craniotomy

[ krey-nee-ot-uh-mee ]

noun

, Surgery.

, plural cra·ni·ot·o·mies.

1. the operation of opening the skull, usually for operations on the brain.

craniotomy

/ ˌkreɪnɪˈɒtəmɪ /

noun

1. any surgical incision into the skull, esp to expose the brain for neurosurgery
2. the surgical crushing of a fetal skull to extract a dead fetus

craniotomy

/ krā′nē-ŏt′ə-mē /

1. Surgical incision into the skull.

Word History and Origins

Origin of craniotomy¹

First recorded in 1850–55; cranio- + -tomy

Example Sentences

McCall explained a surgeon would perform a procedure called a craniotomy, where part of the skull is removed to take out the tumour.

From BBC

Doreen Adams, 75, from Aberdeen, previously had a craniotomy to remove a tumour.

From BBC

Marc Morris, from Craven Arms, had to undergo a craniotomy, with the right side of his skull being removed.

From BBC

This technique requires arrays that cover relatively large areas, necessitating removal of at least an equal area of skull in a procedure known as a craniotomy.

From Scientific American

George Halvorson, the retired chief executive of Kaiser Permanente, says he recently had a surgical procedure on his skull, a craniotomy, at the renowned Mayo Clinic.

From Los Angeles Times