Craniotomy is defined as which procedure?

• A. Removal of part of the skull to access tumor
• B. Removal of skin over the skull
• C. Replacement of skull bone with synthetic material
• D. Drilling small holes without removing skull

Answer: (A)

Craniotomy is about removing a portion of the skull to gain access to the brain or its coverings for surgical treatment. The bone is typically replaced at the end of the procedure, forming the skull again after the operation. This distinguishes it from more limited openings or reconstructive steps. The option describing removing part of the skull to reach a tumor fits this definition because it centers on opening the skull to reach brain tissue. The other descriptions refer to different procedures: removing skin over the skull isn’t about the skull itself, cranioplasty involves replacing skull bone with synthetic material, and drilling small holes without removing the skull is a much less extensive opening.