The medical world almost has its own language, with countless words and terms that are commonplace in hospitals and clinics but not heard anywhere else. It’s crucial for medical students and practitioners to understand the definitions of each term, but some can be confusing or sound similar, such as the -ectomy, -otomy, and -ostomy suffixes.

These suffixes may sound similar, but they’re all very different, and a procedure that ends in -ectomy will not at all be the same as one that ends in -otomy, for example. In this guide, we’ll look at the main definitions of ectomy, otomy, and ostomy, along with some examples of each type of procedure.

What is an Ectomy?

The suffix “Ectomy” refers to any kind of removal or excision. It applies in situations or procedures where something is being taken away. For example, in a gastrectomy, some of all of the stomach is removed from the patient’s body, or in an appendectomy, the appendix is removed. Some other examples of ectomy procedures include: 

• Adenectomy – The removal of a gland 
• Bunionectomy – Removal of a bunion 
• Cervicectomy – Removal of the cervix 
• Esophagectomy – Removal of the esophagus 
• Laryngectomy – Removal of the larynx 
• Ostectomy – Removal of bone
• Rhinectomy – Removal of the nose 
• Thrombectomy – Removal of blood clots

What is an Otomy?

The suffix or term “Otomy” is used for procedures that involve surgical incisions or cuts of some kind into a part of the body, like an organ or structure. It comes from the Greek word “tomos”, which refers to cutting or separating. For example, a myotomy procedure is one in which incisions or cuts are made in muscle. Some other examples include:

• Bronchotomy – A procedure that creates an open airway from the lungs to the air 
• Coeliotomy – A procedure involving incisions in the abdominal wall 
• Craniotomy – A procedure involving cuts in the skull to access the brain 
• Hysterotomy – A procedure involving an incision in the uterus 
• Osteotomy – A procedure in which bone is cut 

What is an Ostomy?

Finally, we have “Ostomy”. This term is used for procedures or surgeries that involve the creation of a hole or orifice, typically known as a stoma, inside an organ. For example, one of the most common varieties is a gastrostomy, in which an artificial and external opening is made in the stomach to allow for gastric decompression. Other examples include:

• Gastroduodenostomy – Creation a new connections between the stomach and duodenum  
• Cholecystostomy – Creation of a stoma in the gallbladder 
• Colostomy – Creation of a stoma in the colon 
• Ureterostomy – Creation of a stoma for a kidney  
• Cystostomy – Creation of a connection between the bladder and the skin

Ectomy vs Otomy vs Ostomy – Summary of Key Differences

To summarize, the term ectomy, otomy, and ostomy are very different procedures. Here’s a quick and simple definition of each one to help you remember:

• Ectomy – Refers to the removal or excision of something 
• Otomy – Refers to cutting or making an incision 
• Ostomy – Refers to the creation of an opening in an organ