Definition Also known as cholelithotomy, gallstone removal is a procedure that rids the gallbladder of calculus buildup.  Purpose The gallbladder is not a vital organ. It is located on the right side of the abdomen underneath the liver. The gallbladder's function is to store bile, concentrate it, and release it during digestion. Bile is supposed to retain all of its chemicals in solution,...

Definition A gallium scan of the body is a nuclear medicine test that is conducted using a camera that detects gallium, a form of radionuclide, or radioactive chemical substance. Purpose Most gallium scans are ordered to detect cancerous tumors, infections, or areas of inflammation in the body. Gallium is known to accumulate in inflamed, infected, or cancerous...

Definition This is an x-ray exam of the gallbladder (GB), a sac-like organ that stores bile that is located under the liver. The study involves taking tablets containing dye (contrast) which outline any abnormalities when x rays are taken the following day. The test was once the standard for diagnosing diseases of the GB such as gallstones, but is used less frequently...

Definition A nuclear medicine scan of the gallbladder is used to produce a set of images that look like x rays. The procedure uses a small amount of radioactive dye which is injected into the body. The dye accumulates in the organ, in this case, the gallbladder. A special camera called a scintillation or gamma camera produces images based on how the dye travels through the...

Definition Cancer of the gallbladder is cancer of the pearshaped organ that lies on the under surface of the liver. Description Bile from the liver is funneled into the gallbladder by way of the cystic duct. Between meals, the gallbladder stores a large amount of bile. To do this, it must absorb much of the water and electrolytes from the bile. In fact, the inner surface...

Definition Galactosemia is an inherited disease in which the body is unable to metabolize the simple sugar galactose, which is found primarily in dairy products but is also produced by the body. If left unaddressed, galactose can increase to toxic levels in the body and may lead to damage of the liver, central nervous system, and various other body systems. Description Galactosemia is a rare but potentially...

Definition Galactorrhea is the secretion of breast milk in men, or in women who are not breastfeeding an infant. Description Lactation, or the production of breast milk, is a normal condition occurring in women after delivery of a baby. Many women who have had children may even be able to express a small amount of breast milk from the nipple up to two years after childbirth. Galactorrhea,...

Normal growth varies from child to child, depending largely on heredity. The process of growth is influenced most by the hormones produced by the pituitary gland (anterior lobe), thyroid gland, and sex glands. Of these, the growth-promoting hormone of the pituitary (STH-somatotrophin) has the greatest evident influence. When this hormone is inadequate at birth, a form of dwarfism results in which the individual...

Gigantism is a form of overgrowth resulting from an overproduction of the growth-promoting hormone (STHsomatotrophin) produced by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland. When the condition begins in childhood (as in true gigantism), the" overgrowth produces a very tall person, eight feet or more in height. When the condition begins after normal body growth has been completed, the overgrowth does not change...