Which suffix is used to describe a disease condition?

• A. -pathy
• B. -itis
• C. -gram
• D. -oma

Answer: (A)

Suffixes in medical terms tell us what kind of condition is being described. The suffix -pathy indicates a disease or disorder affecting a specific organ or tissue, as seen in terms like nephropathy (disease of the kidney) or cardiopathy (disease of the heart). This makes it the best choice for describing a disease condition. Other options point to different concepts: -itis means inflammation (tonsillitis), -gram is a recording or tracing (electrocardiogram), and -oma denotes a tumor or swelling (melanoma).