NCIt definition : An eating away or breakdown of any type of external or internal human tissue including
but not limited to skin, teeth, mucosa, or somatic, which involves only the outer
tissue layer. When tissue surrounds an implanted device, the tissue breakdown may
result in migration and loss of the implant material and may result in further complications
such as infection or abscess.;
Alternative definition : CDISC: A shallow or superficial destruction of a surface, without destruction of the
basement membrane. (INHAND);