Infiltration (medical)

The term 'infiltration' is frequently used to describe various pathologic and physiologic processes, including but not limited to: This occurs when immune cells like lymphocytes and macrophages migrate into tissues in response to infection, injury, or inflammation, aiding in defense and healing but potentially contributing to autoimmune diseases if misdirected.

[2] Malignant infiltration involves cancerous cells invading surrounding healthy tissues by breaching normal cellular boundaries, which allows tumors to grow locally and facilitates metastasis to distant organs.

[3] This term refers to the accumulation of substances such as fluids, immune cells, bacteria, proteins, foreign particulate matter, and other things within the lung tissue, often detected as non-distinct infiltrates on imaging studies.

These typically interact with local complement proteins or induce other immune system responses, resulting in a Type III hypersensitivity reaction.

[6][7][8] A medical technique involving the injection of local anesthetics into tissues to provide numbness for minor surgical procedures or pain relief.