Professional
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
cytoreduction
Pronunciation: sahy-toh-ri-DUHK-shuhn
Surgical removal of as much tumor tissue as possible to reduce cancer burden in the body.
Full Definition
Cytoreduction, also known as cytoreductive surgery or debulking surgery, involves the surgical removal of visible tumor masses to decrease the overall cancer burden. This approach is commonly employed in ovarian cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma, and other cancers where complete resection may not be feasible. The goal is to achieve optimal cytoreduction, typically defined as residual disease nodules smaller than 1 cm, to improve the effectiveness of subsequent chemotherapy or other treatments.
Usage
Usage note: Often preceded by adjectives like 'optimal,' 'suboptimal,' or 'interval' to specify the degree or timing.
In Context
- "Optimal cytoreduction was achieved with no residual disease greater than 1 cm in diameter." — Operative report
- "The patient underwent interval cytoreduction following three cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy." — Treatment summary
Also known as
debulking surgery
cytoreductive surgery
tumor debulking
Contrasted with
tumor implantation
Don't confuse with
cytoablation
cytolysis