Dictionary

CCompass System A frameless stereotactic system that combinesa microscope, laser and computer.complementary medicine Therapies used in addition toconventional treatment primarily to manage or prevent pain,nausea and treatment related side-effects; to reduce stress andanxiety; to promote healing. Also called holistic or naturalmedicine.complete remission The most common definition is that thetumor can no longer be seen on scans as a result of treatment.Remissions can be permanent or temporary. Also calledcomplete response. Abbreviated CR.complex partial seizure One of two types of focal seizure. Itaffects only one part of a cerebral hemisphere and symptomsdepend on the specific part involved. The other type of focalseizure is called a simple partial seizure.concave [kon kave´] Having a hollowed surface, like thefollowing: .28(conformal Shaped to follow the irregular borders of a tumor.conformal radiation For therapy, the radiation beams areshaped in three dimensions to match the shape of the tumor.The shaping is accomplished by special equipment and specialcomputer programs. Abbreviated CRT. Also called 3D-CRT.congenital [kon jen´ ih tul] Existing before or at birth.consortium An NCI-funded network of hospital and physiciansestablished to evaluate new treatments in Phase I and Phase IIclinical trials. NABTT (New Approaches to Brain TumorTherapy), NABTC (North American Brain Tumor Consortium)and PBTC (Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium) are braintumor specific consortia.contralateral [kon trah lat´ ur al] Affecting the opposite side.contrast enhancing portion “Contrast” materials are the dyesused to make parts of the brain more obvious than others onscan. Contrast dyes create a difference of signal intensities,resulting in some tissues being displayed differently on the scanimages. The portion of the tumor absorbing the dye, called the“contrast-enhancing portion” of a tumor, may be more densethan surrounding tissue, and will therefore stand out more inan MRI. Contrast enhancement is linked to breakdown of theblood-brain barrier and angiogenesis.control group Patients receiving standard treatment. In clinicaltrials, the control group is compared to the group that receivedan investigational treatment.convection-enhanced delivery A new technique used to delivera drug directly into the area of a tumor using the principles ofconstant pressure to “flow” substances. Following placement ofcatheters by a neurosurgeon to the desired area of the brain, adrug is delivered continuously through the catheters for thenumber of days specified by the study design. AbbreviatedCED.conventional fractionation A schedule for delivering radiationtherapy. For brain tumors, usually defined as one fraction perday of 180 to 200 cGy, five times a week, for six weeks, for atotal dose of 5400 to 6000 cGy.conventional medicine The mainstream medical care practicedat most hospitals in the United States. Standards of care are setby government and regulatory agencies, and by individualhealth insurance companies.conventional radiation therapy External beams of energyaimed at the tumor and delivered in daily fractions over a longperiod of time.convex [kon veks´] Having a rounded surface, like thefollowing: .(convexity [kon veks´ ih tee] The rounded, protrudingsurfaces of the brain.C29