A partial colectomy is the surgical removal of a section of the colon. This surgery is used to treat a number of diseases and conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, bowel obstruction and bowel perforation, according to MayoClinic.com.

The sigmoid colon is the terminal section of your large intestines that attaches to the rectum and anus -- a sigmoid colectomy is a surgical procedure in which the sigmoid colon is resected.

A colectomy is a surgical procedure in which all or a portion of a person's colon, or large intestine, is removed by a surgeon.