An infection caused by the vaccinia virus, which usually affects cows.
cowpox
Coxsackie virus
A family of viruses causing a variety of diseases including herpangina and hand, foot and mouth disease.
CPK
An abbreviation for creatine phosphokinase, an enzyme found mainly in the heart, brain and skeletal muscle.
craniotomy
Surgical removal of a part of the skull.
creatine
A product of the breakdown of protein in muscle.
creatine kinase
A type of protein, an enzyme, that helps to break down the substance creatine to become creatinine in the body. Various forms exist in the brain, thyroid, skeletal muscle and heart muscle.
creatine kinase-MB
A form of creatinine kinase (an enzyme) that is present in heart tissue. Any damage to the heart muscle, for example from a heart attack, can cause a raised level of the substance in the bloodstream.
creatine phospohkinase
An enzyme found mainly in the heart, brain and skeletal muscle.
creatinine
A product of the breakdown of creatine in muscle (creatine itself is fromed from the breakdown of protein).
CREST
An abbreviation for Calcinosis, Raynaud’s phenomenon, Oesophagealdysmotility, Sclerodactyly, Telangiectasia
crevical ectropion
A benign condition where the cells of the cervix are columnar rather than flat.
CRF
An abbreviation for chronic renal failure.
Crohn’s (granulomatous) colitis
A form of Crohn’s disease limited to the large intestine.
Crohn’s disease
A chronic inflammatory disease affecting the gastrointestinal tract.
croup
A common condition in babies and small children in which narrowing and inflammation of the airways causes hoarseness, heavy breathing and cough.
CRP
An abbreviation for C-reactive protein, found in the blood. Raised levels of this protein suggest tissue damage or necrosis (death of cells).
cryoglobulinaemia
The prescence of abnormal proteins in the blood.
cryotherapy
A therapy that destroys unwanted cells or tissue by freezing it.
cryptosporidium
A type of diarrhoeal infection caused by protozoa.
CSF
Cerebrospinal fluid. The fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
CT
The abbreviation for computed tomography, a scan that generates a series of cross-sectional x-ray images
culture
The growth within a laboratory of microbes, organisms too small to be seen with the naked eye.
Cushing's syndrome
A hormonal disorder caused by an abnormally high level of corticosteroid hormones in the blood.
Cushing’s disease
A hormonal disorder caused by abnormally high levels of corticosteroid hormones in the blood.