MEDIASTINOPERICARDITIS Meaning and
Definition
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Mediastinopericarditis is a medical term used to describe inflammation that occurs in both the mediastinum and pericardium, two anatomical regions within the chest cavity. The mediastinum refers to the central compartment of the chest, which contains vital structures such as the heart, major blood vessels, esophagus, trachea, and lymph nodes. On the other hand, the pericardium is a double-layered membrane that encloses the heart.
The inflammation of these two regions simultaneously can lead to mediastinopericarditis. This condition often arises from various causes, including infections, autoimmune disorders, injury or trauma, malignancies, or as a complication of certain medical procedures. It may also occur as a result of the spread of an infection or inflammation from neighboring areas, such as the lungs or esophagus.
Symptoms of mediastinopericarditis can differ depending on the underlying cause; however, they often include chest pain, difficulty breathing, cough, fever, and general malaise. Diagnosis typically involves a thorough physical examination, medical history assessment, blood tests, imaging studies (such as chest X-ray or CT scan), and sometimes, a pericardial fluid analysis.
Treatment for mediastinopericarditis usually involves addressing the underlying cause and managing the inflammation. This may include the administration of medications such as antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, or corticosteroids. In severe cases, drainage of the pericardial fluid may be necessary to relieve symptoms and prevent complications like cardiac tamponade.
Overall, mediastinopericarditis is a condition characterized by inflammation in both the mediastinum and pericardium, requiring appropriate diagnosis and treatment to alleviate symptoms and promote recovery
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Inflammation of the outer layer of the pericardium and of the surrounding mediastinal cellular tissue.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for MEDIASTINOPERICARDITIS
- mediastinopurricarditis
- m ediastinopericarditis
- me diastinopericarditis
- med iastinopericarditis
- medi astinopericarditis
- media stinopericarditis
- medias tinopericarditis
- mediast inopericarditis
- mediasti nopericarditis
- mediastin opericarditis
- mediastinope ricarditis
- mediastinoper icarditis
- mediastinoperi carditis
- mediastinoperic arditis
- mediastinoperica rditis
- mediastinopericar ditis
- mediastinopericard itis
- mediastinopericardi tis
- mediastinopericardit is
- mediastinopericarditi s
Etymology of MEDIASTINOPERICARDITIS
The word "mediastinopericarditis" is composed of three main elements: mediastino-, pericard-, and -itis.
1. Mediastino-: This prefix is derived from the Latin word "mediastinus", which refers to the middle region of the chest cavity known as the mediastinum. The mediastinum is the space between the two pleural sacs that contain the lungs and includes various structures such as the heart, thymus, blood vessels, and nerves.
2. Pericard-: This term is derived from the Greek word "perikardion", which consists of "peri-" meaning "around" and "kardia" meaning "heart". The pericardium is a double-layered sac that surrounds and protects the heart.
3. -itis: This suffix is derived from the Greek word "-itis", meaning inflammation.
