What does "-oma" refer to in medical terminology?

The suffix "-oma" is a common terminological component in medicine used to denote a tumor or abnormal growth. It is derived from the Greek word "oncos," meaning mass or tumor. This suffix can be attached to root words that specify the type of tissue or area affected, helping to identify the nature of the growth. For instance, "carcinoma" refers to a cancerous tumor in epithelial tissue, while "lipoma" refers to a benign tumor composed of fat cells.

The other choices revolve around different concepts and do not align with the definition of "-oma." An infection relates to the presence of pathogens in the body, an injury refers to physical harm or damage to the body, and a cyst is a sac-like structure that can contain fluid or other material but is not explicitly a tumor. Thus, understanding that "-oma" specifically signifies a tumor clarifies the correct answer.