resectable
Meaning of resectable: A resectable tumor or structure can be surgically removed based on its size, location, and relationship to nearby vital structures.
Definition of resectable
Resectable describes a tumor, organ, or structure that can be removed by surgery, based on an assessment of its size, location, and relationship to surrounding tissue and vital structures. Determining whether something is resectable typically involves imaging studies and, at times, additional evaluation of a patient's overall health and ability to tolerate the operation involved.
A tumor may be considered resectable when it can be removed with an expected margin of normal surrounding tissue without unacceptable risk to nearby vital structures, whereas a tumor described as unresectable has grown into or around structures in a way that makes complete surgical removal impractical or unsafe. Some tumors are borderline resectable, meaning that resection may become possible after treatment, such as chemotherapy or radiation, reduces the tumor's size or extent.
Because resectability depends on many specific factors, the same type of tumor can be resectable in one person and unresectable in another based on its particular characteristics.
Used in a sentence
Imaging findings were reviewed by the surgical team to determine whether the tumor was resectable.
Good to know
Resectability is judged on anatomic and technical grounds specific to the individual tumor and patient, so the same tumor type can be resectable in one case and unresectable in another.
Word origin
Where “resectable” comes from
From Latin resecare, meaning "to cut off" or "to trim," formed from re- ("back, again") and secare ("to cut").