List of -ectomies

The surgical terminology suffix "-ectomy" was taken from Greek εκ-τομια = "act of cutting out". It means surgical removal of something, usually from inside the body.

A

*Adenectomy is the surgical removal of a gland.
*Adenoidectomy is the surgical removal of the adenoids, also known as the pharyngeal tonsils.
* Adrenalectomy - Removal of an adrenal gland
*Appendicectomy is the surgical removal of the appendix; it is also known as an appendectomy.

B

*Bullectomy is the surgical removal of bullae from the lung
* Bunionectomy is the removal of a bunion.

C

*Cephalectomy is the surgical removal of the head (decapitation).
*Cholecystectomy is the surgical removal of the gallbladder.
* Choroidectomy - Removal of the choroid layer of the eye
*Clitoridectomy is the partial or total removal of the external part of the clitoris.
* Cystectomy is the removal of the urinary bladder. It also means removal of a cyst.

D

*Discectomy is a surgical procedure involving the dissection of an extravasted segment of the intervertebral disc.
*Diverticulectomy is a surgical procedure to remove a diverticulum.

E

*Endarterectomy is the removal of plaque from the lining of the artery otherwise constricted by a buildup of fatty deposits.
*Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy is the burning, severing, removing or clamping parts of the sympathetic nerve trunk.
* Extrapleural pneumonectomy is the removal of the entire lung along with the pleura, the lung lining and part of the pericardium, the lining of the heart.

F

*Frenectomy is the removal of the frenulum from the penis: not the same as circumcision, but often done at the same time on newborn males.

G

*Gastrectomy is the partial or full removal of the stomach.
* Ganglionectomy is the excision of a ganglion
* Glossectomy is the removal of part or all of the tongue

H

*Hemicorporectomy is the surgical amputation of the entire body below the waist, including the legs, genitalia, urinary system, pelvic bones, anus, and rectum.
* Hemicolectomy is the removal of half the colon or the large intestine
*Hemilaminectomy is the surgical trimming or partial removal of the lamina portion of a spinal vertebra.
*Hemorrhoidectomy is removal of a hemorrhoid.
*Hemispherectomy is the surgical removal of one cerebral hemisphere
*Hemipelvectomy is the surgical removal of half of the pelvis and one of the legs. There are two types of the operation - Internal hemipelvectomy in which the pelvis on the one side is removed but the leg is saved. External hemipelvectomy removes the pelvis on the one side along with the amputation of that leg.
*Hepatectomy is the surgical resection of the liver.
*Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus.
*Hypophysectomy is the surgical removal of the pituitary gland or hypophysis such as when presented with a tumor.

I

* Iridectomy - Removal of a piece of iris from the eye (mainly done for iris tumours e.g. melanoma of the iris)

J

K

L

*Laminectomy is the trimming or surgical removal of the lamina, portion of the spinal vertebrae.
*Laryngectomy is the surgical removal of the larynx, which involves separating the airway from the mouth, nose, and esophagus.
*Lumpectomy is the surgical removal of a lump from a breast.

M

*Mastectomy is the surgical removal of one or both breasts. A mastectomy can be either partial or complete.
*Mastoidectomy is the removal of disease from the bone behind the ear.
* Maxillectomy is the removal of the maxilla or cheekbone - Sometimes done with orbital exenteration (removal of the eye and the orbital contents surrounding the eye) or by enucleation (removal of the eyeball)
* Mandibulectomy is the removal of the mandible or the lower jaw bone.
* Myomectomy is the removal of fibroids from the uterus, but the uterus is left intact.

N

*Nephrectomy is the removal of a kidney.

O

*Oophorectomy is the surgical removal of a female animal's ovaries, also called spaying.
*Orchidectomy is any process whereby a biological male (human or animal) loses the use of his testes. Also known as an orchiectomy.
* Oesophagectomy is the removal or part or all of the oesophagus

P

*Pharyngolaryngooesphogectomy is the surgical removal of the pharynx, larynx and esophogus, usually as a result of cancer of the hypopharynx.
*Pancreatectomy is the removal of part or all of the pancreas. If the whole of the pancreas is removed, the person will become diabetic.
*Parathyroidectomy is the surgical removal of one or more of the parathyroid glands.
*Partial vulvectomy is the partial removal of the vulva. See under letter 'V' for vulva and the other types of vulvectomy.
*Pelvic exenteration (female) - Removal of all the female reproductive organs - uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, cervix, vagina, part of the bowel, urinary bladder and sometimes the vulva.
*Penectomy is the partial or complete removal of the penis. Also known as a pendectomy.
*Pneumonectomy is the surgical removal of a lung.
*Photorefractive keratectomy is the alteration of the cornea by means of a laser.
*Posthectomy, more commonly known as circumcision, is the surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis. Also known as a prepucectomy, as the medical term for the foreskin is the "prepuce".
*Proctocolectomy is the removal of the colon or the large intestine and the rectum
*Prostatectomy is the removal of the prostate gland. May be either all of the gland (radical) or just a part of transurethral resection of the prostate.

Q

R

*Radical vulvectomy is the complete removal of the vulva, including the lymph nodes on both sides of the groin.
* Radical mastectomy - Removal of the whole breast, along with the chest lining, both major and minor chest muscles and all of the underarm lymph nodes on that side. Also called Halstead Mastectomy.
* Rhinectomy is the removal of part or all of the nose
* Radical nephrectomy - Removal of the kidney along with the adrenal gland and the ureter (the tube after the kidney connecting to the urinary bladder with it)

*Salpingo-oophorectomy is the removal of both the ovaries and the fallopian tubes, more commonly performed in animals than in humans.
*Splenectomy is the surgical removal of the spleen. Autosplenectomy is where certain diseases destroy the spleen's function.
*Stapedectomy is the removal of ossified stapes from the ear that are then replaced by a prosthesis.
*Salpingectomy is the removal of the fallopian tubes
* Sympathectomy is the cutting of the nerves

T

*Thrombectomy is the excision of an abnormal or dangerous blood clot.
*Thymectomy is the surgical removal of the thymus gland.
*Thyroidectomy is the removal of all or part of the thyroid gland.
*Tonsillectomy is the removal of the tonsils.

U

V

*Vaginectomy is the removal of all or part of the vagina.
*Vasectomy is the surgical tying of the vas deferens, tubes that connect to the male testes and transport sperm, done for the purposes of sterilization in males.
* Vulvectomy is the removal of all or part of the vulva (external female genitalia) - The types of vulvectomy are
**Skinning vulvectomy - Removal of the top layers of the vulva only
**Simple or total vulvectomy - Removal of the entire vulva only
**Partial vulvectomy - Removal of part/one side of the vulva only
**Radical vulvectomy - Removal of the entire vulva along with lymph nodes on both sides of the groin. Vulvectomy is mainly done for vulvar cancer.

Other uses

Sometimes this suffix is used humorously in non-surgical contexts, for example "popculturectomy" for a type of editing process on a text.