What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
papillomatous
Example
The biopsy revealed a papillomatous lesion on the patient's tongue. [papillomatous: adjective]
Example
The patient was diagnosed with papillomatous laryngitis, which caused the formation of warty growths on their vocal cords. [papillomatous: adjective]
papillary
Example
The papillary muscles in the heart are responsible for controlling the movement of the mitral and tricuspid valves. [papillary: adjective]
Example
The patient was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer, which is a slow-growing cancer that begins in the cells of the thyroid gland. [papillary: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Papillary is more commonly used than papillomatous in medical contexts, especially in relation to thyroid cancer. Papillomatous is less common and is typically used to describe growths or tumors with a rough, warty surface.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between papillomatous and papillary?
Both papillomatous and papillary are formal words that are primarily used in medical contexts. However, papillary is more versatile and can be used in a wider range of contexts, including anatomy, pathology, and biology, while papillomatous is more specific to conditions that cause the formation of papillomas or warts.
