What does colectomy mean?
A colectomy is a surgical operation in which all or part of the colon — the large intestine — is removed. The extent varies widely: a total colectomy takes out the entire colon, a hemicolectomy removes half of it, and other partial procedures target specific segments such as the sigmoid colon. Surgeons perform colectomies to treat colorectal cancer, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, diverticular disease, and certain inherited conditions, using either traditional open surgery or minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques. The word comes from the Greek 'kolon' plus '-ektomē', meaning a cutting out, and belongs to the large family of English surgical terms ending in '-ectomy'. Because it names a major abdominal operation, the term carries a serious clinical register and appears almost exclusively in medical contexts, patient information leaflets, and health journalism rather than everyday conversation.
nounA surgical operation to remove all or part of the colon (large intestine). It is performed to treat conditions such as colorectal cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, or severe diverticulitis.
- Surgical removal of the whole colon (total colectomy).
- Surgical removal of part of the colon (segmental or partial colectomy), such as a hemicolectomy or sigmoid colectomy.
"After the biopsy confirmed cancerous polyps, the surgeon recommended a colectomy to remove the affected segment of the colon."
"Patients with familial adenomatous polyposis often undergo a prophylactic total colectomy."
"She recovered well after her laparoscopic colectomy and was discharged within four days."
Regular plural formed by changing the final y to ies; standard in both British and US English.
"This unit performs several hundred colectomies each year."
The word colectomy packs two ancient Greek roots — 'kolon' and 'ektomē' (a cutting out) — into one term for an operation that has saved millions of lives since it became routine in the twentieth century.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of colectomy
Colectomy derives from the ancient Greek noun 'kolon', referring to the large intestine, combined with the Greek suffix '-ektomē', meaning a cutting out, from 'ektemnein' (to cut out). It entered medical usage as part of the wave of modern '-ectomy' surgical terms coined in the nineteenth century as anatomy and surgery became formalized sciences. It shares this productive suffix with related coinages such as appendectomy, hysterectomy, and tonsillectomy, which likewise pair a body-part name with the notion of excision.
How colectomy is actually used
A strictly medical, formal term used in clinical settings and health writing; lay speakers typically say removal of part of the colon. Surgeons distinguish total, subtotal, hemi-, and partial colectomies by how much bowel is removed, and open versus laparoscopic colectomies by the operative technique.
Easily confused with colectomy
A colectomy is the surgical removal of part or all of the colon, whereas a colostomy is the creation of an opening from the colon to the abdominal surface so waste can exit into a bag.
A colonoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that visually examines the inside of the colon using a camera on a flexible tube, while a colectomy is an operation that removes tissue.