Etymed
gliosis
Definition
Abnormal condition characterized by proliferation of glial cells, often as a response to brain or spinal cord injury or disease
Clinical context
A 65-year-old patient presents with slowly progressive memory loss and confusion over several months. MRI of the brain shows areas of increased signal intensity in the hippocampus and temporal lobes with surrounding edema. Histopathological examination reveals reactive astrocytes and increased glial cell proliferation. This finding is consistent with gliosis, which represents the brain's response to chronic injury or neurodegeneration.
Mnemonic
Gliosis = Glial proliferation in response to brain injury