Letter L

Laryngectomy The surgical removal of the larynx (voice box).

larynx The voice box where the vocal cords are located.

Lesion A lump or abscess that may be caused by injury or disease, such as cancer.

Leukaemia Cancer of the blood. White blood cells may be produced in excessive amounts and are unable to work properly.

Leukopenia A low number of white blood cells.

Lumpectomy Removal of a lump from the breast and a small amount of surrounding breast tissue.

Lymph angiogram An x-ray test to look at the lymph nodes.

Lymphatic system A network that includes lymph vessels, lymph nodes, and lymph fluid that serves as a filtering system for the blood.

Lymphedema Swelling, usually of a limb, either from obstructed cancerous lymph nodes or from surgically removed lymph nodes.

Lymph fluid Part of the lymphatic system that contains excess fluid from tissues, waste products, and immune system cells.

Lymph vessels Part of the lymphatic system they are like veins except they carry a clear fluid known as lymph, instead of blood.

Lymphoid tissue The main part of the immune system. Lymphoid tissue is found in many places throughout the body, including lymph nodes, the thymus, the spleen, the tonsils and adenoids, and the bone marrow. The main cell type that forms lymphoid tissue is the lymphocyte.

Lymph nodes Hundreds of small oval bodies that contain lymph. Lymph nodes act as the first line of defence against infections and cancer.

Lymphocytes White blood cells that kill viruses and defend against the invasion of foreign material. There are two main types of lymphocytes B-lymphocytes (or B-cells) T-lymphocytes (or T-cells) Leukaemia can occur in both types of cell.

B-lymphocytes (B cells) Cells that help to protect the body mainly against bacteria.

T-lymphocytes (or T-cells) Cells that help protect more against viruses. T-cells are also thought to destroy some types of cancer cells as well as the cells of transplanted organs.

Lymphoma A cancer of the lymphatic system.

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