Definition of STEREOTACTIC

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At the beginning of the 20th century, neurosurgeons were experimenting with a technique used to direct the tip of a needle or an electrode in three spatial planes (length, width, and depth) to reach a particular place in the brain. At that time, the word for this technique was "stereotaxic," based on the prefix stereo- ("dealing with three dimensions of space") and "taxis" (referring to the manual restoration of a displaced body part). In 1950, "stereotactic" (based on tactic, meaning "of or relating to touch) joined the medical vocabulary as a synonym of "stereotaxic." Around the same time, a noninvasive neurosurgery technique was developed using beams of radiation. It is this procedure that is now often referred to by "stereotactic" and (less frequently) "stereotaxic."

Examples of stereotactic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The type of radiation treatment Ginsburg had, called stereotactic ablative radiation therapy, concentrates radiation on the tumor, limiting damage to the surrounding organs, and is generally less disruptive. — Adam Liptak, BostonGlobe.com, "Ginsburg resumes a hectic schedule: ‘I am on my way to being very well’," 1 Sep. 2019 Ginsburg was treated using a new form of outpatient radiation therapy called stereotactic ablative radiation therapy for a tumor found on her pancreas. — Sarah Midkiff, refinery29.com, "Ruth Bader Ginsburg Completed Cancer Treatment In August," 24 Aug. 2019 This time, Ginsburg underwent a specific course of treatment—stereotactic ablative radiation therapy—which began on August 5, just days after a biopsy confirmed her pancreatic tumor was malignant. — Christina Oehler, Health.com, "Ruth Bader Ginsburg Was Just Treated for A Malignant Tumor on Her Pancreas, Says Supreme Court," 23 Aug. 2019 According to the Supreme Court statement, Ginsburg completed a three-week course of stereotactic ablative radiation therapy at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. — David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times, "Ruth Bader Ginsburg treated for tumor on pancreas," 23 Aug. 2019 Research Medical is not the only local institution that offers stereotactic radiosurgery, though. — Andy Marso, kansascity.com, "Research Medical unveils $3 million upgrade for radiation alternative to brain surgery," 23 June 2017 Five treatments of super-powerful radiation, called stereotactic radiation, soon will target two spots on his left side that could harbor remaining cells. — Donna Mcguire, kansascity.com, "Tenth birthday in KC is extra special for British boy beating back cancer," 27 May 2017 The number of men getting the short, intense treatment, called stereotactic body radiation therapy, or S.B.R.T., more than doubled to 1,886 in 2013 from 716 in 2007, according to the most recent Medicare data. — Gina Kolata, New York Times, "Popular Prostate Cancer Therapy Is Short, Intense and Unproven," 20 Mar. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'stereotactic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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“Stereotactic.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stereotactic. Accessed 14 December 2019.