hemangiomas - Raised birthmarks that consist of a clump of blood vessels that did not grow normally. They are often found on the face in many sizes and shapes and are usually blue, red, or purple. -

hematologist - A physician who is specially trained in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases of the blood and bone marrow as well as the immunologic, hemostatic (blood clotting) and vascular systems. -

hematoma - A collection of blood formed when small blood vessels are damaged, causing bleeding into the tissues. -

hemodialysis - A procedure often required at regular intervals by patients whose kidneys no longer are able to remove waste materials from the blood. A machine performs this function instead and the cleansed blood then is returned to the patient. -

heparin - A drug that thins the blood and helps to prevent abnormal blood clotting. -

hepatic vein - There are three hepatic veins: the right, middle, and left hepatic veins drain blood from the liver back toward the heart. -

hepatobiliary system - The liver, gall bladder and bile ducts. The liver produces and secretes bile which is stored in the gallbladder and released through tubular passageways called bile ducts into the bowel to help digest fat and carry away waste. -

hepatocellular carcinoma - The most common type of primary liver cancer that starts in the main cells of the liver. -

hepatoma - A malignant or cancerous tumor that arises in the liver. -

hereditary disorders - Medical conditions that are passed on genetically from parent to child. -

herniated disk - Protrusion of a degenerated or fragmented vertebral disk with potential compression of nerves in the spine. -

high -Dose-Rate Remote Afterloading Brachytherapy or HDR - Brachytherapy treatment employing a very small but intense radioactive source on the end of a flexible, computer-controlled cable. By inserting this radioactive source through one or more hollow applicators placed into or near a tumor, a precisely planned amount of radiation may be delivered over a short period of time.

high -dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy - One of two types of temporary brachytherapy, a radiation therapy treatment for cancer that involves the placement of a radioactive material directly inside the body, in or near a tumor, for a specific amount of time and then withdrawn. In HDR brachytherapy, a high dose of radiation is delivered to the tumor in a short burst, lasting only a few minutes. This treatment may be repeated several times in a day or a number of times over one or more weeks.

hIPAA - HIPAA – Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; Federal Law as of 1996. -

hIPAA security standards - The Federal Government's requirements for handling electronic media and protected health information. The standards address the following: -

hives - (hIvz) - Confined, short-term elevation or irregular fluid-filled spot on the skin, slightly reddened, often changing in size and shape and extending to adjacent areas. Suddenly erupts and is usually accompanied by intense itching; usually produced by exposure to allergenic substances in susceptible persons.

hodgkin's Lymphoma - Also called Hodgkin's disease, this is a cancer of the lymphatic system. It most often begins in the larger, most central lymph nodes of the body - those along the largest blood vessels of the neck, chest, abdomen, spine, and armpit and groin areas where the vessels return from the arms and legs. It is named for the British doctor Thomas Hodgkin who first described the disease in 1832.

hormone - A complex chemical substance produced in one part or organ of the body that sets the pace for the activity of an organ or group of cells in another part of the body. -

hormone Therapy - Natural hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone, help some tumors grow. To stop their growth, doctors sometimes prescribe hormone therapy to reduce the amount of hormones produced by the body in order to stop the growth of the cancer. -

hospice - A family-centered system of care that attempts to keep chronically ill and terminal patients as comfortable and active as possible.

hospital information system (HIS) - Also called an EMR (Electronic Medical Record) or EHR (Electronic Health Record). See Electronic Medical Record. -

hydrocephalus - (hI-drO-sef-a-lus) - A condition marked by an excessive accumulation of fluid resulting in enlarging of the brain cavities and raised pressure within the skull; may also result in enlargement of the skull and wasting of the brain. -

hyperfractionated Radiation Therapy - A type of radiation therapy in which the radiation doses are divided into smaller amounts and patients undergo treatment more than once a day. -

hyperfractionation - The process of administering a dose of radiation in smaller units two to three times a day, as opposed to a larger amount once a day. -

hyperparathyroidism - An excessive hormone production by the parathyroid gland(s). -

hyperthyroidism - A condition, also called Grave's disease, in which the thyroid gland produces more thyroid hormone than the body needs. Symptoms include an enlarged thyroid gland, rapid heart rate, and high blood pressure. -

hypofractionated Radiation Therapy - A type of radiation therapy in which patients undergo one or just a few treatments. -

hypothyroidism - A condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone for the body's needs. Symptoms include weight gain, energy loss, and dry skin. -

hysterectomy - Surgical removal of the uterus. -

hysterosalpingography - (his-ter-O-sal-pinggog-ru-fE) - Radiography of the uterus and fallopian tubes after the injection of radiopaque material.-