Which suffix means surgical removal?

• A. Surgical removal
• B. Pain, suffering
• C. Inflammation
• D. Abnormal condition, disease

Answer: (A)

The suffix that means surgical removal is -ectomy. This ending attaches to a root to name a procedure that removes a part of the body, as in appendectomy (removal of the appendix) or gastrectomy (removal of the stomach). The idea is that -ectomy signals the act of taking out or excising a structure. Other suffixes have different meanings: -algia denotes pain, -itis denotes inflammation, and -osis denotes an abnormal condition or disease. So the option that states “Surgical removal” directly reflects the meaning of the suffix -ectomy, making it the best match.