Stenotic

Stenotic is an adjective used to describe conditions characterized by stenosis, the abnormal narrowing of a tubular structure such as a blood vessel, airway, duct, or valve. The word comes from the Greek stenos, meaning narrow.

Common contexts include stenotic heart valves (such as aortic stenosis and mitral stenosis), stenotic arteries (including coronary, carotid, and peripheral arteries), stenotic airways (tracheal or bronchial stenosis), ureteral stenosis, and biliary or intestinal stenosis. Stenosis reduces flow and increases resistance, with symptoms determined by the affected site.

Causes include congenital malformations, atherosclerosis, inflammatory or post-inflammatory scarring, trauma or surgical injury, tumors, and radiation-induced fibrosis. The degree of narrowing and the location determine the clinical impact. Some stenoses progress over time, while others remain relatively stable.

Diagnosis relies on imaging and functional testing, such as ultrasound and Doppler studies for vessels, CT or MR angiography, invasive angiography, and endoscopy for luminal stenosis. Treatment ranges from observation and medical therapy to procedures that restore patency, including balloon angioplasty, stenting, valve repair or replacement, or surgical resection of a stenotic segment.

In medical reporting, stenotic describes a lesion or condition that causes narrowing, with severity often noted by location and degree of narrowing.