necrosis

(nĕ-krō′sĭs)

(nĕ-krō′sēz″)
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.

Descriptive text is not available for this image

NECROSIS Necrotic wound of the foot; SEE: gangrene; SEE: mortification
necrotizing (nek′rŏ-tīz″ing), adj.

acute esophageal necrosis

SEE: Necrotizing esophagitis.

acute tubular necrosis

ABBR: ATN Acute damage to the renal tubules; usually due to ischemia associated with shock.
SEE: acute renal failure

anemic necrosis

Necrosis due to inadequate blood flow to a body part.

aseptic necrosis

Necrosis without infection, e.g., as a result of trauma or drug use.

avascular necrosis

SEE: Osteonecrosis.

Balser fatty necrosis

SEE: Balser fatty necrosis

caseous necrosis

Necrosis with soft, dry, cheeselike formation, seen in diseases such as tuberculosis or syphilis.
SYN: SEE: cheesy necrosis

central necrosis

Necrosis that affects only the center of a body part.

cheesy necrosis

SEE: Caseous necrosis.

coagulation 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

colliquative necrosis

Necrosis caused by liquefaction of tissue due to autolysis or bacterial putrefaction.
SYN: SEE: liquefactive necrosis

dry necrosis

SEE: Dry gangrene.

embolic necrosis

Necrosis due to an embolic occlusion of an artery.

fat necrosis

Necrosis of fatty tissues, seen, for example, in patients with severe cases of pancreatitis.

fibrinous necrosis

SEE: Coagulation necrosis.

focal necrosis

Necrosis in small scattered areas, often seen in infection.

gummatous necrosis

Necrosis forming a dry rubbery mass resulting from syphilis.

ischemic necrosis

SEE: Coagulation necrosis.

liquefactive necrosis

SEE: Colliquative necrosis.

medial necrosis

Necrosis of cells in the tunica media of an artery.

moist necrosis

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.

putrefactive necrosis

Necrosis due to bacterial decomposition.

radiation necrosis

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.

superficial necrosis

Necrosis affecting only the outer layers of bone or any tissue.

thrombotic necrosis

Necrosis due to thrombus formation.

total necrosis

Necrosis affecting an entire organ or body part.

Zenker necrosis

SEE: Zenker, Friedrich Albert von