mastectomy (măstĕkˈtəmē) [key], surgical removal of breast
tissue, usually done as treatment for breast cancer. There are
many types of mastectomy. In general, the farther the cancer has
spread, the more tissue is taken. The radical mastectomies of
the past (which removed not only the breast, but underlying
chest muscle and lymph nodes) have largely been replaced by less
drastic, but equally effective procedures. For small tumors,
lumpectomy, removing just the tumor and a margin of tissue, may
be performed. A partial, or segmental, mastectomy removes the
cancer, some breast tissue, the lining over the chest, and
usually some lymph nodes from under the arm; total or simple
mastectomy removes the whole breast; modified radical mastectomy
takes the breast, lining over the chest muscles, and lymph
nodes. Breast reconstruction can be done using the patient's own
tissue or breast implants. Mammograms and self-conducted breast
exams have done much to reduce the need for radical procedures
because they have increased