xeroderma pigmentosum

[pig-muh n-toh-suh m]

noun Pathology.

a rare inherited disease characterized by sensitivity to ultraviolet light, exposure resulting in lesions and tumors of the skin and eyes.

Origin of xeroderma pigmentosum

1880–85; < New Latin: pigmented xeroderma; see pigment, -ose¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Medicine definitions for xeroderma pigmentosum

xeroderma pigmentosum

[pĭg′mən-tō′səm, -mĕn-]

n.

A rare hereditary skin disorder caused by a defect in the enzymes that repair DNA damaged by ultraviolet light and resulting in hypersensitivity to the carcinogenic effect of ultraviolet light.