Medical glossary
Medical terms, in plain words.
A growing dictionary of the terms you'll come across in gastroenterology and hepatology reports. If a term you've seen isn't here yet — let us know.
- Acid reflux
- The backflow of stomach acid into the esophagus, causing heartburn and sometimes regurgitation.
- Barrett's esophagus
- A change in the lining of the esophagus caused by chronic acid reflux. Increases the long-term risk of esophageal cancer.
- Biopsy
- A small tissue sample taken during endoscopy or colonoscopy for laboratory examination.
- Cirrhosis
- Advanced scarring of the liver from long-standing damage (hepatitis, fatty liver, alcohol, etc.).
- Colonoscopy
- A camera examination of the entire colon (large bowel), usually performed under sedation.
- Crohn's disease
- A type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that can affect any part of the digestive tract.
- Dyspepsia
- Indigestion — discomfort, fullness, or pain in the upper abdomen.
- Dysphagia
- Difficulty swallowing.
- ERCP
- A specialized endoscopic procedure to examine and treat problems in the bile ducts and pancreas.
- Endoscopy (Upper GI)
- A camera examination of the esophagus, stomach, and the first part of the small intestine.
- Fatty liver (NAFLD)
- Excess fat in the liver, often linked to diabetes, obesity, or metabolic syndrome.
- FibroScan
- A painless ultrasound-based test that measures liver stiffness — a marker of fibrosis.
- GERD
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease — persistent acid reflux causing damage or symptoms.
- H. pylori
- Helicobacter pylori — a bacterium that infects the stomach and can cause ulcers and gastritis.
- HBV / HCV
- Hepatitis B Virus / Hepatitis C Virus.
- IBD
- Inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
- IBS
- Irritable bowel syndrome — a functional disorder of the gut causing pain, bloating, and altered bowel habits.
- Jaundice
- Yellowing of the eyes or skin, usually due to liver or biliary problems.
- NASH
- Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis — fatty liver with inflammation and damage.
- Pancreatitis
- Inflammation of the pancreas, ranging from acute (sudden) to chronic.
- Peptic ulcer
- A sore in the lining of the stomach or duodenum.
- Polyp
- A small growth on the inner lining of the bowel; some can become cancerous over time.
- Steatorrhea
- Fatty, foul-smelling stools — a sign of poor fat absorption.
- Ulcerative colitis
- A type of inflammatory bowel disease affecting the colon and rectum.
- Varices
- Enlarged, fragile veins (commonly in the esophagus) that develop with cirrhosis and can bleed.