| diffuse gallbladder wall thickening | <radiology> Criterion: gall bladder wall greater than 3 mm may appear thicker due to surrounding ascites, cholecystitis (acute or chronic), non-fasting state, chronic hypoalbuminaemia, hepatitis, congestive heart failure, fat in gall bladder fossa Cf: focal thickening (12 Dec 1998) |
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| diffuse ganglion | A cystic swelling due to inflammatory effusion into one or several adjacent tendon sheaths. (05 Mar 2000) |
| diffuse glomerulonephritis | Glomerulonephritis affecting most of the renal glomeruli; it may lead to azotemia. (05 Mar 2000) |
| diffuse goiter | Goiter in which the morbid process involves the whole gland, as opposed to nodular goiter or thyroid adenoma. (05 Mar 2000) |
| diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis | A form of degenerative arthritis characteristically associated with flowing calcification along the sides of the vertebrae of the spine and commonly with inflammation (tendinitis) and calcification of the tendons at their attachments points to bone. Because areas of the spine and tendons can become inflamed, antiinflammatory medications (NSAIDs), such ibuprofen, can be helpful in both relieving pain and inflammation. Also called Forestier's disease. (12 Dec 1998) |
| diffuse interstitial fibrosis | Progressive fibrous changes and scarring within the lung tissue, eventually interfering with normal gas exchange. (27 Sep 1997) |
| diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis | This represents a group of pulmonary disorders (lower respiratory tract) that leads to a functional loss in the alveolar air sacs and a compromise in the diffusion of oxygen from air to blood. There is widespread inflammation and scar tissue (fibrosis) formation within the lung. The causes are varied and include: inorganic and organic dusts, gases, fumes, vapors, infections, radiation, medications, coal dust, silicosis and byssinosis. When the cause is not identifiable it is referred to as idiopathic diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis (27 Sep 1997) |
| diffuse leishmaniasis | Leishmaniasis caused by several New and Old World species and strains of Leishmania (L. Mexicana amazonensis, L. M. Pifanoi, possibly L. M. Garnhami and L. M. Venezuelensis; in Ethiopia, L. Aethiopica, and unidentified leishmanial agents in Namibia and Tanzania). The condition is associated with a suppressed cell-mediated immune response, so that the non-ulcerating, non-necrotizing cutaneous lesions can spread widely over the body; great numbers of parasite-filled macrophages are found in the dermal lesions. Healing does not appear to occur unless an acquired cellular hypersensitivity can develop. Synonym: anergic leishmaniasis, diffuse leishmaniasis, disseminated cutaneous leishmaniasis, leishmaniasis tegumentaria diffusa, pseudolepromatous leishmaniasis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| diffuse mastocytosis | Infiltration of many organ systems by mast cells with varied clinical manifestations that can include fever, weight loss, flushing, bronchospasm, rhinorrhoea, palpitations, dyspnea, diarrhoea, gastrointestinal bleeding, and hypotension. Synonym: systemic mastocytosis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| diffuse mesangial proliferation | <nephrology, pathology> Inflammation of the kidney glomerulus (blood filtering portion of the kidney) due to the abnormal deposition of IgM antibody in the mesangium layer of the glomerular capillary. A form of glomerulonephritis that appears to be caused by an abnormal immune response. This disorder generally manifests as nephrotic syndrome. Symptoms include swelling, dark urine, weight gain, hypertension, anorexia and bloody urine. Acronym: MPGN (05 Jan 1998) |
| diffuse nontoxic goitre | A common cause of hyperthyroidism thought to be caused by an underlying autoimmune mechanism. (27 Sep 1997) |
| diffuse obstructive emphysema | The major component of chronic obstructive lung disease. (05 Mar 2000) |
| diffuse oesophageal spasm | A disorder characterised by episodic contractions of the oesophagus. The oesophageal spasms fail to effectively propel food to the stomach. Symptoms may be confused with angina. Common symptoms include chest pains, epigastric pain, heartburn, pain on swallowing and difficulty swallowing. Treatment includes the use of sublingual nitroglycerin and calcium channel blockers. (27 Sep 1997) |
| diffuse osteosclerosis | <radiology> Mnemonic: 3M PROFS, renal osteodystrophy, metastasis, mastocytosis, myelofibrosis, sickle cell disease, osteopetrosis (Albers-Schoenberg disease), pyknodysostosis, fluorosis (12 Dec 1998) |
| diffuse panbronchiolitis | Idiopathic inflammation and obstruction of bronchioles, eventually accompanied by bronchiectasis; cases reported almost entirely from Japan. Synonym: diffuse panbronchiolitis. (05 Mar 2000) |