What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
exostosis
Example
The patient was diagnosed with exostosis on his femur. [exostosis: noun]
Example
The x-ray showed an exostosis on the surface of the bone. [exostosis: noun]
osteoma
Example
The biopsy revealed that the tumor was an osteoma. [osteoma: noun]
Example
The x-ray showed an osteoma growing within the bone. [osteoma: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Exostosis is more commonly used than osteoma in medical contexts. Exostosis is a more general term that can refer to any bony growth on the surface of a bone, while osteoma specifically refers to a benign tumor made of bone tissue.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between exostosis and osteoma?
Both exostosis and osteoma are formal medical terms that are not commonly used in everyday language.
