Alternate Names : Breast Removal Surgery

Definition

A mastectomy is the surgical removal of the entire breast, usually to treat serious breast disease, such as breast cancer.

There are four general types of mastectomy:

1. A SUBCUTANEOUS MASTECTOMY removes the entire breast, but leaves the nipple and areola (the pigmented circle around the nipple) in place.
2. TOTAL (OR SIMPLE) MASTECTOMY is the removal of the whole breast, but not the lymph nodes under the arm (axillary nodes).
3. In a MODIFIED RADICAL MASTECTOMY, the whole breast and most of the lymph nodes under the arm (axillary nodes) are removed. Removal of these lymph nodes is called an axillary dissection.
4. RADICAL MASTECTOMY involves removal of the chest wall muscles (pectorals) in addition to the breast and axillary lymph nodes. For many years, this operation was considered the standard for women with breast cancer, but it is rarely used today. It is mostly of historical interest.