mastoidectomy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowTechnical / Medical
Quick answer
What does “mastoidectomy” mean?
A surgical operation to remove all or part of the mastoid bone, a prominent bony structure behind the ear.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A surgical operation to remove all or part of the mastoid bone, a prominent bony structure behind the ear.
The medical procedure is typically performed to treat mastoiditis (a serious bacterial infection of the mastoid cells), cholesteatoma (an abnormal skin growth in the middle ear), or as part of other complex ear surgeries. It can be a simple (cortical) or a radical procedure depending on the extent of disease.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical. Potential minor differences in surgical technique naming (e.g., 'canal wall up' vs. 'intact canal wall' mastoidectomy) are not reflected in the core term.
Connotations
Purely clinical and technical in both dialects.
Frequency
Equally rare outside medical contexts in both the UK and US. Would only be encountered in medical documentation, textbooks, or discussions among healthcare professionals.
Grammar
How to Use “mastoidectomy” in a Sentence
The surgeon performed a mastoidectomy on the patient.The patient underwent a mastoidectomy.A mastoidectomy is indicated for chronic mastoiditis.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mastoidectomy” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The consultant decided to mastoidectomise the affected area.
American English
- The surgeon will mastoidectomize the diseased cells.
adjective
British English
- The mastoidectomy cavity was clean and well-healed.
American English
- The mastoidectomy procedure took two hours.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Exclusively used in medical and anatomical academic literature, textbooks, and lectures.
Everyday
Virtually never used. A patient might say "I had surgery on the bone behind my ear."
Technical
The primary context. Used in surgical reports, operative notes, medical diagnoses, and discussions between otolaryngologists (ENT surgeons), audiologists, and related specialists.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mastoidectomy”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mastoidectomy”
- Misspelling as 'mastoidechtomy' or 'mastoidoctomy'.
- Mispronouncing the stress: it's on the third syllable 'dek' (/ˌmæstɔɪˈdɛktəmi/), not 'mas' or 'toid'.
- Using it as a general term for any ear surgery.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is considered major surgery performed under general anaesthesia, often requiring several hours and a hospital stay.
Full recovery can take several weeks to months. Initial healing takes 1-2 weeks, but complete healing of the bone and resolution of symptoms may take much longer.
Hearing outcomes vary. The goal is often to preserve or restore hearing, but some procedures may result in conductive hearing loss, which might be addressed with a hearing aid later.
A simple (or cortical) mastoidectomy removes infected air cells only. A radical mastoidectomy removes more bone, the eardrum, and middle ear structures, often leaving a permanent cavity.
Mastoidectomy is usually technical / medical in register.
Mastoidectomy: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmæstɔɪˈdɛktəmi/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmæstɔɪˈdɛktəmi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: MAST (like a ship's pole, but here it's a bone) + OID (shaped like) + ECTOMY (cutting out). You 'cut out' the 'mast-shaped' bone behind the ear.
Conceptual Metaphor
The procedure is often conceptualised as an 'evacuation' or 'cleaning out' of the infected or diseased bony cells, similar to clearing out a honeycomb (as the mastoid bone has a porous, cellular structure).
Practice
Quiz
What is a mastoidectomy?