stereotactic

adjective

ste·​reo·​tac·​tic ˌster-ē-ə-ˈtak-tik 

ˌstir-

: involving, being, utilizing, or used in a surgical technique for precisely directing the tip of a delicate instrument (such as a needle) or beam of radiation in three planes using coordinates provided by medical imaging in order to reach a specific locus in the body

stereotactically

ˌster-ē-ə-ˈtak-ti-k(ə-)lē 

ˌstir-

adverb

Did you know?

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

At issue is a study that was begun in 1998 to determine whether a single treatment of stereotactic radiosurgery, also known as targeted irradiation, would prolong life for outpatients with metastasizing brain tumors. —Ed Silverman, STAT, 16 Oct. 2021

If something's deemed not right, the next step could be genetic testing, a diagnostic mammogram, stereotactic biopsy, ultrasound, or MRI, which can range in prices from $750 to over $5,000. —Meredith C. Carroll, The Week, 2 Oct. 2017

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, 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, 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, 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, 23 Aug. 2019

Research Medical is not the only local institution that offers stereotactic radiosurgery, though. —Andy Marso, kansascity.com, 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, 27 May 2017

See More

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Medical Definition

stereotactic

adjective

ste·​reo·​tac·​tic ˌster-ē-ə-ˈtak-tik, ˌstir- 

: involving, being, utilizing, or used in a surgical technique for precisely directing the tip of a delicate instrument (as a needle) or beam of radiation in three planes using coordinates provided by medical imaging (as computed tomography) in order to reach a specific locus in the body (as a tumor in the brain or breast)

a stereotactic biopsy

a stereotactic surgical probe

stereotactically

-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb