ectasia

6 synonyms and 2 antonyms for ectasia, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — In medicine, the abnormal widening or stretching of a tube-shaped or hollow structure in the body, such as a duct, blood vessel or airway.

Synonyms

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

dilatation dilation distension ectasis corneal ectasia keratectasia

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun medical

In medicine, the abnormal widening or stretching of a tube-shaped or hollow structure in the body, such as a duct, blood vessel or airway.

“The mammogram showed duct ectasia rather than a tumour.”

dilatation dilation distension ectasis

Opposites

stenosis stricture

2. noun medical

In eye care, progressive thinning and forward bulging of the cornea, which distorts vision; it may occur on its own or as a complication of laser eye surgery.

“Post-LASIK ectasia is rare but is screened for before surgery.”

corneal ectasia keratectasia

How to use ectasia

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

duct ectasia mammary duct ectasia corneal ectasia annuloaortic ectasia post-LASIK ectasia

Clinical term; patients usually meet it in radiology and mammogram reports.

Etymology

From Greek 'ektasis', meaning stretching out or extension, from 'ek-' (out) and 'teinein' (to stretch).

Full origin of ectasia →

Frequently asked questions

Is ectasia the same as cancer?

No. Ectasia simply means a passage or vessel has widened, and it is a benign structural change. Duct ectasia of the breast, for example, can cause discharge and a lump-like feel but is not cancerous, though a doctor will normally image it to rule cancer out.

What is the difference between ectasia and aneurysm?

Both describe a vessel that has widened, but an aneurysm is a localised balloon-like bulge, usually defined as more than 50 per cent above normal diameter, and carries a risk of rupture. Ectasia is a milder, more diffuse widening along a stretch of the vessel.

How is ectasia treated?

Treatment depends on the site. Mammary duct ectasia often needs nothing more than monitoring, while corneal ectasia may be treated with rigid contact lenses or corneal cross-linking to stiffen the tissue.

People also searched

stenosis stricture keratectasia dilatation dilation

Nearby words

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