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Veno-occlusive Disease of the Liver
2009-11-27 18:38:00
Veno-occlusive disease of the liver is blockage of the very small (microscopic) veins in the liver. Fluid tends to accumulate in the abdomen, the spleen may enlarge, and severe bleeding may occur in the esophagus. The skin and whites of the eyes may turn yellow, and the abdomen may enlarge. Doctors base the diagnosis on symptoms and results of Doppler ultrasonography. If possible, the cause is corrected or eliminated, and symptoms are treated. Veno-occlusive disease is similar to Budd-Chiari syndrome except that blood flow is blocked within (rather than outside of) the liver. That is, blockages do not affect the large hepatic veins and the inferior vena cava (the large vein that carries blood from the lower parts of the body, including the liver, to the heart). Veno-occlusive disease may occur at any age. It is more common among people who are malnourished. Because flow out of the liver is blocked, blood backs up in the liver. This backup (congestion) then reduces th...
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Portal Vein Thrombosis
2009-11-27 18:24:00
Portal vein obstruction results from thrombosis (blood clot) or narrowing of the portal vein, which brings blood to the liver from the intestines. Most people have no symptoms. Fluid may accumulate in the abdomen, the spleen may enlarge, and severe bleeding may occur in the esophagus. Doppler ultrasonography can usually confirm the diagnosis. If possible, the cause is treated, and drugs may be used to prevent the clot from enlarging or to dissolve the clot. Because the portal vein is narrowed or blocked, pressure in the portal vein increases. This increased pressure (called portal hypertension) causes the spleen to enlarge (splenomegaly). It also results in dilated, twisted (varicose) veins in the esophagus (esophageal varices) and often in the stomach (portal hypertensive gastropathy). These can bleed profusely. Fluid accumulation in the abdomen (called ascites) is not common but may develop when the blockage of the portal vein is accompanied by liver congestion or damag...
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Ischemic Cholangiopathy, Ischemic Hepatitis
2009-11-27 16:10:00
Ischemic CholangiopathyIschemic cholangiopathy is damage to one or more bile ducts caused by inadequate blood flow. Bile ducts (such as the hepatic ducts and the common bile duct), unlike the liver, are supplied with blood from only one major blood vessel, the hepatic artery. Thus, disruption of blood flow through the hepatic artery can prevent the bile ducts from obtaining enough oxygen. Consequently, the cells lining the ducts are damaged or die—a disorder called ischemic cholangiopathy. Blood flow can be disrupted by the following: Surgical trauma during liver transplantation or removal of the gallbladder by laparoscopy Injury from radiation therapy A disorder that makes blood more likely to clot (blood clotting disorder) A procedure to block a bleeding blood vessel that causes clot formation (embolization) Ischemic cholangiopathy is mostly commonly seen in those who have had a liver transplant. Symptoms and Diagnosis The damaged bile duct narrows (causing a s...

Congestive Hepatomegaly , Ischemic Cholangiopathy
2009-11-27 15:45:00
Congestive HepatomegalyCongestive hepatomegaly is a backup of blood in the liver, resulting from heart failure. Severe heart failure causes blood to back up from the heart into the inferior vena cava (the large vein that carries blood from the lower parts of the body to the heart). Such congestion increases pressure in this vein and other veins that carry blood to it, including the hepatic veins (which drain blood from the liver). If this pressure is high enough, the liver becomes engorged (congested) with blood and malfunctions. In most people, the congested liver causes only mild abdominal discomfort. The liver (in the upper right part of the abdomen) is tender and enlarged. In severe cases, the skin and whites of the eyes may turn yellow—a disorder called jaundice. Fluid may accumulate in the abdomen—a disorder called ascites. The spleen also tends to enlarge. If congestion is severe and chronic, liver damage or even severe scarring (cirrhosis) develops. Doctors suspec...

Budd-Chiari Syndrome
2009-11-27 14:03:00
Budd-Chiari syndrome is caused by blood clots that completely or partially block the large veins that carry blood from the liver (hepatic veins) into the inferior vena cava. Some people have no symptoms, but others experience fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea, and jaundice. Fluid may accumulate in the abdomen, the spleen may enlarge, and sometimes severe bleeding occurs in the esophagus. Doppler ultrasonography can detect narrowed or blocked veins. Drugs may be used to dissolve or decrease the size of the clot, or a connection may be made between veins to allow blood to bypass the liver. Budd-Chiari syndrome usually occurs when a clot narrows or blocks the hepatic veins. Because blood flow out of the liver is impeded, blood accumulates in the liver, causing it to enlarge. The spleen may also enlarge. The backup of blood (congestion) in the hepatic veins causes blood pressure in the portal vein to increase. This increased pressure, called portal hypertension, can result i...
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Porphyria
2009-11-25 16:28:00
Porphyria is a term that refers to a group of disorders—the porphyrias—that affect the nervous system or skin, or both. Each type of porphyria is due to the deficiency of one of the enzymes needed to make a substance in the body called heme. Enzymes are proteins that help chemical reactions happen in the body. Making heme involves a series of eight different enzymes, each acting in turn. Heme is a red pigment composed of iron linked to a chemical called protoporphyrin. Heme has important functions in the body. The largest amounts of heme are in the blood and bone marrow in the form of hemoglobin within red blood cells. Hemoglobin gives blood its red color and carries oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body. In the liver, heme is a component of proteins that have many functions, including breaking down hormones, drugs, and other chemicals and generating high-energy compounds that keep liver cells alive and functioning normally. The body makes heme mainly in the bone marr...

Liver Cysts and Tumors
2009-11-25 15:08:00
Liver cysts occur in approximately 5% of the population. However, only about 5% of these patients ever develop symptoms. In general, cysts are thin-walled structures that contain fluid. Most cysts are single, although some patients may have several. The symptoms associated with liver cysts include upper abdominal fullness, discomfort, or pain. A small number of patients bleed into the cyst, which causes sudden and severe right upper quadrant and shoulder pain. The bleeding stops on its own, and the pain then improves over the next several days. Liver cysts do not impair the liver’s ability to function. The cyst(s) are usually found by ultrasound (US) or computed tomography (CT scan). Simple liver cysts are always benign. The only patients who require treatment for a liver cyst(s) are those who develop symptoms. Simply removing the fluid from the cyst with a needle is not effective because the cyst fills up again within several days. The best treatment is to remove a large portion ...

Fatty Liver
2009-11-25 14:18:00
Explore this section to learn more about fatty liver, what effect it has upon the liver's condition and ability to function, and how it can lead to more serious liver disease. What is fatty liver?Fatty liver is just what its name suggests: the build-up of excess fat in the liver cells. It is normal for your liver to contain some fat. But if fat accounts for more than 10% of your liver’s weight, then you have fatty liverand you may develop more serious complications.Fatty liver may cause no damage, but sometimes the excess fat leads to inflammation of the liver. This condition, called steatohepatitis, does cause liver damage. Sometimes, inflammation from a fatty liver is linked to alcohol abuse; this is known as alcoholic steatohepatitis. Otherwise the condition is called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, or NASH.An inflamed liver may become scarred and hardened over time. This condition, called cirrhosis , is serious and often leads to liver failure.NASH is one of the ...

Cirrhosis of the Liver
2009-11-25 10:33:00
Cirrhosis refers to scarring of the liver. Scar tissue forms because of injury or long-term disease. It replaces healthy tissue. Scar tissue cannot do what healthy liver tissue does—make protein, help fight infections, clean the blood, help digest food, and store energy for when you need it. Scar tissue also blocks the normal flow of blood through the liver. Too much scar tissue means that your liver cannot work properly. To live, you need a liver that works. Cirrhosis can be life-threatening, but it can also be controlled if treated early.What are the symptoms of cirrhosis? You may have no symptoms at all in the early stages. As cirrhosis progresses you may feel tired or weaklose your appetitefeel sick to your stomachlose weight Cirrhosis can also lead to other problems. You may bruise or bleed easily, or have nosebleeds.Bloating or swelling may occur as fluid builds up in the abdomen or legs. Fluid build up in the abdomen is called ascites (ah-SI-teez) and in the legs is ...

Cholestasis
2009-11-24 17:56:00
Cholestasis is reduction or stoppage of bile flow. Disorders of the liver, bile duct, or pancreas can cause cholestasis.The skin and whites of the eyes look yellow, the skin itches, urine is dark, and stools may become light-colored and smell foul.Laboratory and often imaging tests are needed to identify the cause.Treatment depends on the cause, but drugs can help relieve itching. With cholestasis the flow of bile (the digestive fluid produced by the liver) is impaired at some point between the liver cells and the duodenum (the first segment of the small intestine). When bile flow is stopped, the pigment bilirubin (a waste product formed when old or damaged red blood cells are broken down) escapes into the bloodstream and accumulates. Causes The causes of cholestasis are divided into two groups: those originating within the liver and those originating outside the liver. Within the Liver: Causes include acute hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, primary ...

Biliary Atresia (BA)
2009-11-24 17:29:00
Biliary atresia is a disease of the bile ducts that affects only infants. Bile is a digestive liquid that is made in the liver. It travels through the bile ducts to the small intestine, where it helps digest fats.In biliary atresia, the bile ducts become inflamed and blocked soon after birth. This causes bile to remain in the liver, where it starts to destroy liver cells rapidly and cause cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver.What causes biliary atresia?The cause of this disease is not known. In some infants, the condition is most likely congenital, meaning present from birth. About one in 10 babies with biliary atresia have other congenital defects. Some research indicates that an early viral infection may be linked to biliary atresia.Scientists do know that biliary atresia is not hereditary; parents do not pass it on to their child. It is also not contagious, and it is not preventable. It is also not caused by anything an expectant mother did or did not do.What are the symptoms of b...

Ascites
2009-11-24 17:21:00
Ascites is the accumulation of protein-containing (ascitic) fluid in the abdominal cavity. Many disorders can cause ascites, but cirrhosis is the most common.If large amounts of fluid accumulate, the abdomen becomes very large, sometimes making people lose their appetite and feel short of breath.Analysis of the fluid can help determine the cause.Usually, bed rest, a low-salt diet, and diuretics help eliminate excess fluid. Ascites tends to occur in long-standing (chronic) rather than in short-lived (acute) disorders. It occurs most commonly in cirrhosis (severe scarring of the liver), especially in cirrhosis caused by alcoholism or viral hepatitis. It may occur in other liver disorders, such as severe alcoholic hepatitis without cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis, and obstruction of the hepatic vein (Budd-Chiari syndrome). Ascites can also occur in disorders unrelated to the liver, such as cancer, heart failure, kidney failure, inflammation of the pancreas (pan...

Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
2009-11-24 15:37:00
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (Alpha-1) is a hereditary genetic disorder which may lead to the development of lung and/or liver disease. It is the most common genetic cause of liver disease in children. Adults can also be affected by Alpha-1 and may develop lung conditions such as emphysema as well as liver problems. Fortunately, many persons diagnosed with Alpha-1 never develop any of the associated diseases. What are the symptoms of Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency?In newborns, the typical symptoms of Alpha-1 are jaundice, swelling of the abdomen, and poor feeding. Alpha-1 may also appear in late childhood or adulthood and be detected because of fatigue, poor appetite, swelling of the abdomen and legs or abnormal liver tests.What causes Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency?Alpha-1 antitrypsin is a protein made in the liver which plays an important role in preventing the breakdown of enzymes in various organs. Individuals with Alpha-1 have a genetic disorder that prevents their body from ...
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Alagille Syndrome
2009-11-24 14:17:00
Alagille syndrome is a rare, inherited disorder in which bile flow from the liver is decreased and the there are fewer than normal bile ducts. Alagille syndrome is a disorder that often affects the liver and other organs, including the heart, eyes, spine and kidneys. Often, patients with alagille syndrome have distinctive facial appearances. A small number of patients (about 15%) go on to develop severe liver disease and require liver transplantation. This disorder is usually present at birth. Alagille syndrome is one of the most common inherited disorders that causes reduced bile flow within the liver. It occurs about once in every 100,000 births. What are the causes of alagille syndrome? Recent studies have discovered that defects of a specific gene cause alagille syndrome. The disease usually is inherited from one parent. A single copy of the diseased gene (received from either the mother or father) "dominates" the other normal gene and results in this disease. Ther...
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Helicobacter Pylori
2009-11-23 17:39:00
This unusual name identifies a specific bacteria that can cause infection of the stomach. This infection can contribute to the development of diseases, such as dyspepsia (heartburn, bloating and nausea), gastritis (inflammation of the stomach), and ulcers in the stomach and duodenum. It will be useful to know some things about the upper digestive tract to understand how and where Helicobacter pylori infection can occur. When food is swallowed, it passes through the esophagus (the tube that connects the throat to the stomach). It then enters the larger upper part of the stomach. A strong acid that helps to break down the food is secreted in the stomach. The narrower, lower part of the stomach is called the antrum. The antrum contracts frequently and vigorously, grinding up the food and squirting it into the small intestine.The duodenum is the first part of the small intestine, just beyond the stomach. The stomach, including the antrum, is covered by a layer of mucous that protects i...

Dyspepsia
2009-11-23 16:52:00
Dyspepsia, also called indigestion, is a problem that most adults experience at least once in their lifetime. Upper abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, and belching are all symptoms of dyspepsia. Indigestion is often related to consumption of too much food, especially heavy or greasy foods, eating late at night, smoking, alcohol consumption, or life stress. For some individuals, dyspepsia occurs regularly and becomes a health and quality-of-life issue. The April 5, 2006, issue of JAMA includes an article about dyspepsia. SYMPTOMS · Upper abdominal discomfort · Sensation of bloating · Nausea with or without vomiting · Belching · Abdominal gas · Feeling full after eating small amounts (called early satiety WHEN TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR Because symptoms similar to those of dyspepsia may indicate a serious medical condition, you should see your doctor if you have indigestion on a regular basis. If you have bloody stools or vomit blood you should see a doct...

Pancreatitis
2009-11-20 18:10:00
The pancreas is a gland that sits behind the stomach. Larger than your gallbladder, but smaller than the liver, the pancreas plays a key role in the digestive system. Its juices join bile from the liver and gallbladder to drain into the small intestine. Specifically, the pancreas: Secretes digestive juices (enzymes and a substance called sodium bicarbonate) into the small intestine Produces the hormones, including insulin and glucagon, that control your body’s ability to use sugar The digestive substances split the fats, proteins, and carbohydrates into digestible molecules. What is Pancreatitis? Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. This condition usually begins at an acute stage, and in some cases, may become chronic after a severe and/or recurrent attack. When the pancreas becomes inflamed, the digestive enzymes attack the tissue that produces them. One of these enzymes, called trypsin, can cause tissue damage and bleeding, and can cause the pancreas blood cells and b...

Hirschsprung's Disease
2009-11-17 17:20:00
Hirschsprung's (say: "hersh-sprungz") disease is a birth defect that affects the large intestine (bowel). Normally, nerve cells called ganglion (say: "gang-glee-on") cells stimulate muscles in the intestine to push stools through the intestine and out of the body. A child born with Hirschsprung's disease is missing these nerve cells in a part of the intestine. As a result, stools do not move properly through the intestine and severe constipation and even bacterial infection can develop. Sometimes the ganglion cells are missing from just a small part of the large intestine near the anus. Other times, the cells may be missing from a large part of the large intestine. What causes Hirschsprung's disease? As a baby grows in the womb, the ganglion cells grow from the top of the intestine to the anus. When a baby has Hirschsprung's disease, these nerve cells don't grow all the way to the anus. Doctor's don't know why the nerve ...
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Intussusception
2009-11-17 16:56:00
Intussusception occurs when one portion of the bowel slides into the next, much like the pieces of a telescope. When this occurs, it creates an obstruction in the bowel, with the walls of the intestines pressing against one another. This, in turn, leads to swelling, inflammation, and decreased blood flow to the intestines involved. The most common cause of intestinal obstruction in children between the ages of 3 months and 6 years, intussusception: occurs most often in children between 5 and 10 months of age (80% occur before a child is 24 months old)affects between one and four infants out of 1,000is three to four times more common in boys than in girls Signs and Symptoms Children with an intussusception have intense abdominal pain, which often begins so suddenly that it causes loud, anguished crying and causes the child to draw the knees up to the chest. The pain is usually intermittent, but recurs and becomes stronger. As the pain subsides, a child with an intussusception may...

Esophageal Achalasia
2009-11-17 16:05:00
Esophageal achalasia is a primary esophageal motility disorder of unknown etiology, characterized by absence of esophageal peristalsis and increased or normal resting pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which fails to relax completely in response to swallowing. Clinical PresentationDysphagia is the most common symptom, experienced by virtually all patients. Regurgitation is the second most common symptom, and is present in about 60% of patients. It occurs more often in the supine position, and exposes the patients to the risk of aspiration of undigested food. Chest pain occurs in about 40% of patients, and is usually experienced at the time of a meal. Heartburn is experienced by about 40% of patients. In untreated patients this symptom is usually due to stasis and fermentation of food or esophageal distension. Diagnosis In addition to careful symptomatic evaluation, the following tests should be routinely performed: Barium swallow usually shows narrowing at the l...

Primary Hyperparathyroidism
2009-11-17 14:31:00
Primary Hyperparathyroidism is a metabolic disorder in which one (or more) of the parathyroid glands produces too much parathyroid hormone, which can result in the loss of bone tissue. Primary hyperparathyroidism affects 28 out of 100,000 people in the US each year, and is more prevalent in women than in men. A function of the parathyroid hormone is to keep blood-calcium levels from going too low by releasing calcium from bones, conserving calcium that would be excreted by the kidneys, and increasing calcium absorption from food. When the hormone overacts, the result is a rise in the blood-calcium level. When one parathyroid gland becomes enlarged, the condition is called adenoma. When more than one becomes enlarged, the condition is called hyperplasia. Both of these conditions are benign (non-cancerous). Too much parathyroid hormone causes too much calcium to be released from bone. What causes primary hyperparathyroidism?In some cases, no cause can be identified. Some known cau...
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Paget's Disease of the Bone
2009-11-16 15:50:00
Paget's disease of the bone is a chronic bone disorder in which bones become enlarged and deformed. Bone may become dense, but fragile, because of excessive breakdown and deformation of bone. The disease affects both genders, is rarely found in people under the age of 40, and occurs in up to 3 percent of the US population. What causes Paget's disease of the bone?The exact cause of Paget's disease of the bone is unknown, but it is suggested to be due to a slow viral infection of bone and may include a heredity factor. What are the symptoms of Paget's disease of the bone?The following are the most common symptoms of Paget's disease of the bone. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include: pain in the affected area bone deformity in the affected area susceptibility to fractures in the affected area headache (if the affected area is the skull) hearing loss (if the affected area is the skull) The symptoms of Paget's disease of the bone may...
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Osteogenesis Imperfecta
2009-11-13 14:38:00
Steogenesis Imperfecta (OI), also known as brittle-bone disease, is a genetic (inherited) disorder characterized by bones that break easily without a specific cause. An estimated 20,000 to 50,000 people in the US have this disease. The disorder occurs in one out of 20,000 to one out of 60,000 live births. OI can affect males and females of all races. What causes osteogenesis imperfecta?The cause of OI is believed to be due to a genetic defect that causes imperfectly-formed, or an inadequate amount of, bone collagen - a protein found in the connective tissue. What are the types and symptoms of OI?The following are the most common symptoms for osteogenesis imperfecta. However, each individual may experience symptoms differently. Although symptoms may vary, generally they are used to classify the four forms of OI, each of which represents the severity of the condition. According to the Osteoporosis and Related Bone Diseases National Resource Center, part of the National Institutes ...

Amebiasis, Ascariasis
2009-11-13 14:13:00
Amebiasis is an intestinal illness caused by a microscopic parasite called Entamoeba histolytica. Approximately 1,000 cases are reported each year in New York State. Who gets amebiasis? Anyone can get amebiasis, but it is recognized more often in people arriving from tropical or subtropical areas, individuals living in institutions, and men who have sex with men. How is amebiasis spread? Amebiasis is contracted by consuming contaminated food or water containing the cyst stage of the parasite. It can also be spread by person-to-person contact. What are the symptoms of amebiasis? People exposed to this parasite may experience mild or severe symptoms or no symptoms at all. Fortunately, most exposed people do not become seriously ill. The mild form of amebiasis includes nausea, loose stools, weight loss, abdominal tenderness and occasional fever. Rarely, the parasite will invade the body beyond the intestines and cause a more serious infection, such as a liver abscess. How soon after ex...

Fibrous Dysplasia
2009-11-12 15:09:00
Fibrous Dysplasia is a chronic disorder in which bone expands due to abnormal development of fibrous tissue, often resulting in one, or more, of the following: uneven growth of bones pain brittle bones bone deformity Any bone can be affected. More than one bone can be affected at any one time, and, when multiple bones are affected, it is not unusual for them to all be on one side of the body. However, fibrous dysplasia does not spread from one bone to another. The most commonly affected bones include the following: femur (thighbone) tibia (shin bone) ribs skull facial bones humerus (the bone of the upper arm) pelvis vertebrae in the spine (less often) Some people develop hormonal problems and a condition called McCune-Albright syndrome. McCune-Albright syndrome, another form of fibrous dysplasia, includes different symptoms, such as early onset of puberty and skin spots, called cafe-au-lait spots. Fibrous dysplasia usually occurs in children and young adults, and is found equal...

Ovarian cysts
2007-12-11 13:47:00
Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs or pockets within or on the surface of an ovary. The ovaries are two organs ? each about the size and shape of an almond ? located on each side of your uterus. Eggs (ova) develop and mature in the ovaries and are released in monthly cycles during your childbearing years.Many women have ovarian cysts at some time during their lives. Most ovarian cysts present little or no discomfort and are harmless. The majority of ovarian cysts disappear without treatment within a few months.However, ovarian cysts ? especially those that have ruptured ? sometimes produce serious symptoms. The best way to protect your health is to know the symptoms and types of ovarian cysts that may signal a more significant problem, and to schedule regular pelvic examinations.Signs and symptomsYou can't depend on symptoms alone to tell you if you have an ovarian cyst. In fact, you'll likely have no symptoms at all. Or if you do, the symptoms may be similar to those of other co...
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Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
2007-12-11 13:26:00
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a general term that refers to infection of the uterus (womb), fallopian tubes (tubes that carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus) and other reproductive organs. It is a common and serious complication of some sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), especially chlamydia and gonorrhea. PID can damage the fallopian tubes and tissues in and near the uterus and ovaries. Untreated PID can lead to serious consequences including infertility, ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy in the fallopian tube or elsewhere outside of the womb), abscess formation, and chronic pelvic pain.How Common is PID?Each year in the United States, it is estimated that more than 1 million women experience an episode of acute PID. More than 100,000 women become infertile each year as a result of PID, and a large proportion of the ectopic pregnancies occurring every year are due to the consequences of PID. Annually more than 150 women die from PID or its complications.How Do Women get...
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Women Reproductive Disorders - Ovaries Diseases - Premature Ovarian Failure
2007-12-11 13:26:00
Also called: POF, Primary ovarian insufficiencyPremature ovarian failure (POF) is when a woman's ovaries stop working before she is 40. POF used to be called premature menopause. However, POF is not the same as menopause. Some women with POF still have occasional periods. Premature menopause is when periods stop before age of 40. This can be natural or caused by surgery, chemotherapy or radiation.Missed periods are usually the first sign of POF. Later symptoms may be similar to those of natural menopause.Most women with POF cannot get pregnant naturally. Fertility treatments help a few women; others use donor eggs to have children. There is no treatment that will restore normal ovarian function. However, many health care providers suggest taking hormones until age 50.The term premature ovarian failure describes a stop in the normal functioning of the ovaries in a woman younger than age 40. Some people also use the term primary ovarian insufficiency to describe this condition. It is...
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Penile Cancer
2007-12-08 20:42:00
The penis contains several types of tissue, including skin, nerves, smooth muscle, and blood vessels. Running through the inside of the penis is a thin tube called the urethra. Urine and semen come out through the urethra. The head of the penis is called the glans. At birth, the glans is covered by a piece of skin called the foreskin, or prepuce. The foreskin is often removed in infant boys in an operation called circumcision.Inside the penis are 3 chambers that contain a soft, spongy network of blood vessels. Two of these cylinder-shaped chambers, known as the corpora cavernosa, lie on either side of the upper part of the penis. The third lies below them and is known as the corpus spongiosum. This chamber widens at its end to form the glans. The corpus spongiosum surrounds the urethra, a tube that carries urine from the bladder through the penis. The opening at the end of the urethra is called the meatus.When a man gets an erection, nerves signal to his body to store blood in the v...
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Urethral Stricture
2007-12-08 20:15:00
Urethral stricture is an abnormal narrowing of the urethra (the tube that releases urine from the body).CausesUrethral stricture may be caused by inflammation or scar tissue from surgery, disease, or injury. It may also be caused by external pressure from an enlarging tumor near the urethra, although this is rare.Increased risk is associated with men who have a history of sexually transmitted disease (STD), repeated episodes of urethritis, or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). There is also increased risk of urethral stricture after an injury or trauma to the pelvic region. Any instrument inserted into the urethra (such as a catheter or cystoscope) increases the chance of developing urethral strictures.Congenital (present at birth) pediatric strictures are rare, as are true strictures in women.SymptomsDysuria (painful urination)Difficulty urinatingSlow urine stream (may develop suddenly or gradually)Spraying of urine streamDecreased urine outputIncreased urinary frequency or urgenc...
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