peripheral stem cell transplantation
(pir-if-er-ul stem sel tranz-plan-tay-shun)
A method of replacing blood-forming cells destroyed by cancer treatment. Immature blood cells (stem cells) in the circulating blood that are similar to those in the bone marrow are given after treatment to help the bone marrow recover and continue producing healthy blood cells. Transplantation may be autologous (an individual's own blood cells saved earlier), allogeneic (blood cells donated by someone else), or syngeneic (blood cells donated by an identical twin). Also called peripheral stem cell transplantation.
Read about blood cell counts.
Audio contributed by: Marisa Weiss, M.D.