subacute combined degeneration of spinal cord (redirected from Lichtheim's disease)

degeneration /de·gen·er·a·tion/ (de-jen″er-a´shun) deterioration; change from a higher to a lower form, especially change of tissue to a lower or less functionally active form.degen´erative

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ascending degeneration  wallerian degeneration affecting centripetal nerve fibers and progressing toward the brain or spinal cord.

calcareous degeneration  degeneration of tissue with deposit of calcareous material.

caseous degeneration  caseation (2).

cerebromacular degeneration  (CMD), cerebroretinal degeneration

1. degeneration of brain cells and of the macula retinae.

2. any lipidosis with cerebral lesions and degeneration of the macula retinae.

3. any form of neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis.

congenital macular degeneration  hereditary macular degeneration with a cystlike lesion that in the early stages resembles egg yolk.

Crooke's hyaline degeneration  Crooke's hyalinization.

descending degeneration  wallerian degeneration extending peripherally along nerve fibers.

disciform macular degeneration  a form of macular degeneration seen in persons over age 40, in which sclerosis involving the macula and retina is produced by hemorrhages between Bruch's membrane and the pigment epithelium.

fibrinous degeneration  necrosis with deposit of fibrin within the cells of the tissue.

gray degeneration  degeneration of the white substance of the spinal cord, in which it loses myelin and assumes a gray color.

hepatolenticular degeneration  Wilson's disease.

hyaline degeneration  a regressive change in cells in which the cytoplasm takes on a homogeneous, glassy appearance; also used loosely to describe the histologic appearance of tissues.

lattice degeneration of retina  an often bilateral, usually benign asymptomatic condition, characterized by patches of fine gray or white intersecting lines in the peripheral retina, usually with numerous round punched-out areas of retinal thinning or retinal holes.

macular degeneration  degenerative changes in the macula retinae.

mucoid degeneration  that with deposit of myelin and lecithin in the cells.

myxomatous degeneration  degeneration in which mucus accumulates in connective tissues.

spongy degeneration of central nervous system , spongy degeneration of white matter a rare hereditary form of leukodystrophy of early onset in which widespread demyelination and vacuolation of cerebral white matter gives it a spongy appearance; there is mental retardation, megalocephaly, atony of neck muscles, limb spasticity, and blindness, with death in infancy.

striatonigral degeneration  a form of multiple system atrophy with nerve cell degeneration mainly in the region of the substantia nigra and the neostriatum; symptoms are similar to those of parkinsonism.

subacute combined degeneration of spinal cord  degeneration of posterior and lateral columns of the spinal cord, with various motor and sensory disturbances; it is due to vitamin B12 deficiency and usually associated with pernicious anemia.

tapetoretinal degeneration  degeneration of the pigmented layer of the retina.

transneuronal degeneration  atrophy of certain neurons after interruption of afferent axons or death of other neurons to which they send their efferent output.

Zenker's degeneration  hyaline degeneration and necrosis of striated muscle.

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subacute combined degeneration of spinal cord

n.

The degeneration of the posterior and lateral columns of the spinal cord caused by a deficiency of vitamin B₁₂ and usually associated with pernicious anemia, resulting in a prickling or burning sensation of the skin and a loss of coordination. Also called Putnam-Dana syndrome, vitamin B₁₂ neuropathy.