Glossary

Dural Arteriovenous Fistulas. Abnormal connections between arteries and a veins the the dural or tough, leather-like covering of the brain and spinal cord.

Dural Arteriovenous Malformation. An abnormal connection between an artery and a vein the the dural or tough, leather-like covering of the brain and spinal cord.

Dural Arteriovenous Malformations. Abnormal connections between an artery and a vein the the dural or tough, leather-like covering of the brain and spinal cord.

Degenerative disc disease or Degenerative disc disorder. Refers to the degeneration of one or more intervertebral discs of the spine.

Delphi survey. (Also known as the Delphi method) This refers to a study design where a group or panel of individuals chosen for their expertise are sent a series of questionnaires dealing with a controversy, etc. Their responses are given in anonymity and after each round of questionnaires a moderator analyzes the responses then generates feedback and a follow-up questionnaire directed toward refining the opinions of the panel. The ultimate goal is the creation of a consensus document about the question that generated the study.

Crescent shape or semicircular line or ravine.

Diabetes insipidus – a condition characterized by excessive urination. The urine is severely dilute and the patient characteristically has excessive thirst. Fluid restriction has no effect on the degree of dilutation in the urine. The most common reason is central DI due to a lack of diuretic hormone (ADH or arginine vasopressin) but DI can also occur due to an insensitivity to ADH in the kidneys (nephrogenic diabetes insipidus or as a result of a drug being administered.

Rapid, alternating muscle movement.  The ability to rapidly alternate between agonistic and antagonistic muscle movements.

Trade name for the drug acetazolamide.

desmoplastic infantile ganglioglioma