Human health and medicine

Central cloudy dystrophy of François

Central cloudy dystrophy of François (CCDF, MIM 217600) is a rare stromal corneal dystrophy with central polygonal gray opacities, first described in 1955, nonprogressive, asymptomatic, possibly identical to posterior crocodile shagreen.

Central conducting lymphatic anomaly

Central conducting lymphatic anomaly (CCLA), also known as channel-type lymphatic malformation, is a rare disorder in which the central lymphatic system malfunctions, causing lymph to reflux into the lungs and abdomen.

Central cord syndrome

Central cord syndrome, also called central cervical cord syndrome, is the most common form of incomplete spinal cord injury, marked by arm weakness, bladder dysfunction, and sacral sparing.

Central core disease

Central core disease (CCD) is an inherited congenital myopathy, first described in 1956, causing mild, slowly progressive muscle weakness, usually from autosomal dominant mutations in the RYR1 gene.

Central dislocation of hip

Central dislocation of hip: medial displacement of the femoral head through a fractured acetabular floor into the pelvis, also called central fracture-dislocation of the acetabulum; high-energy injury treated by open reduction and internal fixation.

Central European tick-borne encephalitis

Central European tick-borne encephalitis is TBE caused by the European subtype (TBEV-Eu, formerly Central European encephalitis virus), transmitted by Ixodes ricinus in central, eastern and northern Europe, with a biphasic course, 0.5–2% mortality, and prevention by FSME-Immun or Encepur vaccines.

Central giant cell granuloma

Central giant cell granuloma (CGCG), also called central giant cell lesion or giant cell reparative granuloma, is a rare benign osteolytic lesion of the jaw with osteoclast-type giant cells, occurring mainly in young women in the mandible, treated by curettage or drugs like denosumab.

Central hypoventilation syndrome

Central hypoventilation syndrome (Ondine's curse), congenital form CCHS, is a rare PHOX2B-related autonomic disorder causing failed automatic breathing control, worst in sleep, requiring lifelong ventilation.

Central lymph node dissection

Central lymph node dissection is an operation that removes the central compartment (level VI) lymph nodes of the neck during thyroid cancer surgery, performed therapeutically for documented nodal metastasis or prophylactically when nodes appear normal.

Central nervous system disease

Central nervous system disease covers disorders of the brain and spinal cord, also called CNS disease or neurological disorders. Over 600 types exist; neurological conditions affect over 3 billion people and cause 11 million deaths yearly, led by stroke, migraine, and dementia.

Central nervous system prophylaxis

Central nervous system prophylaxis is preventive chemotherapy or cranial irradiation given during cancer treatment, standard in acute lymphoblastic leukemia, to stop leukemia or lymphoma reaching the brain.

Central neurocytoma

Central neurocytoma (CN), a rare WHO grade II benign intraventricular brain tumor of young adults, first described 1982; treated by resection, radiotherapy, or radiosurgery with ~90% survival.

Central pancreatectomy

Central pancreatectomy, also known as middle pancreatectomy, is a pancreas-sparing operation removing the middle segment for benign or low-grade lesions, trading lower diabetes risk for a high fistula rate.

Central pathology review

Central pathology review is a quality-control procedure in multicenter clinical trials in which expert pathologists reverify local tissue diagnoses, standardizing grading, staging, and eligibility assessments.

Central pattern generator

A central pattern generator (CPG) is a neural circuit that generates rhythmic motor patterns such as walking, breathing, and swimming without sensory timing cues, in vertebrates and invertebrates alike.

Central perforation of tympanic membrane

Central perforation of tympanic membrane (ICD-11 AB13.0, pars tensa central perforation): a hole in the central eardrum, the most common perforation type, usually healing spontaneously but causing conductive hearing loss.

Central polydactyly

Central (mesoaxial) polydactyly: rare congenital duplication of one of the three middle digits of the hand or foot, most often the fourth digit; 5-15% of polydactylies, linked with syndactyly, cleft hand, and syndromes; surgery around 12 months.

Central pontine myelinolysis

Central pontine myelinolysis (CPM), part of osmotic demyelination syndrome, is noninflammatory demyelination of the central pons after rapid correction of hyponatremia; biphasic symptoms appear 1-14 days post-correction, prevented by limiting sodium rise to 8-12 mEq/L per 24 hours.

Central retinal artery occlusion

Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO), also called eye stroke, is sudden blockage of the central retinal artery causing painless monocular vision loss; usually embolic from carotid or heart, treated as acute stroke, with no proven vision-restoring therapy.

Central scotoma

Central scotoma: an area of depressed vision at the fixation point interfering with central vision (HPO HP:0000603; ICD-11 9D42.4). Caused by macular disease or optic neuropathy; managed with eccentric viewing and magnification.

Central Sensitization Inventory

The Central Sensitization Inventory is a two-part self-report questionnaire introduced in 2011 that screens for symptoms of central sensitization in chronic pain practice and research.

Central serous chorioretinopathy

Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC), also called central serous retinopathy, is a macular eye disease with serous retinal detachment from a thickened, leaky choroid; it affects mainly middle-aged men and is treated with photodynamic therapy.

Central sleep apnoeas

Central sleep apnoeas (ICD-11 7A40) are sleep-related breathing disorders in which airflow stops or falls because respiratory effort is absent or reduced, unlike obstructive sleep apnea. Subtypes include primary, Cheyne-Stokes, high-altitude, opioid-related, and treatment-emergent CSA; diagnosis requires polysomnography.

CENTRAL trial

CENTRAL trial (NCT01530724), an 18-month Israeli MRI randomized trial (2012-2014, 278 adults) comparing low-fat versus Mediterranean/low-carbohydrate diets with or without exercise on visceral and ectopic fat loss.

Central venous catheter

Central venous catheter (CVC): flexible tube with tip in the superior vena cava for fluids, drugs, chemotherapy, dialysis, and monitoring. Types include non-tunneled lines, PICCs, Hickman/Broviac, and implanted ports; up to 27 million inserted yearly worldwide.

Central venous pressure

Central venous pressure (CVP) is the pressure in the vena cava near the right atrium, normally 8 to 12 mmHg, measured with a central venous catheter.

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois

Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Lausanne University Hospital, one of five Swiss university hospitals; Vaud state service, three missions of care, teaching, research; 2025: 53,583 inpatients, 12,957 staff, ~2 billion francs budget; Newsweek 2026 rank 21st.