What suffix denotes inflammation in medical terminology?

The suffix that denotes inflammation in medical terminology is -itis. This suffix is derived from Greek, where "itis" indicates a state of inflammation or infection of a specific area or organ in the body. For example, "arthritis" refers to inflammation of the joints, and "dermatitis" refers to inflammation of the skin. The presence of this suffix in various medical terms consistently signals an inflammatory response affecting the designated part of the body.

In contrast, the suffix -osis refers to a condition or disease, often implying a non-inflammatory state, while -otomy denotes a surgical incision into an organ or body part, indicating a procedural aspect rather than a disease state. Lastly, -centesis refers to a procedure involving puncturing a body cavity or organ to remove fluid or tissue, which is specific to diagnostic or therapeutic actions and does not indicate inflammation. Thus, -itis is clearly the correct choice for indicating inflammation in medical terminology.