pyloric stenosis

views updated

pyloric stenosis (py-lor-ik) n. narrowing of the pylorus. This causes delay in passage of the stomach contents to the duodenum, which leads to repeated vomiting. Pyloric stenosis in adults is caused by a peptic ulcer close to the pylorus or by a cancerous growth invading it. congenital hypertrophic p. s. pyloric stenosis that occurs in babies about 3–5 weeks old (particularly boys) in which the thickened pyloric muscle can be felt as a nodule. Treatment is by pyloromyotomy.

More From encyclopedia.com