Excision
1 Definition of Excision
Meaning of Excision: Excision is the removal of tissue or a body structure by cutting it out during a procedure.
Excision is the act or procedure of cutting out and removing tissue, a lesion, or another body structure. It may be performed with a scalpel, laser, or another cutting instrument for diagnosis, treatment, or both. The amount removed can range from a small lesion to a larger structure and may include a margin of nearby tissue when clinically indicated.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
The specimen was sent to pathology after excision of the skin lesion.
Good to know
Excision differs from incision: an incision is a cut made to gain access, while an excision removes tissue. An excisional biopsy removes an entire sampled lesion, whereas an incisional biopsy removes only part.
Word origin
Where “Excision” comes from
From Latin excidere, meaning “to cut out.”