Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS) Practice Exam

In a medical context, the suffix -oma is used to indicate a mass swelling or tumor. This is a key term in pathology, where it is commonly employed to describe various types of tumors, both benign and malignant. For example, a "carcinoma" refers to a type of cancerous tumor, while "lipoma" denotes a benign tumor made of fatty tissue. The use of -oma is fundamental in medical terminology as it allows healthcare professionals to classify and communicate about different kinds of growths within the body effectively. Understanding this suffix is crucial for anyone involved in health records, medical coding, or patient care, as it helps convey specific information regarding a patient's condition. The other options describe different meanings that do not accurately capture the essence of the suffix -oma. For instance, -itis relates to inflammation, -osis refers to a condition or state, and -pathy signifies a disease condition, none of which correctly define -oma.