Surgical Oncology Glossary

Systemic cancer treatment given after primary surgical resection to eliminate microscopic residual disease.

Axillary lymph node dissection; surgical removal of lymph nodes from the axilla, typically performed for breast cancer s...

A surgical connection created between two tubular structures, such as blood vessels or segments of bowel.

Postoperative complication where surgical connection between bowel segments fails, leading to contamination and potentia...

Surgical method for creating connections between severed anatomical structures following tumor resection.

Cancer treatment approach that uses specific molecular markers to guide therapeutic decisions and drug selection.

Tumor marker protein elevated in various cancers, particularly colorectal cancer, used for monitoring treatment response...

The radial margin around a tumor specimen, particularly important in rectal cancer surgery for assessing complete tumor...

Standardized grading system for surgical complications based on treatment requirements.

Surgical removal of an entire anatomical compartment containing a tumor, including all tissues within defined fascial bo...

Circumferential resection margin; the closest distance between tumor and the surgical margin in circumferentially resect...

Surgical removal of visible tumor burden to achieve optimal or complete gross resection.

Surgical procedure aimed at removing as much visible tumor as possible, typically in advanced or metastatic disease.

Time period from treatment completion to disease recurrence, progression, or death, used as primary endpoint in oncology...

Standardized scale (0-5) measuring a cancer patient's functional ability and fitness for treatment.

Surgical removal of a tumor together with surrounding normal tissue as a single, intact specimen.

Minimally invasive endoscopic technique for removing superficial gastrointestinal tumors confined to the mucosa.

Evidence-based perioperative care pathway designed to accelerate patient recovery and reduce complications after surgery...

Surgical removal of all organs and soft tissues within a body cavity, typically pelvic or orbital.

Surgical technique involving dissection along natural tissue planes to minimize trauma and maintain anatomical integrity...

Rapid intraoperative tissue analysis providing immediate microscopic diagnosis to guide surgical decisions.

Surgical removal of part or all of the liver, commonly performed for liver tumors or metastases.

Heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy delivered directly into the abdominal cavity during surgery.

A set of specialized staining tests performed on tissue samples to identify specific proteins and guide cancer diagnosis...