Ectasia

Ectasia, also called ectasis , is dilation or distention of a tubular structure, either normal or pathophysiologic but usually the latter (except in atelectasis, where absence of ectasis is the problem).

Specific conditions

 * Bronchiectasis, chronic dilatation of the bronchi
 * Duct ectasia of breast, a dilated milk duct. Duct ectasia syndrome is a synonym for nonpuerperal (unrelated to pregnancy and breastfeeding) mastitis.
 * Dural ectasia, dilation of the dural sac surrounding the spinal cord, usually in the very low back.
 * Pyelectasis, dilation of a part of the kidney, most frequently seen in prenatal ultrasounds. It usually resolves on its own.
 * Rete tubular ectasia, dilation of tubular structures in the testicles. It is usually found in older men.
 * Acral arteriolar ectasia
 * Corneal ectasia (secondary keratoconus), a bulging of the cornea.


 * Vascular ectasias
 * Most broadly, any abnormal dilatation of a blood vessel, including aneurysms
 * Annuloaortic ectasia, dilation of the aorta. It can be associated with Marfan syndrome.
 * Dolichoectasias, weakening of arteries, usually caused by high blood pressure.
 * Intracranial dolichoectasias, dilation of arteries inside the head.
 * Gastric antral vascular ectasia, dilation of small blood vessels in the last part of the stomach.
 * Telangiectasias are small dilated blood vessels found anywhere on the body, but commonly seen on the face around the nose, cheeks, and chin.
 * Venous ectasia, dilation of veins or venules, such as:
 * Chronic venous insufficiency, often in the leg
 * Jugular vein ectasia, in the jugular veins returning blood from the head