IPA: //pælɪˈdɒtəmi//
KK: /pælɪˈdɑːtəmi/
A type of brain surgery that involves using a small probe to destroy a specific area of brain cells to help treat conditions like involuntary movements.
The doctor recommended a pallidotomy to help manage the patient's Parkinson's symptoms.
Pallidotomy is formed from "pallidus" (meaning pale or wan) and "-tomy" (from Greek "tomia", meaning to cut). The term refers to a surgical procedure involving the cutting of the pallidum, a part of the brain, which is often associated with movement control.
Think of 'pallid' meaning pale, and '-tomy' meaning to cut. This helps you remember that a pallidotomy is a procedure that involves cutting a pale area in the brain.