Human health and medicine

Polyorchidism

Polyorchidism (supernumerary testis) is a rare congenital anomaly with one or more extra testes, usually triorchidism, left-sided, mostly scrotal; managed by observation or orchidopexy/orchidectomy depending on malignancy risk.

Polyosteoarthritis

Polyosteoarthritis, also called polyarthrosis, is a degenerative joint disorder in which cartilage deteriorates and bone changes occur across multiple joints; it is coded FA05 in ICD-11.

Polyoxin

Polyoxin: peptidyl nucleoside antifungal antibiotics from Streptomyces cacaoi var. asoensis, discovered 1965; polyoxin D zinc salt (FRAC 19, Oso, Affirm) inhibits chitin synthase as a UDP-GlcNAc mimic for crop disease control.

Polyp (medicine)

Polyp (medicine): abnormal tissue growth projecting from a mucous membrane into a hollow organ (colon, uterus, stomach); sessile or pedunculated, mostly benign, removed by polypectomy, with adenomas carrying colorectal cancer risk.

Polyp of gallbladder

Gallbladder polyp (polypoid lesion of the gallbladder): common incidental ultrasound finding, 3%–6% prevalence, mostly benign cholesterol pseudopolyps; malignancy risk low under 10 mm (0.60%), managed by size-based cholecystectomy and surveillance guidelines.

Polyp of vagina

Polyp of vagina (ICD-10 N84.2), chiefly the vaginal fibroepithelial polyp: a benign polypoid lesion with a fibrous or myxoid stromal core covered by squamous epithelium, hormone-sensitive, often in pregnancy, treated by excision.

Polyp of vulva

Polyp of vulva (ICD-11 GA13.0, ICD-10 N84.3), also called vulvar fibroepithelial stromal polyp or skin tag: a benign hormone-sensitive polypoid lesion of fibrovascular stroma lined by squamous epithelium, treated by excision.

Sep 29, 2026

Polypectomy

Polypectomy is the endoscopic removal of polyps, most often from the colon during colonoscopy, using cold or hot snares; adenoma removal cuts colorectal cancer mortality by up to 50%.

Polypharmacy

Polypharmacy, also called polymedication, is the concurrent use of multiple medications by one patient, commonly defined as five or more drugs, most frequent in older adults; risks include adverse drug events, interactions, falls, and hospitalization, addressed through medication review and deprescribing.

Polyphasic sleep

Polyphasic sleep: distributing sleep into 3+ episodes per 24 h (Uberman, Everyman, Dymaxion schedules) to cut total sleep. Controlled studies show impaired vigilance, reduced deep sleep, and adverse health effects versus monophasic sleep.

Oct 22, 2026

Polyplex

A polyplex is a non-viral gene delivery particle in which a cationic polymer, such as polyethylenimine, electrostatically condenses DNA or RNA into nanoscale complexes that carry nucleic acids into cells.

Polypoid sinus degeneration

Polypoid sinus degeneration, also called Woakes' syndrome or Woakes' ethmoiditis, is recurrent nasal polyps with destruction of the nasal pyramid; ICD-11 CA0J.0, SNOMED 26808007, often non-eosinophilic with nasal broadening.

Polyposis syndrome

Polyposis syndrome: hereditary conditions with multiple gastrointestinal polyps and elevated cancer risk, including FAP (APC, dominant), MAP (MUTYH, recessive), hamartomatous syndromes (PJS, JPS, PTEN), and serrated polyposis, the most common type.

Polyps of small intestine

Polyps of small intestine (ICD-11 DA98) are benign tissue masses protruding into the small-bowel lumen: hamartomas, hyperplastic, inflammatory fibroid polyps, and lymphoid hyperplasia, detected by capsule endoscopy and treated via device-assisted enteroscopy.

Polyrrhinia

Polyrrhinia, or double nose (polyrhinia), an extremely rare congenital complete duplication of the nose with two septa, four nostrils, and four nasal cavities, first described by Erich in 1961, sporadic, treated by excision of the medial halves of each nose.

Polysomnography

Polysomnography (PSG), the overnight sleep study, records EEG, EOG, EMG, breathing, oxygen, and heart activity to diagnose sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and parasomnias; term coined 1974.

Polysplenia

Polysplenia, also called left isomerism or heterotaxy with left atrial isomerism, is a rare congenital condition of 2 to 15 spleens with midline liver, intestinal malrotation, interrupted IVC, and less severe heart disease than asplenia.

Polysyndactyly

Polysyndactyly (PPD4, OMIM 174700, ORPHA93338) is a rare autosomal dominant limb malformation with mild thumb duplication and digit webbing, linked to GLI3 at 7p14.1, distinct from synpolydactyly and Haas type polysyndactyly.

Polysyndactyly-cardiac malformation syndrome

Polysyndactyly-cardiac malformation syndrome, or Bonneau syndrome (OMIM 263630), is an extremely rare autosomal recessive disorder combining polysyndactyly with complex congenital heart defects; usually fatal in utero or infancy, with about nine reported cases.

Polythiazide

Polythiazide (Renese) is a long-acting thiazide diuretic developed by Pfizer, FDA-approved September 26, 1961 as a new molecular entity in 1-4 mg oral tablets, about 250 times as potent as chlorothiazide, now discontinued.

Polyuria

Polyuria: excessive urine production, over 3 L/day in adults or 2 L/m² in children. Also called excessive urination; distinguished from urinary frequency and nocturia; caused by water diuresis (diabetes insipidus, primary polydipsia) or osmotic diuresis (hyperglycemia).

Polyvagal theory

Polyvagal theory, proposed by Stephen Porges in 1995, links vagal brainstem nuclei to social behavior and autonomic states; its physiological and evolutionary premises are contested by Grossman and other experts.

Pomalidomide

Pomalidomide (Pomalyst, Imnovid, CC-4047) is an oral thalidomide-analogue IMiD for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma with dexamethasone; FDA accelerated approval 2013, cereblon mechanism, REMS-restricted.

Sep 29, 2026

Pomalidomide and dexamethasone regimen

The pomalidomide–dexamethasone regimen (Pd) is an all-oral combination treatment for relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma, approved in 2013 and used as the doublet backbone for pomalidomide-based triplets.

Pomegranate extract

Pomegranate extract (Punica granatum), a punicalagin- and polyphenol-rich preparation from whole fruit or peel; GRAS as whole fruit extract (GRN 1064, FDA no questions, 2023); used in supplements and as natural food preservative.

POMGNT1-related limb-girdle muscular dystrophy R15

POMGNT1-related limb-girdle muscular dystrophy R15 (LGMD R15, formerly LGMD2O) is a rare autosomal recessive dystroglycanopathy caused by biallelic POMGNT1 variants, with childhood or adolescent onset, proximal weakness, calf hypertrophy, and no observed cardiomyopathy.

Pompoir

Pompoir (Brazilian Portuguese: pompoarismo), also called kabazza or the Singapore kiss, is a sexual practice of training voluntary vaginal and pelvic floor muscle control for pleasure and orgasm, distinct from medical Kegel exercises and contraindicated in vaginismus.

POMT1-related limb-girdle muscular dystrophy R11

POMT1-related limb-girdle muscular dystrophy R11 (LGMD2K, MDDGC1) is an autosomal recessive LGMD from biallelic POMT1 variants at 9q34.13 impairing α-dystroglycan O-mannosylation, causing proximal weakness, high creatine kinase, microcephaly, and cognitive impairment.

POMT2-related limb-girdle muscular dystrophy R14

LGMDR14 (formerly LGMD2N, OMIM 613158) is a rare autosomal recessive limb-girdle muscular dystrophy caused by POMT2 variants impairing alpha-dystroglycan O-mannosylation, with proximal weakness, calf hypertrophy, and variable cognitive involvement.