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Glite Dictionary
leukotomy

leukotomy

1 9.9
A surgery that cuts the connections from the brain's frontal lobe, often causing big changes in personality and thinking
  • noun
  • /luˈkɑːtəmi/
  • Archaic
translation icon : leucotomía
  • The doctor performed a leukotomy to treat severe depression.

Examples

  • Scientific studies have documented personality changes that can follow a leukotomy.

  • He underwent a leukotomy in the 1950s to treat his severe depression.

  • The medical community has largely abandoned leukotomy due to its severe side effects.

  • Many patients experienced changes after a leukotomy.

  • The patient underwent a leukotomy to treat severe mental health issues.

  • After discussing all options, she agreed to have the leukotomy performed to alleviate her condition.

  • The controversial leukotomy procedure was meant to reduce debilitating symptoms by altering brain connections.

Synonyms

lobotomy
vsleukotomy
  • Archaic
26 9.9

An operation that cuts nerves in the front brain to treat mental illness, often changing personality and thinking

is narrower, specifying cutting front brain connections rather than any brain operation
frontal lobotomy
vsleukotomy
  • Archaic
1 9.9

An operation that cuts connections in the front part of the brain and often changes thinking and personality

is the same procedure described in a more general surgical term
prefrontal lobotomy
vsleukotomy
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Surgery that cuts connections in the front of the brain, once used to treat mental illness but often changes personality

is similar but emphasizes the surgical act rather than treatment history
prefrontal leukotomy
vsleukotomy
  • Archaic
9.9

A brain surgery that cuts connections in the front part of the brain and often changes personality

is the general medical term for severing front brain connections

Compounds

prefrontal leukotomy
  • Archaic
9.9

A brain surgery that cuts connections in the front part of the brain and often changes personality

Surface Forms

leukotomy singular
leukotomies plural

Morphology

leukotomy = leuko + otomy

Although analyzable into the combining form 'leuko-' and the surgical suffix '-otomy', these are specialized medical combining forms that an average B1 learner would not use to infer the meaning, so the term is opaque for general learners.

Etymology

Leukotomy comes from Greek parts leuko- meaning 'white' and -otomy meaning 'cutting'. It was named because the surgery cuts the brain's white nerve fibres, which is why a leukotomy is a brain operation that can change a person's personality and thinking.