Relating to or characterized by abnormally large cells, typically caused by a viral infection.
From Greek 'cyto-' (cell) + 'megalic' (from 'mega', large). The term emerged in the early 1900s when researchers observed cells swollen by viral infection.
Cytomegalic cells look like giant monsters under the microscope—so bloated that doctors can recognize the infection just by looking, which is why the virus is called 'cytomegalo'.
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