Difference between Operability and Resectability

Difference between Operability and Resectability

Operability is with regard to the patient. If a malignant disease can be cured with a radical surgery, such a patient is said to be operable.

If one can not cure a malignant disease by a surgical procedure, it is called inoperable.

 It must be remembered that an inoperable disease may still be resectable, but that is not going to offer a cure !

An Example of Inoperability:- Carcinoma stomach with metastatic supra clavicular node  is considered as inoperable case. But the lesion may be locally resectable.

Resectability is with regard to the tumour. A lesion or tumour is said to be unresectable if it infiltrates the major vessels or nerves.

Unresectability doesnot mean that the case is inoperable. A vascular / nerve graft can be done after the excision of the unresectable tumour along with the adherent structures.