What does lobectomy mean?
Lobectomy is the surgical removal of a lobe, a distinct anatomical part of an organ. Its most familiar application is in the treatment of lung cancer and other serious lung conditions: a surgeon may remove a cancerous or diseased lung lobe while preserving the rest of the lung and, when possible, its function. Lobectomies can also be performed on other organs, including the liver and thyroid. The term is firmly associated with modern medicine and is usually found in clinical, surgical, or oncology contexts rather than everyday speech. Its formation reflects a broader pattern in medical vocabulary combining an organ or body-part term with the suffix -ectomy, meaning surgical removal. Although the procedure can be highly invasive, its defining feature is selective removal of a lobe rather than removal of the whole organ.
nounSurgical removal of a lobe of an organ, most commonly a lobe of the lung. The term may also refer to excision of a lobe of another organ, such as the liver or thyroid.
- Surgical removal of a lobe of an organ, especially a lung.
"The surgeon performed a right upper-lobe lobectomy to remove the tumor while preserving the remaining lung tissue."
"She underwent a lobectomy after the scan confirmed a tumor in her left lung."
"The operation involved a lobectomy of the affected liver lobe."
The standard plural is lobectomies.
"The surgeon explained the risks and benefits of both possible lobectomies."
A lobectomy takes a lobe, not the whole organ—potentially preserving healthy lung tissue while treating disease.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does lobectomy come from?
Lobectomy combines Greek lobos, meaning “lobe,” with ektomē, meaning “a cutting out” or “excision.” The second element also underlies the widely used medical suffix -ectomy. Related English words include lobe, lobar, lobule, and lobotomy, all connected with the same anatomical or surgical vocabulary.
Related word forms
How lobectomy is actually used
This is a formal medical term used especially in surgery, oncology, and clinical reporting. It is not used informally or as a euphemism for the removal of an entire organ.
Easily confused with lobectomy
A lobectomy surgically removes an organ lobe, whereas a lobotomy historically involved cutting nerve pathways to alter behavior or mental function.