Necrosis
The death of tissue caused by injury, infection or loss of blood supply.
What it means
Necrosis is the uncontrolled death of cells and tissue resulting from injury, infection, toxins or interrupted blood supply.
It is distinguished from apoptosis, which is programmed, orderly cell death occurring normally throughout life. Necrosis is disorderly, releases cell contents into surrounding tissue, and provokes inflammation.
Gangrene is necrosis of a substantial volume of tissue, usually a limb or a segment of bowel, and is termed dry or wet depending on whether infection is present.
In practice
Appears in surgical, vascular and pathology reports. Avascular necrosis describes bone death from interrupted blood supply, most often in the hip.
Necrotising fasciitis is a rapidly progressive soft tissue infection and a surgical emergency.
Why it matters
Necrotic tissue does not recover and generally requires removal — debridement — to allow healing and to prevent infection spreading.
Severe pain out of proportion to the visible appearance of a wound, with rapid spread and systemic illness, suggests necrotising infection and requires emergency assessment.
Clinically reviewed by Dr Mohammad Zubair Khan, GMC 7563469
Last reviewed
August 30, 2026