Dictionary

ring, intrastromal corneal See intrastromal corneal ring.

ring chromosome A structurally abnormal chromosome in which the end of each chromosome arm has been lost and the broken arms have been reunited to form a ring. A ring chromosome is denoted by the symbol r.

ringworm A fungal infection of the skin previously thought to be due to a parasite (worm). The medical term for ringworm is tinea. The skin infections are sometimes characterized by round lesions in the upper layers of the skin. Fungi that cause ringworm are known as dermatophytes. See also tinea barbae; tinea capitis; tinea corporis.

rhabdomyosarcoma A fast-growing malignancy of muscle that mainly affects children (more than 60 percent of cases are diagnosed before age 10) but can occur at any age. Treatment includes surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and, most often, a combination of these modes of treatment. The outlook depends on a number of factors, including the original location of…

rhabdomyosarcoma, embryonal See sarcoma botryoides.

rheumatic fever An illness that occurs in the wake of a streptococcus infection (strep throat, or related condition) or scarlet fever, primarily in children. Symptoms include fever, pain in the joints, nausea, stomach cramps, and vomiting. Rheumatic fever can cause long-lasting effects in the joints, heart, brain, and skin. Rheumatic fever may be followed by…

rheumatic heart disease Heart damage caused by rheumatic fever. Treatment involves prevention of reinfection with streptococcus and use of medications to treat any heart complications, as needed.

rheumatism An older term used to describe a number of painful conditions of muscles, tendons, joints, and bones. Rheumatic conditions have been classified as localized (confined to a specific location, such as bursitis and tendonitis), regional (in a larger region, such as chest wall pain), or generalized (affecting many and diverse parts of the body,…

rheumatism, psychogenic Rheumatism in which the patient reports inconsistent pains of muscles and joints that do not correspond to true anatomy and physiology. The patient is felt to have underlying psychological causes for these symptoms.

rheumatism, regional Rheumatism in a larger region, such as chest wall pain, temporomandibular joint pain, and myofascial pain syndrome pain.

rheumatoid factor An antibody that is measurable in the blood and is used to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid factor is present in about 80 percent of adults, and a much lower proportion of children, who have rheumatoid arthritis. It is also present in patients with other connective-tissue diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, and in…

rheumatoid nodule A firm lump in the skin of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid nodules usually occur at pressure points of the body, most commonly the elbows.