perineural
Meaning of perineural: Perineural describes a location or process occurring around a nerve, most often used to describe the spread of cancer cells along nerve pathways.
Definition of perineural
Perineural means situated around or surrounding a nerve or group of nerves. The term is used in anatomy and pathology to describe structures, fluid, or abnormal tissue located in the space immediately surrounding a nerve.
In pathology reports, perineural most commonly appears in the phrase perineural invasion, which describes cancer cells that have spread along or around a nerve rather than remaining only within the primary tumor mass. This finding is noted because it can indicate a route by which a tumor extends beyond its original site.
Perineural spread is distinct from direct invasion of the nerve fibers themselves, and its presence is one of several factors considered together when evaluating a tumor's behavior.
How perineural is built
- peri- Prefix · Greek around, surrounding
- neur/o Combining form · Greek nerve, nervous system
- -ac, -al, -ar, -ary, -eal, -ic Suffix · Greek and Latin pertaining to, relating to
A medical term is read from its ending backwards: the suffix first, then the prefix, then the root. See all 223 word parts.
Used in a sentence
The pathology report noted perineural invasion at the margin of the resected specimen.
Good to know
Perineural invasion describes tumor cells found around a nerve and is distinct from intraneural invasion, in which tumor cells are found within the nerve itself.
Word origin
Where “perineural” comes from
Formed from peri- (Greek, meaning "around") and neural, from Greek neuron, meaning "nerve."