mastoidectomy
/ˌmæstɔɪˈdɛktəmi/
noun
- A surgical operation to remove part or all of the mastoid bone (the bone behind the ear), usually to treat infection or other problems.
- The patient needed a mastoidectomy to clear the infection from behind his ear.
- After the mastoidectomy, the surgeon explained that the hearing should gradually improve.
- Doctors sometimes perform a mastoidectomy when antibiotics cannot cure a severe ear infection.