Clinical Diagnosis · Respiratory System · Medium

Pneumonitis

Meaning: Inflammation of lung tissue that is not caused by infection, for example from radiation, chemicals or drugs.

In practice: She developed radiation pneumonitis several weeks after treatment for breast cancer.

Word parts

  • pneumo- means lung or air
  • -itis means inflammation

Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.

Quick check

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Which word means: Inflammatory skin condition causing itchy, dry, red patches that may crack or weep.

Which word means: An abnormal narrowing of a tube or passage in the body, such as the bowel, gullet or urethra.

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Related words

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