sclerosis
(sklĕ-rō'sĭs 
)
[Gr. sklērōsis, hardening]
A hardening or induration of an organ or tissue, esp. one due to excessive growth of fibrous tissue.
SEE: arteriosclerosis; cerebrosclerosis.
sclerotic,
(-rot'ik )
ABBR: ALS
Motor neuron disease.annular s.Sclerosis in which a hardened substance forms a band about the spinal cord.
arteriolar s.Sclerosis of the arterioles.
diffuse s.Sclerosis affecting large areas of the brain and spinal cord.
hippocampal s.Scar tissue in the hippocampus of the brain. It is a surgically correctable form of temporal lobe epilepsy.
hyperplastic s.Medial sclerosis.
lateral s.Sclerosis of the lateral column of the spinal cord.
SEE: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
lobar s.Sclerosis of the cerebrum resulting in mental disturbances.
medial s.Sclerosis involving the tunica media of arteries, usually the result of involutional changes accompanying aging. SYN: hyperplastic sclerosis.
ABBR: MTS
Atrophy of neurons and scarring in the temporal lobe of the brain, typically in the hippocampus. It is both a cause and an effect of temporal lobe epilepsy. Some patients with focal seizures and a clearly defined area of MTS have significant improvement in seizure activity when the affected area of the temporal lobe is surgically removed.ABBR: MS
SEE: under multiple sclerosis.
myelinoclastic diffuse s.Schilder disease.
neural s.Sclerosis with chronic inflammation of a nerve trunk with branches.
nuclear s.An increase in the refractive index of the eye's crystalline lens, which culminates in the development of nuclear cataracts. Before the cataract fully opacifies, the patient's near vision may improve, a phenomenon known as senopia or second sight.
ABBR: PSS
A chronic disease of unknown cause that occurs four times as frequently in women as in men. It causes sclerosis of the skin and other organs, including the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, heart, and kidneys. The skin is taut, firm, and edematous and is firmly bound to subcutaneous tissue, which often causes limitation of the range of motion. The skin also feels tough and leathery, may itch, and later becomes hyperpigmented. The skin changes usually precede the development of signs of visceral involvement.SEE: CREST syndrome.
SYN: systemic sclerosis.There is no specific therapy. General supportive therapy is indicated. Many drugs have been used, including corticosteroids, vasodilators, d-penicillamine, and immunosuppressive agents. Physical therapy will help maintain range of motion and muscular strength but will not influence the course of joint disease.
systemic s.Progressive systemic sclerosis.
ABBR: TS
An autosomal dominant disorder in which multiple benign tumors appear in the skin, brain, heart, and kidneys of affected children. Infants born with this disease may have facial angiofibromas, astrocytomas of the central nervous system, hamartomas of the retina, and other lesions, producing hydrocephalus, mental retardation, autism, and seizures. The disease may be diagnosed from the clinical appearance of the child and with genetic testing for the genes responsible for the syndrome. SYN: Bourneville disease; tuberous sclerosis complex.