What is meant by encephalomalacia and gliosis?

Leukoencephalomalacia refers to encephalomalacia of the white matter. Areas of encephalomalacia are often surrounded by a rim of gliosis, which is the proliferation or hypertrophy of glial cells in response to injury.

What does cystic encephalomalacia mean?

Multicystic encephalomalacia refers to the formation of multiple cystic cavities of various sizes in the cerebral cortex of neonates and infants after injury, most notably perinatal hypoxic-ischemic events. Chronic sinusitis has become one of the most common diseases in otolaryngology practice.

Can Encephalomalacia cause death?

It is difficult to determine if the affected parts of the brain can ever be functional after encephalomalcia has been treated. Encephalomalacia after head trauma is a serious condition with lifelong consequences and residual disability or even death from a terminal coma.

How serious is Encephalomalacia?

Encephalomalacia, a serious form of brain damage, is a softening of brain tissue that is caused by an injury or inflammation. The cerebral softening sometimes occurs in one part of the brain and then spreads to adjacent areas.

Does gliosis cause stroke?

Gliosis is a fibrous proliferation of glial cells in injured areas of the CNS. Gliosis and neuronal loss is prevalent in glioma as well as in many other human neurological disorders including MS, viral encephalitis, Alzheimer’s disease, traumatic brain injury, stroke, and cardiac arrest.

How quickly does encephalomalacia progress?

The US appearance of the brain may be normal within the first 2 weeks after the inciting event. After 10 to 14 days, the echogenicity of affected areas of deep white matter increases.

Can encephalomalacia cause memory loss?

Encephalomalacia can be caused by stroke or by severe brain swelling that interrupts cerebral blood flow. Signs and symptoms include severe headaches, dizziness, vertigo, memory loss and mood swings (if the frontal lobe of the brain is affected), diminished coordination, visual impairment, amongst others.