organ damage

Organ damage is injury to an organ that reduces its ability to function normally. This can occur from the disease itself, for example when a tumor or inflammation affects the tissue, but also as a side effect of treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation. The damage can be temporary and reversible, or permanent and permanently limit organ function. Organ damage is usually detected through blood tests, imaging such as ultrasound or a scan, or sometimes through tissue examination. The term appears on a site about incurable diseases because many intensive treatments carry the risk of damage to organs such as the heart, kidneys, or liver.