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👁️ Eye capsule cut 🧠 Brain capsule cut 🦴 Joint capsule cut
capsulotomy

capsulotomy

9.9
A brain surgery that cuts a deep band of nerve cells to reduce very severe mental illness symptoms
  • noun
  • /ˌkæpsəˈlɒtəmi/
  • Specialized
translation icon : capsulotomía
  • The neurosurgeon explained the risks and benefits of capsulotomy to the patient's family.

Examples

  • A capsulotomy may be considered for patients with severe, treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder.

  • After undergoing capsulotomy, some patients report a significant reduction in their symptoms.

  • The doctor performed a capsulotomy to alleviate her symptoms.

  • Many patients benefit from capsulotomies for severe anxiety disorders.

  • The doctor recommended capsulotomy as a potential treatment for the patient's severe depression.

  • After careful evaluation, the surgeon explained that a capsulotomy could help alleviate the patient's debilitating anxiety.

  • In cases where other therapies failed, a capsulotomy might provide the only relief for chronic mental health issues.

Synonyms

psychosurgery
vscapsulotomy
  • Specialized
1 9.6

An operation on the brain to treat very serious mental problems when other treatments fail

is a specific operation that cuts a part of the brain's internal capsule

Surface Forms

capsulotomy singular
capsulotomies plural

Morphology

capsulotomy = capsule (semi-transparent) = capsul + otomy

Structurally 'capsule' + '-otomy' is clear for technical formation, but the meaning refers to a specific brain structure and a specialised neurosurgical procedure.

Etymology

Capsulotomy comes from capsule ('small sac' or 'case') and -tomy ('to cut'), so it literally means 'cutting the capsule'. In brain surgery, a capsulotomy means the surgeon carefully cuts part of the brain's internal capsule to change nerve signals and try to help severe mental health problems.