Definition

1. Noun:
   • Surgical removal of the pituitary gland: A medical procedure where the pituitary gland is removed by surgery. This gland, located at the base of the brain, is a crucial part of the endocrine system.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The patient underwent a hypophysectomy to treat the pituitary tumor.
  • Hypophysectomy is a complex neurosurgical procedure.
  • Following the hypophysectomy, the patient required lifelong hormone replacement therapy.

Advanced Usage

• "Transsphenoidal hypophysectomy": A specific surgical approach to remove the pituitary gland through the nose and sphenoid sinus, minimizing brain disturbance.

  • The endoscopic transsphenoidal hypophysectomy has a shorter recovery time.

• "Partial hypophysectomy": A surgery where only a portion of the pituitary gland is removed.

  • The surgeon performed a partial hypophysectomy to preserve some gland function.

Variants and Related Words

• Hypophysectomize (verb, rare): To perform a hypophysectomy.

  • The decision was made to hypophysectomize the animal for the research study.

• Pituitary ablation: A broader term for procedures that destroy or remove pituitary function, which can include hypophysectomy.

Synonyms

• Pituitary gland removal: A descriptive synonym.
• Pituitary surgery: A more general term that may include hypophysectomy.

Related Medical Terms (Not Phrasal Verbs)

• Adenomectomy: Surgical removal of an adenoma, which, if in the pituitary, is a type of hypophysectomy.
• Neurosurgery: The surgical specialty under which a hypophysectomy is performed.

Noun

1. surgical removal of the pituitary gland