Diseases & conditions A-Z List
Diseases & Conditions A-Z List - «R»:
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Retrosternal thyroid
The thyroid gland is normally located at the front of the neck. A retrosternal thyroid refers to the abnormal placement of all or part of the thyroid gland below the breastbone (sternum).
Alternative Names
Substernal thyroid; Mediastinal goiter...
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Retroversion of the uterus
Retroversion of the uterus is a normal variation of female pelvic anatomy in which the body of the uterus is tipped toward the back rather than forward. It is commonly called a "tipped uterus."
Causes
Retroversion of the uterus is common. It is the normal uterine position in about 20% of all women....
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Rett syndrome
Rett syndrome is a disorder of the nervous system that leads to developmental reversals, especially in the areas of expressive language and hand use.
Causes
Rett syndrome occurs almost exclusively in girls and may be misdiagnosed as autism or cerebral palsy.
Studies have linked many Rett syndrome c...
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Reye syndrome
Reye syndrome is sudden (acute) brain damage (encephalopathy) and liver function problems of unknown cause.
The syndrome has occurred with the use of aspirin to treat chickenpox or the flu in children. However, it has become very uncommon since aspirin is no longer recommended for routine use in chi...
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Reye syndrome - resources
The following organizations are good resources for information on Reye Syndrome:
National Reye's Syndrome Foundation, Inc. - www.reyessyndrome.org
National Institute of Neurologic Disorders and Stroke - www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/reyes_syndrome
Alternative Names
Resources - Reye syndrome...
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Rh incompatibility
Rh incompatibility is a condition that develops when a pregnant woman has Rh-negative blood and the baby in her womb has Rh-positive blood.
Causes
During pregnancy, red blood cells from the fetus can get into the mother's bloodstream as she nourishes her child through the placenta.
If the mother is...
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Rhabdomyolysis
Rhabdomyolysis is the breakdown of muscle fibers resulting in the release of muscle fiber contents (myoglobin) into the bloodstream. Some of these are harmful to the kidney and frequently result in kidney damage.
Causes
When muscle is damaged, a protein pigment called myoglobin is released into the...
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Rhabdomyosarcoma
Rhabdomyosarcoma is a cancerous (malignant) tumor of the muscles that are attached to the bones.
It can occur in many places in the body. The most common sites are the structures of the head and neck, the urogenital tract, and the arms or legs.
Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common soft tissue tumor i...
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Rheumatic fever
Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that may develop after an infection with Streptococcus bacteria (such as strep throat or scarlet fever). The disease can affect the heart, joints, skin, and brain.
Causes
Rheumatic fever is common worldwide and is responsible for many cases of damaged hear...
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Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term disease that leads to inflammation of the joints and surrounding tissues. It can also affect other organs.
Causes
The cause of RA is unknown. It is considered an autoimmune disease. The body's immune system normally fights off foreign substances, like viruse...
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Rheumatoid factor (RF)
Rheumatoid factor (RF) is a blood test that measures the amount of the RF antibody in the blood.
How the Test is Performed
Blood is drawn from a vein, usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. The site is cleaned with germ-killing medicine (antiseptic). The health care provider ...
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Rheumatoid lung disease
Rheumatoid lung disease is a group of lung problems related to rheumatoid arthritis. The condition can include fluid in the chest (pleural effusions), scarring (pulmonary fibrosis), lumps (nodules), and high blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension).
Causes
Pulmonary abnormalities are co...
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Rhinophyma
Rhinophyma is a large, bulb-shaped, red-colored (ruddy) nose.
Causes
Rhinophyma was once thought to be caused by heavy alcohol consumption, but this is not the case. Rhinophyma occurs equally in those who do not drink at all and those who drink large quantities of alcohol. The condition is much mor...
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Rhinoplasty
Rhinoplasty is surgery to repair or reshape the nose.
See also: Septoplasty
Description
Rhinoplasty can be performed under local or general anesthesia, depending on the exact procedure and the patient's preference. It may be performed in a surgeon's office, a hospital, or an outpatient surgery cen...
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Rhubarb leaves poisoning
Rhubarb leaves poisoning occurs when someone eats pieces of leaves from the rhubarb plant.
This is for information only and not for use in the treatment or management of an actual poison exposure. If you have an exposure, you should call your local emergency number (such as 911) or the National Pois...
