Info
MRD (minimal residual disease)
Diagnosis
What it means
A very small amount of cancer cells, not detectable through standard imaging, that remains in the body after treatment. Sensitive tests for MRD (especially in leukemias and lymphomas) help guide the decision to continue or stop treatment.
Related terms
The terms below often appear alongside this one. Each definition is right here, so you do not have to look elsewhere.
- Leukaemia
- A cancer of the blood and the bone marrow, in which too many immature or defective blood cells are produced abnormally. It can develop acutely or chronically and requires specialist haematological assessment.
- AFP (alpha-fetoprotein)
- A tumor marker useful especially for liver cancer and certain testicular or ovarian tumors. It is measured in the blood for diagnosis, monitoring treatment and detecting a recurrence.
- ALK-positive
- A gene rearrangement found in a subset of lung cancers, more common in non-smoking or younger patients. ALK-positive tumors often respond very well to specific targeted therapies, different from standard chemotherapy.
Other terms in “Diagnosis”
Glossary definitions are written for patients by the OncoDots team and go through internal medical review. They explain terms; they do not establish a diagnosis and do not recommend a treatment.