Dictionary

renal calculus See kidney stones.

renal cancer See cancer, kidney.

renal capsule The fibrous connective tissue that surrounds each kidney.

renal cell carcinoma See cancer, renal cell.

renal osteodystrophy See osteodystrophy, renal.

Reed-Sternberg cell A type of cell that is seen microscopically in the affected tissues of patients with Hodgkin’s disease and is a hallmark of Hodgkin’s disease. See also Hodgkin’s disease.

referral The recommendation of a medical or paramedical professional. If one gets a referral to ophthalmology, for example, the person is being sent to the eye doctor. In health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and other managed-care schemes, a referral is usually necessary in order to see any practitioner or specialist other than the primary care physician…

referred pain Pain felt at a site other than where the cause is situated. An example is the pain from the pancreas, which is felt in the back. Pain in internal organs is often referred to sites distant from them.

reflex An involuntary reaction. For example, the corneal reflex is the blink that occurs upon irritation of the eye.

reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome A condition that features a group of typical symptoms, including pain (often perceived as burning pain), tenderness, and swelling of an extremity. Reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome is associated with varying degrees of sweating, warmth and/or coolness, flushing, discoloration, and shiny skin. Its exact cause is unknown. Also known as Complex regional…

reflux laryngitis See laryngitis, reflux.

refraction In opthalmology, the bending of light that takes place within the human eye. Refractive errors include nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism. Lenses can be used to control the amount of refraction and correct those errors.