Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Debulking
Introduction
Overview
In interventional cardiology, the term debulking refers to the removal of plaque and thrombus from a blockage or lesion. Devices such as directional and rotational atherectomy are debulking devices.
Debulking is the surgical removal of part of a malignant tumour which cannot be completely excised, so as to enhance the effectiveness of radiation or chemotherapy. It is used only in specific malignancies, as generally partial removal of a tumor is not considered a worthwhile intervention. Ovarian carcinoma and some types of brain tumor are debulked prior to commencing radio- or chemotherapy. It is usually a long and often complicated procedure taking several hours or more to perform, depending on internal involvement and location.
Debulking is also known as cytoreduction surgery; “cytoreduction” refers to reducing the number of cancer cells.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]