Therapeutic or Preventive Procedure
craniotomy Audio
cra·ni·ot·o·my [ krey-nee-ot-uh-mee ]
Subclass of:
Neurosurgical Procedures
Definitions related to craniotomy:
  • An operation in which an opening is made in the skull.
    NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • Surgical creation of an opening of the skull.
    NCI
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • Surgical incision into the cranium.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
  • The term craniotomy refers broadly to the surgical removal of a section of the skull in order to access the intracranial compartment. The portion of skull temporarily removed is called a bone flap, and it is replaced to its original position after the operation is completed, typically fastened into place with plates and screws.
    Medscape
    WebMD, 2025
Try this search on: Farlex, Merriam-Webster, Oxford Dictionary, or Wordnik

This content should not be used in place of medically-reviewed decision support reference material or professional medical advice. Some terms may have alternate or updated definitions not reflected in this set. The definitions on this page should not be considered complete or up to date.