Stenosis

Stenosis
Other names	Stenoses
CT scanof abronchialstenosis (arrow) that resulted fromtracheobronchial injury
Pronunciation	/stəˈnoʊsɪs/

Stenosis(fromAncient Greekστενός(stenós)'narrow') is the abnormal narrowing of ablood vesselor other tubularorganor structure such as foramina and canals. It is also sometimes called astricture(as inurethral stricture).

Strictureas a term is usually used when narrowing is caused by contraction ofsmooth muscle(e.g.achalasia,prinzmetal angina);stenosisis usually used when narrowing is caused by lesion that reduces the space oflumen(e.g.atherosclerosis).The termcoarctationis another synonym,but is commonly used only in the context ofaortic coarctation.

Restenosisis the recurrence of stenosis after a procedure.

Examples

Examples of vascular stenotic lesions include:

• Intermittent claudication(peripheral artery stenosis)
• Angina(coronary artery stenosis)
• Carotid artery stenosiswhich predispose to (strokesandtransient ischaemic episodes)
• Renal artery stenosis

Types

In heart valves

The types of stenoses inheart valvesare:

• Pulmonary valve stenosis,which is the thickening of thepulmonary valve,therefore causing narrowing
• Mitral valve stenosis,which is the thickening of themitral valve(of theleft heart), therefore causing narrowing
• Tricuspid valve stenosis,which is the thickening of thetricuspid valve(of theright heart), therefore causing narrowing
• Aortic valve stenosis,which is the thickening of theaortic valve,therefore causing narrowing

Elsewhere

Stenoses/strictures of other bodily structures/organs include:

• Pyloric stenosis(gastricoutflow obstruction)
• Lumbar,cervicalor thoracicspinal stenosis
• Subglottic stenosis(SGS)
• Tracheal stenosis
• Obstructive jaundice(biliary tractstenosis)
• Bowel obstruction
• Phimosis
• Non-communicating hydrocephalusdue toaqueductal stenosis
• Stenosing tenosynovitis
• Atherosclerosis
• Esophageal stricture
• Achalasia
• Prinzmetal angina
• Vaginal stenosis
• Meatal stenosis
• Anal stricture
• Rectal stricture

Causes

• alcohol
• atherosclerosis
• birth defects
• calcification
• diabetes
• headbanging
• iatrogenic
• infection
• inflammation
• ischemia
• neoplasm
• smoking
• ureteral
• urethral

Diagnosis

Stenoses of thevasculartype are often associated withunusual blood soundsresulting from turbulent flow over the narrowed blood vessel. This sound can be made audible by astethoscope,but diagnosis is generally made or confirmed with some form ofmedical imaging(such asultrasound).

See also

• Atresia
• Spinal stenosis

External links

• "Tracheal Stenosis Audio and Video".Archived fromthe originalon 2007-01-12.
• "Symptoms of Urethral Stricture".20 May 2011.Archivedfrom the original on July 17, 2016.