What does pneumonectomy mean?
A pneumonectomy is an operation in which an entire lung is surgically removed. It may be recommended for conditions such as an advanced or localized lung cancer, severe injury, infection, or certain other diseases affecting the lung. In some operations, the surgeon also removes nearby lymph nodes or other affected tissue. The procedure is highly invasive, so recovery can involve considerable pain, shortness of breath, reduced physical capacity, and a period of rehabilitation. When only one lobe of a lung is removed, the operation is called a lobectomy rather than a pneumonectomy. The word is formed from Greek roots meaning “lung” and “excision” or “cutting out,” reflecting the operation's basic meaning.
nounA surgical operation involving the removal of an entire lung. In some cases, nearby tissues or lymph nodes may also be removed as part of the procedure.
- The surgical removal of an entire lung, sometimes together with selected nearby tissues or lymph nodes.
"The patient underwent a pneumonectomy after the tumour proved resistant to other treatments."
"The surgeon recommended a pneumonectomy because the cancer involved most of the patient's right lung."
"Her recovery after pneumonectomy was marked by gradual improvement in her breathing and stamina."
The standard plural is pneumonectomies.
"The two pneumonectomies were performed in separate operations."
A pneumonectomy is one of the most extensive lung operations, removing an entire lung while preserving as much healthy lung tissue as possible in the remaining lung.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pneumonectomy come from?
The word comes from Greek pneumōn, meaning “lung,” combined with ektomē, meaning “a cutting out” or “excision.” The prefix pneumo- is also reflected in related medical words such as pneumonia and pneumonitis, while the suffix -ectomy is shared with other terms describing surgical removal, including appendectomy and gastrectomy.
How pneumonectomy is actually used
This is a specialist medical term, normally used in surgical and clinical contexts. The related term lobectomy refers to removal of a lung lobe rather than the whole lung.
Easily confused with pneumonectomy
A pneumonectomy removes an entire lung, whereas a lobectomy removes only one lobe of a lung.