Stenosis () is the abnormal narrowing of a blood vessel or other tubular organ or structure such as foramina and canals. It is also sometimes called a stricture (as in urethral stricture).
Stricture as a term is usually used when narrowing is caused by contraction of smooth muscle (e.g. achalasia, prinzmetal angina); stenosis is usually used when narrowing is caused by lesion that reduces the space of lumen (e.g. atherosclerosis).
Restenosis is the recurrence of stenosis after a procedure.
Examples
Examples of vascular stenotic lesions include:
-
Intermittent claudication (peripheral artery stenosis)
-
Angina pectoris (coronary artery stenosis)
-
Carotid artery stenosis which predispose to ( and transient ischaemic episodes)
-
Renal artery stenosis
Types
In heart valves
The types of stenoses in [[heart valve]]s are:
-
Pulmonary valve stenosis, which is the thickening of the pulmonary valve, therefore causing narrowing
-
Mitral valve stenosis, which is the thickening of the mitral valve (of the left heart), therefore causing narrowing
-
Tricuspid valve stenosis, which is the thickening of the tricuspid valve (of the right heart), therefore causing narrowing
-
Aortic valve stenosis, which is the thickening of the aortic valve, therefore causing narrowing
Elsewhere
Stenoses/strictures of other bodily structures/organs include:
Causes
Diagnosis
Stenoses of the
Blood vessel type are often associated with
bruit resulting from turbulent flow over the narrowed blood vessel. This sound can be made audible by a
stethoscope, but diagnosis is generally made or confirmed with some form of
medical imaging (such as
ultrasound).
See also
External links
