tuberculoma
2
9.9
- noun
- /tjuːˌbɜrkjʊˈloʊmə/
- Specialized
Examples
-
Most tuberculomas remain stable for many years, and many calcify.
Academic text (2007) -
Multiple tuberculomas (two to four nodules) have also been reported.
Academic text (2007) -
A tuberculoma is often found in the lungs and requires careful monitoring.
-
The doctor explained that a tuberculoma is a mass formed by tuberculosis infection.
-
In some cases, a tuberculoma may remain asymptomatic for years before causing symptoms.
How Big
Surface Forms
Morphology
tuberculoma = tubercle + tuberculosis (semi-transparent) = tubercul + oma
The combining form 'tubercul-' clearly relates to 'tubercle'/'tuberculosis' and '-oma' denotes a tumour, but knowledge of the medical suffix '-oma' is specialized so the full meaning is not obvious to an average B1 learner.
Etymology
Tuberculoma comes from tubercle, which means 'small lump' and is the same part you see in tuberculosis, plus the ending -oma which means 'tumor', like in carcinoma. So a tuberculoma is literally a lump or mass caused by tuberculosis, which is why doctors use the word for a tissue mass often found in the brain or lungs.