Dictionary

thyroid binding globulin A blood protein that binds with the thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4).

thyroglossal cyst See cyst, thyroglossal.

thyroglobulin A protein that is found primarily in the thyroid gland. Some thyroglobulin can be found in the blood, and this amount may be measured after thyroid surgery to determine whether thyroid cancer has recurred. Abbreviated Tg.

thymus and parathyroids, hypoplasia of See DiGeorge syndrome.

thymus An organ that is located in the upper chest behind the breastbone and in front of the lower neck in which the immune cells called T lymphocytes mature and multiply in early life. The thymus begins to shrink after puberty.

thymiosis See yaws.

thymine One member of the base pair A-T (adenine-thymine) in DNA.

thrush A yeast infection of the mucous membranes within the throat and mouth. Thrush looks like a light or white coating on the affected tissue, and it may cause irritation. Thrush is seen most often in infants, young children, elderly people (especially those who wear dentures or take medications that lower output of saliva), and…

thrombus A clot in a blood vessel or within the heart.

thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura A life-threatening disease that involves embolism and thrombosis (plugging) of the small blood vessels in the brain and elsewhere in the body. Abbreviated TTP. TTP is characterized by the presence of platelet microthrombi (tiny traveling clots composed of platelets, the clotting cells in the blood), thrombocytopenia (lack of platelets), hemolytic anemia (from…

thrombotic disease due to protein C deficiency See protein C deficiency.

thrombosis, cavernous sinus See cavernous sinus thrombosis.