-ectomy

Surgical removal of all or part of a specified organ.

Greek ektomē, excision, from ek, out, plus temnein, to cut.

A large number of medical terms contain this suffix; for a selection see below. The suffix is active in the language, well enough known outside its medical context that it is sometimes used facetiously, as in parentectomy, cutting off contact with one's parents, or humorectomy, of a supposed operation that has removed somebody's sense of humour. See also ‑stomy and ‑tomy.

Examples of words in -ectomy
Word origins are from Greek unless otherwise stated.

appendectomy

the appendix

English appendix, from the Latin word meaning something hung upon.

cholecystectomy

the gall bladder

Latin cholecystis, gall bladder

cystectomy

urinary bladder or a cyst

kustis, bladder

endarterectomy

the inner lining of an artery plus any obstructions

endon, within, plus artery

hysterectomy

the womb

hustera, womb

keratectomy

a section or layer of the cornea

keras, kerat‑, horn

laminectomy

the back of one or more vertebrae

Latin lamina, layer

lumpectomy

a cancerous lump from the breast

mastectomy

a breast

mastos, breast

orchidectomy

one or both testicles

orkhis, testicle

prostatectomy

the prostate gland

English prostate

splenectomy

the spleen

English spleen

thyroidectomy

removal of the thyroid gland

English thryoid

tonsillectomy

the tonsils

English tonsil

vasectomy

cutting and sealing of part of the vas deferens

Latin vas, vessel