Surgical Oncology Glossary

Surgical removal of a specific anatomical segment of an organ, typically liver or lung.

Surgical sampling of the first lymph node that receives drainage from a primary tumor to assess cancer spread.

Acronym for sentinel lymph node biopsy, a staging procedure to assess lymphatic spread in cancer patients.

Systematic evaluation of tissue boundaries around a resected tumor to determine the adequacy of cancer removal.

Specialized postgraduate training program in complex cancer surgery following general surgery residency.

Systematic approach to reduce the risk of postoperative wound infections through evidence-based interventions.

Intraoperative assessment of tumor extent to determine accurate cancer stage and guide treatment.

Cancer treatment that targets specific molecular pathways or proteins involved in tumor growth.

Standardized system for classifying cancer extent based on tumor size (T), lymph node involvement (N), and distant metas...

Standardized surgical technique for rectal cancer involving complete removal of the mesorectum within its fascial envelo...

Minimally invasive technique using energy sources to destroy tumor tissue in situ.

Additional focused radiation therapy delivered to the surgical site after whole breast radiation following breast-conser...

Structured case discussion format used in multidisciplinary cancer team meetings to review patient cases and treatment r...

Consensus treatment plans developed by multidisciplinary oncology teams for individual cancer patients.

Fibrous or pseudo-capsular layer surrounding certain tumors, important for surgical planning.

Surgical reduction of tumor burden when complete removal is not feasible, aimed at improving treatment response.

State where cancer cells remain viable but nonproliferative for extended periods before resuming growth.

Time required for a tumor to double in volume, used to assess growth rate and aggressiveness.

Variation in cellular characteristics, genetics, and behavior within a single tumor or between tumor sites.

Immune cells present within tumor tissue that serve as prognostic indicators and potential therapeutic targets in oncolo...

The cellular and molecular environment surrounding cancer cells, including immune cells, blood vessels, and supportive t...

False capsule formed by compressed surrounding tissue around a tumor, not a true anatomical barrier.

Histopathological assessment quantifying tumor response to neoadjuvant therapy, ranging from complete response to no res...

Inadvertent spread of malignant cells during surgical manipulation or biopsy procedures.