miliary tuberculosis
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A severe, acute, and often disseminated form of tuberculosis. It is characterized by the formation of numerous tiny, millet-seed-sized (1-2 mm) lesions, called tubercles, throughout the body. This condition arises when tubercle bacilli spread via the bloodstream from an initial site of infection to seed multiple organs.
Usage
- Miliary tuberculosis is a serious medical diagnosis requiring immediate treatment.
- The chest X-ray showed a classic "miliary" pattern, leading to a suspicion of miliary tuberculosis.
- Disseminated miliary tuberculosis can affect the lungs, liver, brain, and other organs.
Advanced Usage
- The term "miliary" itself is an adjective derived from the Latin , meaning "millet," describing the size and appearance of the lesions. In medical terminology, "miliary" is almost exclusively used in conjunction with "tuberculosis" or, less commonly, with other disseminated infections (e.g., miliary coccidioidomycosis).
- Miliary tuberculosis can be a complication of primary tuberculosis infection or the reactivation of a latent infection.
Variants and Related Words
- Disseminated tuberculosis: A broader term often used synonymously with miliary tuberculosis, emphasizing the widespread nature of the infection.
- Tubercle: The small, nodular lesion characteristic of tuberculosis.
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis: The bacterial agent that causes tuberculosis, including the miliary form.
Synonyms
- Disseminated tuberculosis
- Hematogenous tuberculosis (specifying spread via the blood)
Notes on Meaning
This term refers specifically to a pathological pattern of disease spread and presentation. It is not a different disease from tuberculosis but rather a specific, severe manifestation of it. The defining feature is the widespread distribution of small, uniform lesions.
Noun
- acute tuberculosis characterized by the appearance of tiny tubercles on one or more organs of the body (presumably resulting from tubercle bacilli being spread in the bloodstream)