gumma

American  

[guhm-uh] / ˈgʌm ə /

noun

Pathology.

plural

gummas, gummata

1. a rubbery, tumorlike lesion associated with tertiary syphilis.

---

gumma British  

/ ˈɡʌmə /

noun

1. pathol a rubbery tumour characteristic of advanced syphilis, occurring esp on the skin, liver, brain or heart

---

Other Word Forms

• gummatous adjective

Etymology

Origin of gumma

From New Latin, dating back to 1715–25; gum ¹

Example Sentences

Intra-cranial Syphilis.—Syphilitic meningitis is usually secondary to cario-necrosis of the bones of the vault or to a localised gumma of the brain.

From Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities—Head—Neck. Sixth Edition. by Miles, Alexander

The lesions of the cerebral centres with which nerve symptoms are most frequently associated are: laceration of the brain, hæmorrhage, meningitis, tumour, and syphilitic gumma.

From Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities—Head—Neck. Sixth Edition. by Miles, Alexander

If a periosteal gumma breaks down and invades the skin, a syphilitic ulcer is formed with carious bone at the bottom.

From Manual of Surgery Volume First: General Surgery. Sixth Edition. by Thomson, Alexis

The inflammatory lesions at the ends of the long bones—tubercle, syphilitic gumma, and Brodie's abscess, that resemble myeloma, are all attended with the formation of new bone in greater or lesser amount.

From Manual of Surgery Volume First: General Surgery. Sixth Edition. by Thomson, Alexis

The shoddy tissue is called "gummatous infiltration," and the tumor, if one is formed, is called a "gumma."

From The Third Great Plague A Discussion of Syphilis for Everyday People by Stokes, John H. (John Hinchman)