Professional
Technical
IVT
cytoreduction
Surgical removal of as much tumor tissue as possible, typically performed for ovarian or peritoneal cancers.
Full Definition
Cytoreduction, also known as debulking surgery, involves the surgical removal of as much visible tumor tissue as possible. This procedure is most commonly performed in ovarian cancer and peritoneal carcinomatosis. The goal is to achieve optimal cytoreduction, typically defined as residual disease of less than 1 cm in maximum dimension. The extent of cytoreduction correlates with survival outcomes and affects the efficacy of subsequent chemotherapy.
Usage
Usage note: Often preceded by 'optimal' or 'suboptimal' to describe completeness of tumor removal.
In Context
- "Optimal cytoreduction was achieved with no visible residual disease." — operative report
- "The patient underwent primary cytoreduction followed by adjuvant chemotherapy." — treatment summary
Also known as
debulking
tumor debulking
cytoreductive surgery
Don't confuse with
tumor resection
excision