The American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary

Book excerpt: This comprehensive dictionary of medical words and phrases is intended for use by health-care consumers, students, and professionals as well as anyone who wants to keep up with the burgeoning new terminology found in today's medical news. Entry words are clearly defined, up-to-date, and free of confusing jargon. This second edition contains more than 1,300 new words reflecting the latest tests (virtual colonoscopy), diseases (SARS), treatments (photodynamic therapy), and technology (Gamma Knife). Hundreds of commonly prescribed and over-the-counter medications are covered, and definitions have been revised to reflect state-of-the-art medical research and practice. The expanding vocabulary of health-care management and policy is included, along with common medical abbreviations and medical biographies. Ninety clearly labeled illustrations and tables complement the text. The frontmatter includes a summary of medical conditions and subgroups for quick reference, making this complete, accessible reference even more versatile. - More than 45,000 authoritative, easy-to-understand definitions - Up-to-date medical vocabulary, including prescription drugs, common brand names, and health policy terms - Informative charts and illustrations - All medical specialties and areas of interest, including alternative medicine, obstetrics, and genetics - An essential family reference with the latest words and terms