The prevailing cost of a particular medical service in a given geographical area. If you use a non-participating physician, you may be responsible for your copayment and/or coinsurance plus the difference between the amount charged and the usual and customary amount paid by your plan. Also called usual, customary and reasonable.

A procedure in which high-energy sound waves (ultrasound) are bounced off internal tissues or organs and make echoes. The echo patterns are shown on the screen of an ultrasound machine, forming a picture of body tissues called a sonogram. Also called ultrasonography.

A term used to describe cells or tissues that do not have specialized ("mature") structures or functions. Undifferentiated cancer cells often grow and spread quickly.

Unable to be removed with surgery.

The tube through which urine leaves the body. It empties urine from the bladder.

The prevailing cost of a particular medical service in a given geographical area. If you use a non-participating physician, you may be responsible for your copayment and/or coinsurance plus the difference between the amount charged and the usual and customary amount paid by your plan. Also called UCR.

Cancer that forms in tissues of the uterus (small, hollow, pear-shaped organ in a woman's pelvis in which a baby grows). Two types of uterine cancer are endometrial cancer (cancer that begins in cells lining the uterus) and uterine sarcoma (a rare cancer that begins in muscle or other tissues in the uterus).

Closely monitoring a patient's condition but withholding treatment until symptoms appear or change. Also called observation.

A type of surgery used to treat pancreatic cancer. The head of the pancreas, the duodenum, a portion of the stomach, and other nearby tissues are removed.

Refers to a blood cell that does not contain hemoglobin. White blood cells include lymphocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, macrophages, and mast cells. These cells are made by bone marrow and help the body fight infections and other diseases. Also called WBC.

A type of high-energy radiation. In low doses, x-rays are used to diagnose diseases by making pictures of the inside of the body. In high doses, x-rays are used to treat cancer.

A type of radiation therapy that uses high-energy radiation from x-rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors.