Myelophthisis is a medical term that refers to the pathological replacement of bone marrow with fibrous tissue. The spelling of this word may appear daunting due to a combination of Greek and Latin roots. The IPA phonetic transcription can help us understand the pronunciation of this word as /maɪəloʊf'thaɪsɪs/, which breaks down into: MYELO (from Greek "myelos" meaning marrow) + PHTHISIS (from Latin "phthisis" meaning wasting away). Therefore, the word consists of three syllables and four consonant clusters, making it quite challenging to pronounce.
Myelophthisis is a medical term that refers to a condition characterized by the replacement and destruction of the normal bone marrow tissue by another substance. The term is derived from the Greek words "myelo," which means marrow, and "phthisis," which means wasting or consumption. It is often associated with the abnormal proliferation and infiltration of certain cells into the bone marrow, leading to its impairment and subsequent decline in its ability to produce normal blood cells.
When myelophthisis occurs, the bone marrow becomes increasingly fibrotic or infiltrated with abnormal cells such as cancer cells, metastatic tumor cells, or abnormal immune cells. Consequently, the normal production of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets is disrupted, which can result in a variety of symptoms and complications.
Common symptoms of myelophthisis may include anemia (low red blood cell count), fatigue, weakness, frequent infections (due to low white blood cell count), and easy bleeding or bruising (due to low platelet count). Depending on the underlying cause and severity of the condition, other symptoms such as bone pain, enlarged spleen or liver, and weight loss may also be present.
The diagnosis of myelophthisis typically involves a thorough medical history review, physical examination, blood tests, and bone marrow biopsy. Treatment options for myelophthisis depend on the underlying cause and may include addressing the primary condition causing the bone marrow infiltration, supportive care to manage symptoms, and, in some cases, bone marrow transplantation.
Wasting of the spinal cord, myelanalosis, tabes dorsalis. 2. Atrophy of the bone-marrow.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "myelophthisis" is derived from two Greek roots: "myelos", meaning "marrow", and "phthisis", meaning "consumption" or "wasting away". Together, "myelophthisis" refers to the wasting or degeneration of the bone marrow.