What does the suffix '-oma' indicate in medical terminology?

The suffix '-oma' is derived from Greek and is used in medical terminology to denote a tumor or a growth. It indicates the presence of a neoplasm, which is an abnormal mass of tissue that can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). For instance, terms like "fibroma" refer to a tumor made up of fibrous tissue, while "melanoma" refers to a malignancy that arises from pigment-producing cells.

In contrast to the other options, inflammation typically involves swelling and redness due to the body's immune response, while scarring relates to the process of healing and tissue repair after an injury or inflammation has occurred. The term swelling is more general and often used to describe an increase in size or volume of a part of the body, which can be caused by various factors, including inflammation or fluid accumulation. Therefore, identifying '-oma' specifically with tumors is crucial in understanding how certain growths are classified in medical contexts.