-ectomy

DEFINITION of -ectomy

forms nouns: >ect-tom--y - surgical excision, removal of an organ (condition of cutting out); -ectomy denotes the surgical removal or resection of all or part of an anatomical structure, organ, or pathological growth, typically via incision and excision, leaving a wound that is closed or reconstructed. Common in general, orthopedic, and oncologic surgery (e.g., appendectomy, hysterectomy), it implies complete or partial extirpation rather than repair (-plasty) or incision (-tomy); modern usage includes minimally invasive and robotic techniques, with precise documentation critical for coding (e.g., CPT 40000-series).

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ETYMOLOGY of -ectomy

From greek ἐκτομή (ektomḗ), meaning “a cutting out.” Breakdown: ἐκ- (ek-) (“out”) + τομή (tomḗ) (“cutting, incision”). Latinized as -ectomia in 19th-century surgical nomenclature; widespread by early 20th century as laparotomy/lobectomy terms proliferated.

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RELATED TERMS to -ectomy

Term	Root + -ectomy	Meaning
Appendectomy	appendic- (appendix) + -ectomy	Surgical removal of appendix.
Hysterectomy	hyster- (uterus) + -ectomy	Surgical removal of uterus.
Mastectomy	mast- (breast) + -ectomy	Surgical removal of breast.
Lobectomy	lob- (lobe) + -ectomy	Surgical removal of a lobe (lung/liver).
tonsillectomy	tonsill- (tonsils) + -ectomy	Surgical removal of tonsils.
Cholecystectomy	cholecyst- (gallbladder) + -ectomy	Surgical removal of gallbladder.

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DERIVATIONS of -ectomy

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Query functionality

TABLE definition AS Definition
FROM #medroot
WHERE length(filter(definition, (word) => econtains([[]].definition, word))) > 0 AND file.name != [[]].file.name

Med roots dictionary Appendix A Prefixes Appendix B Combining Forms Appendix C Suffixes Appendix D Suffix forms