Biology:Ectasia

Short description: Medical condition consisting of the dilation or distension of a tube, duct, or hollow organ

Ectasia (/ɛkˈteɪʒə/), also called ectasis (/ˈɛktəsɪs/), is dilation or distention of a tubular structure, either normal or pathophysiologic but usually the latter (except in atelectasis, where absence of ectasis is the problem).

Specific conditions

• Bronchiectasis, chronic dilatation of the bronchi
• Duct ectasia of breast, a dilated milk duct. Duct ectasia syndrome is a synonym for nonpuerperal (unrelated to pregnancy and breastfeeding) mastitis.
• Dural ectasia, dilation of the dural sac surrounding the spinal cord, usually in the very low back.
• Pyelectasis, dilation of a part of the kidney, most frequently seen in prenatal ultrasounds. It usually resolves on its own.
• Rete tubular ectasia, dilation of tubular structures in the testicles. It is usually found in older men.
• Acral arteriolar ectasia
• Corneal ectasia (secondary keratoconus), a bulging of the cornea.

Vascular ectasias

• Most broadly, any abnormal dilatation of a blood vessel, including aneurysms
• Annuloaortic ectasia, dilation of the aorta. It can be associated with Marfan syndrome.
• Dolichoectasias, weakening of arteries, usually caused by high blood pressure.
• Intracranial dolichoectasias, dilation of arteries inside the head.
• Gastric antral vascular ectasia, dilation of small blood vessels in the last part of the stomach.
• Telangiectasias are small dilated blood vessels found anywhere on the body, but commonly seen on the face around the nose, cheeks, and chin.
• Venous ectasia, dilation of veins or venules, such as:
  • Chronic venous insufficiency, often in the leg
  • Jugular vein ectasia, in the jugular veins returning blood from the head