Intermediate
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
Cytoreduction
Surgical removal of as much visible tumor as possible to reduce overall tumor burden.
Full Definition
Cytoreduction is a surgical strategy aimed at removing all visible tumor deposits to achieve the lowest possible residual disease burden. This approach is commonly used in ovarian cancer, peritoneal carcinomatosis, and certain sarcomas where complete resection may not be feasible but maximal tumor removal can improve survival and quality of life. The goal is typically to achieve optimal cytoreduction, defined as leaving no residual tumor nodules larger than 1cm, though complete gross resection (R0) remains the ideal outcome when achievable.
Usage
Usage note: Often used interchangeably with debulking, though cytoreduction implies more aggressive tumor removal.
In Context
- "Optimal cytoreduction was achieved with no residual disease greater than 5mm in diameter." — operative report
- "The patient is a candidate for primary cytoreduction followed by adjuvant chemotherapy." — tumor board recommendation
Also known as
tumor debulking
maximal surgical effort
Contrasted with
biopsy only
palliative bypass
Don't confuse with
debulking
tumor reduction