Which suffix relates to 'surgical removal'?

• A. -ectomy
• B. -osis
• C. -malacia
• D. -ology

Answer: (A)

The suffix that denotes surgical removal is -ectomy. In medical terms, -ectomy is used to indicate the act of cutting out or removing a part, turning a body part into a procedure name, as in appendectomy (removal of the appendix) or tonsillectomy (removal of the tonsils). The other suffixes have different meanings: -osis denotes a condition or process, -malacia indicates softening, and -ology means the study of a field. So -ectomy is the one that specifically signals a surgical removal.