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Glite Dictionary
megacolon

megacolon

1 9.2
A much larger than normal colon that may be present at birth or develop later
  • noun
  • /ˈmɛɡəˌkoʊlən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : megacolon
  • Early diagnosis of megacolon is crucial for effective treatment to prevent complications.

Examples

  • Patients with megacolon often experience difficulty with bowel movements.

  • Nonetheless, at 2 a.m., when an 85-year-old woman with Alzheimer's dementia, COPD, and acute kidney injury is brought in from her nursing home with toxic megacolon, it is the surgeon who must help the patient's family understand that she is dying, which is the context for making a surgical decision.

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  • The doctor explained that a megacolon can cause severe abdominal pain and discomfort.

Synonyms

congenital megacolon
vsmegacolon
  • Specialized
8.4

A condition at birth where part of the large intestine lacks nerves and grows too large to move stool

is broader, covers colon enlargement that may be present from birth or occur later

Compounds

congenital megacolon
  • Specialized
8.4

A condition at birth where part of the large intestine lacks nerves and grows too large to move stool

Surface Forms

megacolon singular
megacolons plural

Morphology

megacolon = colon (semi-transparent) = mega + colon

The word is built transparently from 'mega-' meaning very large and 'colon', but the specialized medical sense is somewhat technical.

Etymology

The word megacolon comes from the parts mega- meaning 'large' and colon meaning 'the large intestine', so it literally means 'large colon'. So, a megacolon is an unusually large colon, which is why doctors use the word for a colon that becomes enlarged and can cause swelling.