Adrenalectomy

/ˌædrɪnəlˈɛktəmi/ noun

Definition

A surgical procedure in which one or both adrenal glands are removed.

Etymology

From Latin 'adrenalis' (near the kidney, from 'ad-' + 'renalis') + Greek '-ectomy' (surgical removal). A 20th-century medical term combining Latin and Greek elements.

Kelly Says

Adrenalectomy is rare in humans because losing your adrenal glands means you lose the hormones that keep you alive—but removing them in specific cancer cases can be lifesaving.

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