Disease or Syndrome
gangrene
gan·grene [ gang-green, gang-green ]
Subclass of:
Necrosis
Etymology:
Greek gangraina = an eating sore
Definitions related to gangrene:
-
A serious and potentially life-threatening condition that arises when a considerable mass of body tissue dies (necrosis).Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO)The Human Phenotype Ontology Project, 2021
-
Death and decay of body tissue, often occurring in a limb, caused by insufficient blood supply and usually following injury or disease.CRISP ThesaurusNational Institutes of Health, 2006
-
Death and putrefaction of tissue usually due to a loss of blood supply.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
-
Death of tissue in part of the body because blood has stopped flowing there.Harvard Dictionary of Health TermsHarvard Medical Publishing, 2011
-
Death of tissue, usually in considerable mass and generally associated with loss of vascular (nutritive) supply and followed by bacterial invasion and putrefaction.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
-
Gangrene is the death of tissues in your body. It happens when a part of your body loses its blood supply. Gangrene can happen on the surface of the body, such as on the skin, or inside the body, in muscles or organs. Causes include Serious injuries; Problems with blood circulation, such as atherosclerosis and peripheral arterial disease; Diabetes. Skin symptoms may include a blue or black color, pain, numbness, and sores that produce a foul-smelling discharge. If the gangrene is internal, you may run a fever and feel unwell, and the area may be swollen and painful. Gangrene is a serious condition. It needs immediate attention. Treatment includes surgery, antibiotics, and oxygen therapy. In severe cases an amputation may be necessary.MedlinePlusU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
-
Gangrene refers to the death of body tissue due to either a lack of blood flow or a serious bacterial infection. Gangrene commonly affects the extremities, including your toes, fingers and limbs, but it can also occur in your muscles and internal organs.Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
-
Gangrene is a complication of necrosis characterized by the decay of body tissues. There are two major categories: infectious gangrene (wet gangrene) and ischemic gangrene (dry gangrene). The condition may result from ischemia, infection, or trauma (or a combination of these processes). Ischemia may result from either arterial or venous...Athenahealth, Inc., 2019
-
Gangrene, localized death of animal soft tissue, caused by prolonged interruption of the blood supply that may result from injury or infection. Diseases in which gangrene is prone to occur include arteriosclerosis, diabetes, Raynaud's disease, thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger's disease), and...Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2020
Return to OpenMD Medical Dictionary
> G
This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.