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retroperitoneal

retroperitoneal

2 9.4
Located behind the thin lining that covers the inside of the belly
  • adjective
  • /ˌrɛtroʊˌpɛrɪtəˈniəl/
  • Specialized
: retroperitoneal
  • YOU HAVE STAGE FOUR RETROPERITONEAL SARCOMA.
  • retroperitoneal mass

Examples

  • It is also important to keep the patient still after a pelvic girdle is applied to prevent disruption of the retroperitoneal tamponade, which could lead to hemorrhagic shock.

    Academic text (2006)
  • However, the three treatments reduced lymphocyte numbers to 3000-5000/mL and also reduced the mediastinal and retroperitoneal lymph node masses.

    Academic text (2000)
  • I ended up being diagnosed with retroperitoneal cancer.

  • Retroperitoneal pathway

    Academic text (2007)
  • They're in the back part of your abdominal cavity, a space that's called the retroperitoneal position in your body.

  • In fact, "pheochromocytoma" is formalized as a direct child of "retroperitoneal neoplasms" in NCIT.

    Academic text (2016)
  • A 16-YEAR-OLD GANGBANGER WITH A RARE, HIGH-GRADE RETROPERITONEAL SARCOMA YOUR HUSBAND HAD THE PLEASURE OF SEEING TODAY.

  • The most common parts of the body to which testicular cancer metastasizes are the lungs, the retroperitoneal lymph nodes (lymph nodes near the kidneys), the liver, and the brain.

    Academic text (2010)
  • Computed tomography of the thorax and abdomen showed an enlarged mediastinum and a retroperitoneal mass surrounding the aorta and renal arteries.

    Academic text (2000)
  • The MRI revealed a tumor located in the retroperitoneal space, which is behind the abdominal lining.

Surface Forms

retroperitoneal positive

Morphology

retroperitoneal = peritoneal (opaque) = retro + peritoneum + al

The word is built by adding retro- to the specialized adjective peritoneal, so the structure is clear but the meaning is not transparent to most learners.

Etymology

Retroperitoneal breaks into retro- meaning 'behind' or 'back' and peritoneum, the thin membrane that goes 'around' the belly. The prefix peri- means 'around', as in perimeter, so retroperitoneal literally means 'behind the peritoneum', which is why it describes organs or tumors at the back of the belly.