gliosis
Pronunciation: glee-OH-sis
A pathological process involving proliferation and hypertrophy of glial cells in response to brain injury or disease.
Full Definition
Gliosis is a nonspecific reactive process in which glial cells (primarily astrocytes and microglia) proliferate and become hypertrophic in response to central nervous system injury, infection, or degeneration. This process represents the brain's primary mechanism for repairing tissue damage, similar to scar formation in other organs. Gliosis can be acute (reactive gliosis) or chronic (fibrillary gliosis) and varies in extent from focal to diffuse patterns. Neuroimaging, particularly MRI, can detect gliotic changes as areas of altered signal intensity. Medical editors frequently encounter this term in neuropathology reports, neuroimaging interpretations, and chronic neurological condition documentation. While gliosis serves a protective function, extensive gliotic scarring can impede neural regeneration and contribute to neurological dysfunction. The degree and distribution of gliosis often correlate with disease severity and prognosis.
Usage
Usage note: Reactive process, not a tumor; represents brain's response to injury or disease.
In Context
- "Histopathological examination revealed extensive gliosis surrounding the traumatic brain injury site." — Neuropathology report
- "FLAIR MRI sequences demonstrated bilateral periventricular gliosis consistent with chronic white matter disease." — Neuroradiology interpretation