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colostomy (koh-LOS-toh-mee)

 An opening into the colon from the outside of the body. A colostomy provides a new path for waste material to leave the body after part of the colon has been removed.

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Three-panel drawing showing colon cancer surgery with colostomy; first panel shows the area of the colon with cancer, middle panel shows the cancer and nearby tissue removed and a stoma created, last panel shows a colostomy bag attached to the stoma.




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