Faculty of Health Sciences

Medicine School
LEX 140-MED

Name:

Loraine Alejandra Miniel Pérez

Enrollment:

22-0955

Teacher:

Pedro Pablo

Section:

05
 Essay about a disease related to the Nervous System.

Encephalomalacia

Encephalomalacia is a type of severe brain damage that results in softening or loss of brain
tissue. Causes are often related to inflammation or bleeding resulting from a stroke, ischemia,
infection, head trauma, or other injury.
The softening may be seen in a localized area or it may spread, depending on the underlying
cause. It can affect any part of the brain, possibly damaging the frontal, occipital, parietal,
and temporal lobe tissues. This can present with various motor and sensory deficits.
Causes
The most common cause of encephalomalacia, strokes occur due to interruption of the blood
supply to the brain, either due to a lack of blood supply to brain tissue or due to bleeding
from a cerebral blood vessel. Oxygenated blood is vital for the function and maintenance of
brain cells, which will be damaged or die if the blood supply is not quickly restored.
Abnormal pooling of blood
 It occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted. This may be due to abnormal brain
swelling or the removal of brain tumors that are damaging the brain.

Scar
Damage to brain tissue due to conditions such as a stroke can lead to the formation of scar
tissue. This area of tissue shrinks and eventually forms encephalomalacia within the brain.
Traumatic brain injury
Blunt force trauma to the skull will result in contusions and possibly brain damage if the
force is strong enough. Other forms of penetrating trauma, such as a knife or bullet to the
skull, can also lead to the development of encephalomalacia.
Encephalomalacia can also be the result of:
• Degeneration of the brain.
• Brain deterioration.
• Stroke or infection.
• Blockage of blood supply to the brain.
• Cerebral ischemia.
• Biological pathogens that release chemical toxins that infect the brain.
• Leptomeningeal cysts.
• Surgery.

Types of encephalomalacia

• Polioencephalomalacia. Also known as cerebrocortical necrosis, it is caused by the

interruption of the supply of vitamin B1 or thiamine. Polioencephalomalacia
damages the gray matter of the central nervous system, affecting speech, muscle
function, memory, and sensory perception.

• Leukoencephalomalacia. It mainly affects the white matter of the brain, which is

responsible for communication between the various parts of the brain. The white
matter maintains the involuntary functions of the body (breathing, regulating
temperature, blood pressure...). There are three types of leukoencephalomalacia
based on brain damage:

There are three types of leukoencephalomalacia based on brain damage:

a) Red softening: Brain tissue turns red due to hemorrhage.
b) White softening: the lack of blood flow causes the affected part of the brain to turn white.
c) Softening yellow: brain tissue turns yellow due to the accumulation of plaques in the
cerebral arteries.

Signs and symptoms of encephalomalacia

Like any cause of brain damage, the signs and symptoms will largely depend on the area of
the brain affected, the severity, and the extent of the damage. This can result in decreased
function on one side of the body or even loss of pain and temperature sensation.
However, the early signs of encephalomalacia can present similarly regardless of the area of
brain damage. These symptoms can be:
• Severe headaches
• Dizziness sensation.
• Memory loss and mood swings if the frontal lobe is affected.
• Clumsiness and decreased coordination.
• Visual impairment that may be permanent or temporary.
• Extreme sleepiness.

Symptoms can vary from person to person, often presenting in unique forms depending on
Extreme cases of encephalomalacia can potentially lead to terminal coma, depending on the
softening area of the brain.

Diagnosis
Encephalomalacia will often be diagnosed after a particular brain injury has occurred, such
as a stroke or injury. Various imaging tests will be ordered to help verify its presence.
To confirm the disease, it is necessary to do a series of tests such as a CT scan or an MRI to
be able to visualize the brain.

Encephalomalacia treatment
Brain tissue is non-regenerative, which means that once it's gone, it's gone forever, as it can't
be rebuilt after it's been damaged.
This is the reason why the brain is considered so important. This makes the main focus of
brain damage treatment on reducing further damage or preventing it from occurring in the
first place.
Encephalomalacia treatment often involves the following:
• Determining any underlying conditions that lead to these changes in brain tissue.
• Removal of damaged brain tissue in severe cases. However, there is no guarantee of
return of bodily function.
• Stem cell therapy.

Complications and prevention of encephalomalacia

This condition is considered extremely serious and will require the immediate attention of a
trained medical professional who specializes in the study of the brain: a neurologist. If left
untreated, the complications of encephalomalacia can include functional disability, seizures,
coma, and even death.
Unfortunately, there is no practical way to prevent encephalomalacia, as it is not possible to
know exactly when a severe head injury may occur or when it will strike.
However, you can do your best to avoid these scenarios, which will give you the best chance
of avoiding the condition, but there is no sure way to do it.