Peliosis

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A pathological state marked by the occurrence of cystic masses filled with blood within the liver or other body tissues
2. This condition involves the formation of vascular lesions associated with hematomas in organs, potentially disrupting normal function
3. A disease characterized by clusters of blood-filled cavities forming within organs such as the liver

Etymology: Peliosis comes from Greek "peliosis", formed from "pelios", meaning "livid" or "dark-coloured", a word that also gave rise to the medical sense of a discoloured, bruise-like mark. The suffix "-osis" in Greek denotes a condition or abnormal state, so the whole term describes a state of being dark or bruised. The term is applied in pathology to a condition in which an organ, most often the liver or spleen, becomes riddled with blood-filled cavities. The cavities are spaces that fill with blood, giving the tissue a spongy, bloodsoaked appearance that doctors can see on examination.