supported by (and dependent on) androgens.
Androgen-independent: Not requiring androgens for survival. Example: prostate cancer cells that do not respond to androgen deprivation therapy.
Anesthesia: Treatment that decreases or eliminates pain, usually associated with a surgical procedure. Examples include general anesthesis (going to sleep during surgery), regional anesthesia (numbing of part of the body such as below the umbilicus), and local anesthesis (limited area of numbing of the body).
Angiogenesis: Creation of new blood vessels.
Antiandrogen: A drug which blocks the effect of androgen. Example: flutamide (Eulexin).
Antibody: Blood protein which reacts with foreign material or chemical in the body.
Anticholinergic: Drug which blocks neuromuscular actions. Example: drug for urinary continence.
Anticoagulant: A drug that blocks blood clots.
Antigen: A substance that induces the body to create antibodies.
Anus: Distal rectal opening.
Apex: Anatomic site at the top of an organ. Example: The prostatic apex is the extreme end of the prostate that surrounds the urethra at the pelvic brim.
Artificial sphincter: Synthetic device which acts in place of natural sphincter. Example: inflatable device place around the upper urethra to treat incontinence.
Aspiration: Removal by suction. Example: fine needle aspiration is a technique for removing cells by suction.
Asymptomatic: Free of symptoms.
Autologous: From one’s own body.
Autologous blood: Blood from one’s own body. Example: Blood donated by the patient which is used to replace blood lost during surgery.
Base: Anatomic site at the top of an organ. Example: The prostatic base is the extreme end of the prostate that surrounds the urethra adjacent to the bladder.
Benign: Not cancerous. A benign tumor does not invade surrounding tissue or spread to other parts of the body. A benign tumor may grow but it stays put (in the same place).
Benign prostatic hyperplasia: Benign nodular enlargement of the prostate which occur in virtually all men.
Biopsy: Removal of tissue. Example: needle biopsy of the prostate yields delicate tissue cores that can be examined microscopically by a pathologist to determined if there is cancer.
Bladder: Hollow organ that stores and excretes fluid: Examples: urinary bladder, gallbladder.
Bone scan: Imaging method of the skeleton performed by radiologists to determine the presence of bone metastases.
BPH: Abbreviation for benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Brachytherapy: Radioactive seed implantation therapy. Synonyms: Seed implanatation, interstitial radiation therapy.
Cancer: Uncontrolled cell growth which may threaten the life of the host.
Carcinoma: Cancer which arises from epithelial (surface lining) cells. Examples: prostate carcinoms, breast carcinoma, colonic carcinoma.
Castration: Treatment which results in elimination of androgens. Examples: surgical castration by removal of the testicales; medical castration by use of androgne deprivation therapy.
CAT scan: Non-invasive method of imaging the body using computer-generated methods. Synonyms: Computed Tomography scan, CT scan.
Catheter: Hollow tube inserted into an organ. Examples: urinary catheter inserted through the urethra into the bladder to drain urine; warming catheter inserted during cryosurgery to protect the urethra from freezing during the operation.
cGy: Abbreviation for centigray, a unit of radiation equivalent to one rad.
Chemoprevention: Preventing development or progression of cancer with drugs.
Chemotherapy: Treatment with drugs that kill cancer cells.
Clinical Stage: Burden and extent of cancer based on physician judgement and diagnostic tests. Compare with pathologic stage.
Clinical Trial: Planned experiment involving patients to test treatment.
Combination Hormone Therapy: The use of multiple complementary treatments to halt androgen production, including orchiectomy and antiandrogens. Synonyms: total androgen blockade, total androgen deprivation.
Computed Tomography: Non-invasive method of imaging the body using computer-generated methods. Synonyms: CT scan, CAT scan.
Conformal Therapy: Method of external-beam radiation therapy that uses a careful map of the individual patient’s prostate to optimize delivery of radiation to the prostate.
Corpus Cavernosum and Corpus Spongiosum: Penile chambers that engorge with blood to result in erection.
Cryosurgery: Treatment which freezes the prostate with liquid nitrogen-filled probes to kill cancer cells. Synonyms: cryoablation, cryotherapy.
CT scan: Non-invasive method of imaging the body using computer-generated methods. Synonyms: Computed Tomography scan, CAT scan.
Cure: Treatment which results in complete destruction of cancer.
Cystoscope: Tubal instrument used to visually inspect the bladder and urethra.
Debulk: Surgical method to decrease the volume of cancer in patients in whom the cancer cannot be completely removed.
Deferred Therapy: Conservative therapy of prostate cancer involving careful monitoring. Synonyms: Expectant management, watchful waiting.
DES: Diethylstilbestrol, a synthetic estrogen.
DHT: Dihydrotestosterone, a naturally-occurring androgen.
Diagnosis: To determine the cause of a medical condition.
Differentiation: A measure of the similarity to normal benign mature cells. Example: Well differentiated cancer is low grade cancer.
Digital rectal examination: Diagnostic evaluation of the prostate, rectum, and anus by physician palpation using a lubricated gloved finger.
Dihydrotestosterone: Naturally-occurring androgen produced from testosterone by 5-alpha reductase. Synonym: DHT.
DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid, the genetic blueprint within each cell.
DNA Ploidy Analysis: Measure of the amount of DNA in cells. If abnormally high, DNA ploidy suggest genetic abnormality, one measure of malignancy and cancer aggressivenes.
Doubling time: The interval during which cancer volume doubles.
Dysplasia: Precancerous abnormality of cells, characterized by abnormal size, shape, and configuration of cells.
Ejaculate: Semen release during orgasm.
Ejaculatory Ducts: Paired anatomic tubes that run through the prostate from the seminal vesicles to the prostatic urethra, serving as conduits for sperm and fluids from the testicles during sexual activity.
Epididymis: Storage site for sperm produced by the testicles which connects to vas deferens.
Epidural anesthesia: A form of regional anesthesia in which the numbing drug is injected into the tissue surrounding the dura, the covering of the spinal cord.
Epithelial cell: Type of cell which lines hollow organs, ducts, and glands. Example: prostatic epithelial cells produced prostate-specific antigen.
Erectile Dysfunction: Abnormality of erection.
Estrogen: Femal hormone.
Excretory Urogram: Imaging test to visualize the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra by injecting a radio-opaque fluid intravenously. Synonym: Intravenous pyelogram, IVP.
Expectant management: Conservative therapy of prostate cancer involving careful monitoring. Synonyms: Deferred therapy, watchful waiting.
False Negative: Erroneous diagnostic finding that something is not true when it actually is true. Example: A patient with a low serum PSA level (below 4 ng/mL.) is thought to be free of cancer, but actually has cancer (false-negative PSA).
False Positive: Errorneous diagnostic finding that something is true when it actually is not true: Example: A patient with a high PSA (above 4 ng./mL) is thought to have cancer, but actually does not have cancer (false-positive PSA).
Flow Cytometry: Diagnostic test to determine DNA content of cancer cells.
Frequency: The need to urinate often.
Frozen section: Diagnosic test for intraoperative evaluation of tissue to determine the presence or extent of cancer. The pathologist snap-freezes the tissue, cuts it into thin slices, and examines it under the microscope, providing the results to the surgeon to modify the operation as appropriate.
General anesthesia: Treatment that decreases or eliminates pain, usually associated with a surgical procedure, in which the patient is put to sleep during surgery.
Gland: (1) Organ that secretes hormones or fluids. Example: prostate, breast, adrenal gland. (2) Microscopic structures composed of epithelial cells that secrete hormones or fluids. Example: prostatic glands produced prostate-specific antigen.
Gleason score: The most common method of grading prostate cancer based on the Veterans Administration Cooperative Urologic Research Group study from the 1960s and 1970s; named after its creator, retired pathologist Donald F. Gleason. Gleason score refers to the combination of the two most common patterns present in the cancer, the primary and secondary patterns. The pathologist determines the grades by studying the cancer tissue specimen and assigns a primary grade between 1 (well differentiated) and 5 (poorly differentiated) and then adds the two grades together to produce the Gleason sum or score. For example, if a pathologist assigns the primary pattern a grade of 3 and the secondary pattern a grade of 4, the combined Gleason score would be 3 + 4 = 7. The lowest grade cancer is Gleason score 2 (1 + 1 = 2), and the highest grade is 10 (5 + 5 = 10).
Grade: Measure of cancer aggressiveness based on the microscopic analysis of cancer . It is determined by the pathologist according to the shape, size, and arrangement of the cancer cells in the tissue specimen. Low grade cancer, also known as well differentiated cancer, resembles normal cells but shows some abnormalities. The higher grade the cancer is, the more aggressive and malignant it is. In poorly differentiated cancer, the tumor cells and glands form shapeless sheets of cells.
Growth Factor: Protein that promotes growth of cells.
Gynecomastia: Non-cancerous male breast enlargement, usually resulting from hormone therapy.
Hesitancy: Inability to initiate urination readily.
Hormone: A chemical produced and secreted by a gland that influences other organs.
Hormone Therapy: Treatment that decreases or eliminates hormones. Example: surgical castration removes the testicles, the principle source of androgens.
Hormone-dependent: Requiring hormones for survival. Examples include benign or cancerous prostate cells whose growth is supported by (and dependent on) androgens.
Hot Flash: Sudden unexpected wave of body heat resulting in discomfort and sweating; a frequent side effect of certain forms of androgen deprivation therapy.
Immune System: Natural defense mechanisms against infections and foreign materials.
Implant: Synthetic material or device that is inserted as treatment into the body, often permanently. Examples: radioactive seed implantation for prostate cancer; penile implants for erectile dysfunction.
Impotence: Inability to produce or maintain erection sufficient for intercourse.
Incision: Surgical cut.
Incontinence: Inability to control urination and urine flow.
Interstitial Radiation Therapy: Radioactive seed implantation therapy. Synonyms: Brachytherapy, seed implanatation.
Intramuscular: Within muscle.
Intravenous: Within a vein.
Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP): Imaging test to visualize the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra by injecting a radio-opaque fluid intravenously. Synonym: Excretory urogram.
Kegels: Exercise of pelvic muscles that assist urinary continence control.
Laparoscopic lymphadenectomy: Surgical removal of pelvic lymph nodes through multiple small incisions in the abdomen and use of fiberoptic-based tubal instrument.
Leutinizing hormone (LH): Pituitary hormone that stimulates the testicles to produce testosterone.
Leutinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone (LHRH): Hypothalamic leutinizing hormone-releasing hormone that stimulates the pituitary to release leutinizing hormone.
LH: Leutinizing hormone, a pituitary hormone that stimulates the testicles to produce testosterone.
LHRH: Hypothalamic leutinizing hormone-releasing hormone that stimulates the pituitary to release leutinizing hormone.
LHRH agonist: Drug that affects hormone release by mimicking LHRH.
Libido: Sex drive.
Linear Accelerator: Device for creating high energy radiation used in some forms of external beam radiation therapy.
Local Recurrence: Return of cancer after treatment to the site of origin.
Localized Cancer: Cancer which has not spread beyond the organ of origin.
Lycopene: Chemical found in high levels in cooked tomatoes that may reduce the risk of prostate cancer.
Lymphadenectomy: Surgical removal of lymph nodes. Examples: Staging pelvic lymphadenectomy is removal of pelvic lymph nodes to determine the extent of spread of prostate cancer. Synonym: Lymph node dissection.
Lymphangiogram: Imaging test that evaluates lymphatic vessels.
Lymphatics: Vascular channels for lymph fluid that is one of the natural defense mechanisms against infection and other foreign substances. The lymph fluid percolates through tissue and is collected and circulates through lymphatic vessels, ultimately connecting to blood vessels.
Magnetic resonance imaging: Imaging method using powerful magnetic energy to visualize internal organs of the body. Synonym: MRI.
Malignant: 1. Tending to be severe and become progressively worse, as in malignant hypertension. 2. In regard to a tumor, having the properties of a malignancy that can invade and destroy nearby tissue and that may spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.
Metastasize: Spread beyond the organ of origin, usually through the blood channels or lymphatics. Example: prostate cancer metastasizes to pelvic lymph nodes and bone.
Microvessel: Small blood vessel that nourishes cells. Example: the number and density of microvessels surrounding prostate cancer is increased when compared with benign prostatic tissue.
MRI: Imaging method using powerful magnetic energy to visualize internal organs of the body. Synonym: Magnetic resonance imaging.
Negative Margin: Edge of a surgical specimen that is not involved with the disease process. Example: The apex of the prostate has a negative margin after radical prostatectomy (not involved with cancer).
Neoadjuvant Therapy: Additional therapy prior to the main therapy. Example: Some patients receive neoadjuvant therapy in the form of androgen deprivation therapy prior to radical prostatectomy.
Neoplasm: Tumor. Example: Prostatic adenocarcinoma is a malignant neoplasm.
Nerve-sparing Radical Prostatectomy: Method of removing the prostate which preserves one or both of the neurovascular bundles in an effort to preserve erectile function.
Neuroendocrine carcinoma: Rare form of prostate cancer with poor prognosis. Synonym: Small Cell Carcinoma.
Neurovascular bundle: Collection of nerves and blood vessels at the edge of the prostate that assist with erectile function. This is an important pathway of extraprostatic cancer spread.
Nocturia: Urinary frequency at night.
Oncologist: Doctor who specializes in treatment of cancer. Examples: radiation oncologist, urologic oncologist, medical oncologist.
Oncology: Medical specialty of cancer, usually focusing on drug treatment.
Orchiectomy: Surgical removal of the testicles. Synonym: castration.
Overflow Incontinence: Type of incontinence in which there is continuous urine dribbling despite a full bladder.
Palliation: Relief of symptoms.
PAP: Prostatic acid phosphatase.
PAP: An enzyme produced by benign and cancerous prostatic epithelial cells. Levels of PAP in the blood serum are measured by doctors to detect prostate cancer and monitor therapy, although this test has been largely replaced by prostate-specific antigen. Synonyms: Prostatic Acid Phosphatase, PSAP.
Pathologic stage: Burden and extent of cancer based on examination of surgical specimens under the microscope by a pathologist.
Pathologist: Doctor who specializes in tissue and blood analysis. Example: Surgical pathologist examines biopsies and surgical specimens under the microscope, and communicates the findings to the treating doctor or surgeon.
Penile: Relating to the penis.
Penile Implant: Device intended to restore erections.
Perineal: Relating to the area between the anus and scrotum in men; area between the anus and vagina in women.
Perineal Prostatectomy: Surgical removal of the prostate through the perineum.
Perineum: Area between the anus and scrotum in men; area between the anus and vagina in women.
Peripheral Zone: Anatomic region of the prostate adjacent to the rectum in which most cases of prostate cancer develop.
PIN: Prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia; tumor formation within the prostatic epithelium which is considered the pre-invasive form of prostate cancer.
Ploidy: Measure of the amount of DNA in cells. If abnormally high, ploidy suggest genetic abnormality, one measure of malignancy and cancer aggressivenes. Synonym: DNA ploidy.
Positive Margin: Edge of a surgical specimen that is involved with the disease process. Example: The apex of the prostate has a positive margin after radical prostatectomy (involved with cancer).
Primary: Original site of cancer.
Primary Therapy: The first and major therapy.
Prognosis: Prediction of outcome.
Prognostic Factor: Any type of evidence that predicts outcome.
Progression: Worsening or recurrence of cancer.
Prostate: Male pelvic gland that produces fluid for sexual function.
Prostatectomy: Removal of the prostate.
Prostate-specific Antigen: Kallikrein enzyme produced by benign and cancerous prostatic epithelial cells. Levels of PSA in the blood serum are measured by doctors to detect prostate cancer and monitor therapy. Synonym: PSA.
Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen: A protein produced by benign and cancerous prostatic epithelial cells. The presence of this protein on the membrane or surface of the cells allows its recognition by specific antibodies, a property that is exploited by antibody imaging techniques to visualize prostate cancer (see Prostascint). Synonyms: PSM, PSMA.
Prostatic Acid Phosphatase: An enzyme produced by benign and cancerous prostatic epithelial cells. Levels of PAP in the blood serum are measured by doctors to detect prostate cancer and monitor therapy, although this test has been largely replaced by prostate-specific antigen. Synonyms: PAP, PSAP.
Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia: Tumor formation within the prostatic epithelium which is considered the pre-invasive form of prostate cancer. Synonym: PIN
Prostatic Urethra: Anatomic segment of the urethra that is surrounded by the prostate.
Prostatitis: Inflammation of the prostate.
Prosthesis: Replacement device for missing or faulty body part.
PSA: Kallikrein enzyme produced by benign and cancerous prostatic epithelial cells. Levels of PSA in the blood serum are measured by doctors to detect prostate cancer and monitor therapy. Synonym: Prostate-specific Antigen.
PSA density: Level of PSA after accounting for volume of the prostate. Synonym: PSAD.
PSA Velocity: Rate of change in level of PSA over time.
PSAD: Level of PSA after accounting for volume of the prostate. Synonym: PSA density.
PSM: A protein produced by benign and cancerous prostatic epithelial cells. The presence of this protein on the membrane or surface of the cells allows its recognition by specific antibodies, a property that is exploited by antibody imaging techniques to visualize prostate cancer (see Prostascint). Synonyms: Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen, PSMA.
PSMA: A protein produced by benign and cancerous prostatic epithelial cells. The presence of this protein on the membrane or surface of the cells allows its recognition by specific antibodies, a property that is exploited by antibody imaging techniques to visualize prostate cancer (see Prostascint). Synonyms: Prostate-specific Membrane Antigen, PSM.
Rad: Abbreviation for Radiation Absorbed Dose, a measure of the amount of radiation. This term is being replaced by cGy. Synonym: cGy.
Radiation: High-enery rays carried by waves or a stream of particles.
Radiation Oncologist: Doctor who specializes in cancer treated by radiation therapy. Synonym: Radiation therapist.
Radiation Therapist: Doctor who specializes in cancer treated by radiation therapy. Synonym: Radiation oncologist.
Radiation Therapy: Use of radiation to treat disease. Synonym: Radiotherapy.
Radical Prostatectomy: Complete surgical removal of the prostate; usually includes removal of attached seminal vesicles. Synonym: Radical Prostatoseminovesiculectomy.
Radiologist: Doctor who specializes in diagnostic tests using imaging, including X-rays, MRI, and CT scan.
Radiotherapy: Use of radiation to treat disease. Synonym: Radiation Therapy.
Receptor: Protein molecule, often on the surface membrane of cells, that interacts like a lock-and-key with other chemicals such as hormones and durgs.
Recurrence: Return of cancer after therapy.
Refractory: Loss of reponse to therapy.
Regional: Involving a relatively large anatomic area.
Remission: Partial or complete disappearance of cancer.
Retention: Inability to urinate.
Retropubic: Referring to behind the pubic bone.
Retropubic Prostatectomy: Surgical method for removal of the prostate through an incision in the lower abdomen and reaching the prostate behind the pubic bone.
Sampling error: Failure to obtain cancer cells in a tissue sample that results in false negative result. Synonym: Sampling variation.
Sampling variation: Failure to obtain cancer cells in a tissue sample that results in false negative result. Synonym: Sampling error.
Semen: Ejaculate fluid and sperm.
Seminal Vesicles: Paired glands behind the bladder that create fluid for the semen.
Sextant Biopsy: Biopsy method in the prostate that includes tissue samples from six sites, including the apex, midportion, and base on each side.
Side Effect: Complication of therapy.
Sign: Physical change resulting from an illness that can be observed.
Small Cell Carcinoma: Rare form of prostate cancer with poor prognosis. Synonym: Neuroendocrine carcinoma.
Sphincter: Muscle that controls opening and closing of anatomic structures. Example: The urethral sphincter controls urination by squeezing the urethra closed.
Spinal Cord Compression: Pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. Example: Spinal cord compression from prostate cancer metastasis to the spine.
Stage: Size and spread of cancer.
Stress Incontinence: Uncontrolled release of urine during abdominal stress or strain.
Stricture: Narrowing of an anatomic channel due to scarring. Example: Urethral stricture resulting from surgical trauma.
Strontium: Radioactive substance used to treat bone pain from cancer metastases.
Surgical Margin: Edge of a surgical specimen.
Symptom: Patient description of results of illness that cannot be observed or measured by the doctor. Example: Bone pain from metastases.
Systemic: Involving the whole body.
Template: Device used to position seed implants during seed implantation therapy.
Testes: Male sex organs which produce sperm and testosterone.Synonym: testicles.
Testicles: Paired male organs which produce sperm and testosterone.Synonym: testtes.
Testosterone: Principle male hormone.
Three-dimensional Conformal Therapy: Method of external-beam radiation therapy that uses a careful map of the individual patient’s prostate to optimize delivery of radiation to the prostate.
TNM: Staging system for cancer. T indicates tumor, N indicates lymph node involvement, and M indicates distant metastases.
Total Androgen Blockade: Treatment which decreases or eliminates androgens. Example: Surgical castration removes the testicles, the principle source of androgens. Synonym: Androgen deprivation, androgen blockade.
Transition Zone: Anatomic region of the prostate which surrounds the urethra in which most cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia develop.
Transrectal Ultrasound: Imaging technique that uses sound wave created by a device inserted into the rectum to visualize the prostate.Synonym: TRUS.
Transurethral Resection: Surgical removal of tissue by inserting an instrument into the urethra. Example: transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is a common treatment for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia.
TRUS: Imaging technique that uses sound wave created by a device inserted into the rectum to visualize the prostate.Synonym: Transrectal Ultrasound.
Tumor: Neoplasm.
TURP: Abbreviation for transurethral resection of the prostate. Surgical removal of prostatic tissue by inserting an instrument into the urethra, usually used as a treatment for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Ultrasound: Imaging technique that uses sound waves to visualize internal organs.
Ureter: Paired anatomic tubal structures that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
Urethra: Anatomic tubal structure leading from the bladder to the outside of the body. In men, the urethra passes through the prostate and penis.
Urge Incontinence: Unexpected loss of urine resulting from uncontrolled bladder muscle contractions.
Urgency: Need to urinate immediately.
Urinary Retention: Inability to urinate.
Urodynamic study: Diagnostic test to evalue bladder and urethral function.
Urologist: Doctor who specializes in disorders of the urinary tract and male reproductive systems.
Vacuum pump: A device that creates an erection by drawing blood into the penis with vacuum pressure.
Vas Deferens: Paired anatomic tubal structures that carry sperm from the testicles to the ejaculatory ducts and urethra.
Vasectomy: Surgical blockade of the vas deferens, resulting in prevention of sperm flow and thus infertility.
Watchful Waiting: Conservative therapy of prostate cancer involving careful monitoring. Synonyms: Expectant management, deferred therapy.
Whitmore-Jewett Staging System: Older staging system to evaluate size and extent of prostate cancer. Now largely replaced by TNM system. Synonyms: American staging system, ABCD system.