extracapsulær

Extracapsulær, or extracapsular in English, is an adjective used in biology and medicine to describe something located outside the capsule surrounding a structure or organ. The term combines Latin roots meaning outside (extra) and capsule (capsula).

In ophthalmology, extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) is a surgical technique in which the crystalline lens is removed through a large incision while the posterior capsule is preserved. This contrasts with intracapsular cataract extraction (ICCE), where both the lens and its capsule are removed. ECCE allows implantation of a posterior chamber intraocular lens and was widely used before the development of phacoemulsification. Today ECCE is less common in developed regions but may be employed in settings lacking phacoemulsification equipment or in specific clinical situations. Advantages of extracapsular approaches include better support for intraocular lens placement and the option to retain the posterior capsule; disadvantages include a larger wound, longer recovery, and a higher risk of certain complications compared to modern lens-splitting techniques.

Outside ophthalmology, extracapsular describes processes or extensions occurring beyond a capsule that normally encloses an organ or structure. A common example is extracapsular spread of cancer, where malignant cells extend beyond the capsule of a gland or organ into surrounding tissues, affecting staging and treatment decisions.

Etymology traces to extra- and capsula, Latin for outside the capsule. In Norwegian and other Scandinavian languages, extracapsulær is used with similar meanings, primarily in medical contexts.