Gnocchi
Gnocchi
Gnocchi (pronounced: nyawk-kee; from Italian: gnocchi, singular gnocco) is a medical term used to describe a specific type of pathology in the field of radiology. It refers to a pattern seen on radiographic imaging, particularly in computed tomography (CT) scans, that resembles the Italian dumpling from which it gets its name.
Etymology
The term gnocchi is derived from the Italian word nocchio, meaning a knot in wood, or from nocca (meaning knuckle). In the medical context, it was first used by radiologists due to the visual similarity between the radiographic pattern and the Italian dumpling known as gnocchi.
Description
In radiology, a gnocchi pattern is characterized by multiple, small, round or oval opacities that are typically uniform in size and distributed evenly throughout the lungs. This pattern is often associated with certain types of pulmonary disease, including pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, sarcoidosis, and lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia.
Related Terms
- Radiology: The medical specialty that uses medical imaging to diagnose and treat diseases within the body.
- Pathology: The study of the causes and effects of disease or injury.
- Computed Tomography (CT): A type of imaging that uses special x-ray equipment to make cross-sectional pictures of the body.
- Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis: A rare lung condition in which a type of protein builds up in the air sacs (alveoli) of the lungs, making breathing difficult.
- Sarcoidosis: An inflammatory disease that affects multiple organs in the body, but mostly the lungs and lymph glands.
- Lymphocytic Interstitial Pneumonia: A form of interstitial lung disease that affects the interstitium of the lungs, causing inflammation and scarring.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Gnocchi
- Wikipedia's article - Gnocchi
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