A chronic skin condition affecting the male genitalia.
balanitis xerotica obliterans
balloon angioplasty
An operation that uses an inflatable balloon to dilate narrowed blood vessels.
balloon dilation
The use of a balloon to open up a narrowing, or stricture, in the body.
barium enema
A barium enema is a medical procedure used to examine and diagnose problems with the colon (large intestine). X-ray pictures are taken while barium sulphate fills the colon via the rectum.
barium meal
An X-ray examination of the stomach, taken after swallowing a liquid that shows up clearly on the X-ray (barium sulphate).
barium swallow
An X-ray examination of the oesophagus (gullet), taken after swallowing a liquid that shows up clearly on the X-ray (barium sulphate).
barotrauma
Damage or pain mainly affecting the middle ear and facial sinuses that is caused by changes in surrounding air pressure.
Bartholin's glands
A pair of oval, pea-sized glands whose ducts open into the vulva.
Bartholinitis
Inflammation of a vulvovaginal gland.
basal cell carcinoma
A type of skin cancer.
BCC
An abbreviation for basal cell carcinoma.
Beau's lines
Deep groved lines that run from side to side on the fingernail.
bed sore
Ulceration in the skin caused by continuous pressure combined with a reduced blood supply.
Behcet's syndrome
A chronic condition resulting from disturbances in the immune system.
Behçet’s disease
An autoimmune disorder that results in widespread inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis). Symptoms may include oral or genital ulceration and skin or eye lesions. It is more common in the Middle East and Asia.
benign
Not dangerous, usually applied to a tumour that is not malignant.
benign positional vertigo
Inflammation of the vestibular nerve supplying the inner ear, leading to disabling attacks of vertigo.
benign prostatic hyperplasia
Enlargement of the prostate, which may cause difficulty in passing urine.
benign tumour
An abnormal swelling that is not cancerous; in other words, it does not invade local tissues or spread to distant parts of the body.
benzodiazepines
A group of drugs given for short periods for insomnia or to ease the symptoms of anxiety or stress.
Berloque dermatitis
A common but dangerous skin condition characterised by a brownish/reddish discolouration to the neck and sometimes arms. It is a type of photosensitisation, and is caused by exposure to sunlight after the application of perfume or cologne containing bergamot or other essential oil.
beta cells
The cells of the pancreas where insulin is produced.
beta-blocker
One of a group of drugs that block beta-receptors to slow the heart rate, or constrict the airways and arteries.
beta-blockers
A group of drugs that block beta-receptors to slow the heart rate, or constrict the airways and arteries.