Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

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ectodermal dysplasia
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-ectomy
The surgical removal of something. For
example, a lumpectomy is the surgical removal of a
lump, a tonsillectomy is the removal of the tonsils,
and an appendectomy is removal of the appendix.
ectopia cordis
A birth defect that results in an
abnormal location of the heart, usually outside the
chest.
ectopic
In the wrong place, out of place. For
example, an ectopic kidney is a kidney that is not in
the usual location.
ectopic pregnancy
A pregnancy that occurs out-
side of the uterus. Usually, ectopic pregnancies
occur because a fertilized egg settles and grows in a
Fallopian tube. However, ectopic pregnancies can
occur in other locations, such as the ovary, cervix,
and abdominal cavity. An ectopic pregnancy is usu-
ally due to the inability of a fertilized egg to make its
way through a Fallopian tube into the uterus. Risk
factors include pelvic inflammatory disease (PID);
adhesions from surgery on or near a Fallopian tube;
endometriosis, a condition in which tissue like that
normally lining the uterus is found outside the
uterus; a prior ectopic pregnancy; a history of
repeated induced abortions; and a history of infer-
tility problems or use of medications to stimulate
ovulation. A major concern with ectopic pregnancy
is internal bleeding. Pain is usually the first symp-
tom. The pain, which is usually sharp and stabbing,
is often one-sided and may occur in the pelvis,
abdomen, or even the shoulder or neck (due to
blood from a ruptured ectopic pregnancy building
up under the diaphragm and the pain being
“referred” up to the shoulder or neck). Diagnosis is
made through a pelvic exam to test for pain, ten-
derness, and a mass in the abdomen. The most use-
ful laboratory test is the measurement of the
hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). In
a normal pregnancy, the level of hCG doubles about
every 2 days during the first 10 weeks, whereas in
an ectopic pregnancy, the hCG rise is usually slower
and lower than normal. Ultrasound can also help
determine whether a pregnancy is ectopic, as can
culdocentesis, the insertion of a needle through the
vagina into the space behind the uterus to see
whether there is blood there from a ruptured
Fallopian tube. Treatment includes surgery, often by
laparoscopy, to remove the ill-fated pregnancy. A
ruptured Fallopian tube usually has to be removed.
If the tube has not yet burst, a physician may be able
to repair it. The outlook for future pregnancies
depends on the extent of the surgery.
eczema
An inflammatory reaction of the skin in
which there are tiny blister-like raised areas in the
early stage followed by reddening, swelling, bumps,
crusting, and thickening and scaling. Eczema char-
acteristically causes itching and burning. Also
known as atopic dermatitis. Eczema is a very com-
mon skin problem that may start in infancy, later in
childhood, or in adulthood. It can be caused by
allergies, diabetes, sunburn, or unknown reasons.
It can be treated with medications, commonly topi-
cal cortisone creams that reduce inflammation.
There are numerous types of eczema, including
atopic dermatitis, contact eczema, seborrheic
eczema, nummular eczema, neurodermatitis, stasis
dermatitis, and dyshidrotic eczema.