abscess
abscess (ab-sis) n. a collection of pus and necrotic tissue enclosed by damaged and inflamed tissues. acute a. an abscess associated with pain, inflammation, and some fever. apical a. an abscess in the bone around the tip of the root of a tooth. Brodie's a. a chronic abscess of bone that develops from acute bacterial osteomyelitis. cerebral a. an abscess resulting from infection of the brain or its meninges. cold or chronic a. an abscess, usually due to tuberculosis bacilli, in which there is little pain or inflammation. psoas a. a cold abscess in the psoas muscle (in the groin), which has spread from diseased vertebrae in the lower part of the spine. subphrenic a. an abscess in the space below the diaphragm, usually resulting from a spread of infection from the abdomen. tropical (or amoebic) a. an abscess of the liver caused by infection with Entamoeba histolytica. See also ischiorectal abscess.
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abscess
