National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute
U.S. National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute
Dictionary of Cancer Terms
Send to Printer
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.

Enlarge
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.

Previous Definitions:colonoscope, colonoscopy, colony-stimulating factor, colorectal, colorectal cancer
Next Definitions:colposcope, colposcopy, coma, combination chemotherapy, combretastatin A4 phosphate