phlegmon
This term is used exclusively within medical and clinical registers to describe a specific type of spreading inflammatory process. It differs from a localized abscess in that it lacks a defined wall or capsule, allowing the infection to migrate through connective tissue planes.
Because it describes a pathological state of tissue, it is treated as a countable noun in clinical reports when referring to individual instances of the condition, though it is often discussed as a general medical phenomenon.
Meanings
A diffuse, spreading inflammation of the soft connective tissue, typically characterized by the formation of an abscess or a collection of pus.
The surgeon drained the phlegmon to prevent the infection from spreading further into the surrounding tissue.