Contiguous

Contiguous refers to things that are in close proximity or touching along a boundary or at a point. In the context of medicine, it is often used to describe the spread of disease or infection from one area of the body to another adjacent area.

Definition

The term 'contiguous' is derived from the Latin word 'contiguus', which means 'touching or bordering upon'. In medical terminology, it is used to describe conditions or diseases that spread from one part of the body to an adjacent part. This can occur through direct contact, or through the spread of pathogens or cancer cells.

Examples in Medicine

There are several examples of contiguous spread in medicine. For instance, a skin infection can spread to adjacent areas of the skin. Similarly, cancer can spread contiguously, with cancer cells invading nearby tissues and organs.

In the context of infectious diseases, contiguous spread refers to the transmission of an infection from an initial site to a nearby area. This is common in respiratory infections, where the infection can spread from the throat to the lungs, or in skin infections, where the infection can spread to adjacent areas of skin.

Contiguous Spread vs. Non-Contiguous Spread

In contrast to contiguous spread, non-contiguous spread refers to the spread of disease to non-adjacent areas. This can occur through the bloodstream, lymphatic system, or other means. For example, cancer cells can break away from the primary tumor, travel through the bloodstream or lymphatic system, and form new tumors in distant parts of the body, a process known as metastasis.

Prevention and Treatment

Preventing contiguous spread of disease often involves early detection and treatment of the initial disease or condition. This may involve antibiotics for infections, or surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy for cancer.

Treatment of diseases that have spread contiguously often involves treating the underlying disease, as well as any secondary infections or complications that may have arisen as a result of the spread.

See Also

• Infection
• Cancer
• Metastasis
• Pathogens

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