pl. necroses [Gr. nekrōsis, (state of) death]
The death of cells, tissues, or organs. Necrosis may be caused by insufficient blood supply, pathogenic microorganisms, physical agents such as trauma or radiant energy (electricity, infrared, ultraviolet, roentgen, and radium rays), and chemical agents acting locally, acting internally after absorption, or placed into the wrong tissue. Some medicines cause necrosis if injected into the tissues rather than the vein, and some, such as iron dextran, cause necrosis if injected into areas other than deep muscle or vein.
NECROSIS Necrotic wound of the foot; SEE: gangrene; SEE: mortification
necrotizing (nek′rŏ-tīz″ing), adj.
acute esophageal necrosis
acute tubular necrosis
ABBR: ATN Acute damage to the renal tubules; usually due to ischemia associated with shock.
SEE: acute renal failure
Necrosis due to inadequate blood flow to a body part.
Necrosis without infection, e.g., as a result of trauma or drug use.
Balser fatty necrosis
Necrosis with soft, dry, cheeselike formation, seen in diseases such as tuberculosis or syphilis.
SYN: SEE: cheesy necrosis
Necrosis that affects only the center of a body part.
SEE: Caseous necrosis.
Necrosis occurring esp. in infarcts. Coagulation occurs in the necrotic area, converting it into a homogeneous mass and depriving the organ or tissue of blood.
SYN: SEE: fibrinous necrosis; SEE: ischemic necrosis
Necrosis caused by liquefaction of tissue due to autolysis or bacterial putrefaction.
SYN: SEE: liquefactive necrosis
SEE: Dry gangrene.
Necrosis due to an embolic occlusion of an artery.
Necrosis of fatty tissues, seen, for example, in patients with severe cases of pancreatitis.
Necrosis in small scattered areas, often seen in infection.
Necrosis forming a dry rubbery mass resulting from syphilis.
Necrosis of cells in the tunica media of an artery.
Necrosis with softening and wetness of the dead tissue.
postpartum pituitary necrosis
SEE: Sheehan syndrome.
progressive outer retinal necrosis
Retinal necrosis resulting from herpes zoster reactivation in immune-suppressed patients. It begins at the posterior pole of the retina but eventually may encompass the whole retina.
Necrosis due to bacterial decomposition.
Necrosis caused by radiation exposure.
subcutaneous fat necrosis of newborn
An inflammatory disorder of unknown cause affecting fat tissue that may occur in the newborn at the site of application of forceps during delivery and occasionally in premature infants.
Necrosis affecting only the outer layers of bone or any tissue.
Necrosis due to thrombus formation.
Necrosis affecting an entire organ or body part.
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