Intermediate
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
cytoreduction
Surgical removal of visible tumor burden to achieve optimal or complete gross resection.
Full Definition
Cytoreduction refers to surgical procedures aimed at removing as much visible tumor as possible, particularly in the setting of peritoneal carcinomatosis or advanced ovarian cancer. The goal is to achieve either optimal cytoreduction (residual disease ≤1cm) or complete cytoreduction (no visible residual disease). The extent of cytoreduction directly correlates with survival outcomes in many malignancies, making maximal surgical effort a key therapeutic principle.
Usage
Usage note: Often used interchangeably with debulking, though cytoreduction emphasizes the cellular level of disease removal.
In Context
- "Complete cytoreduction was achieved with no visible residual disease." — operative summary
- "The patient underwent interval cytoreduction following neoadjuvant chemotherapy." — treatment timeline
Also known as
debulking surgery
tumor cytoreduction
Contrasted with
tumor progression
Don't confuse with
tumor debulking
resection