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modified radical mastectomy

(MAH-dih-FIDE RA-dih-kul ma-STEK-toh-mee)
Surgery to remove the whole breast, which may include the nipple, areola (the dark-colored skin around the nipple), and skin over the breast. Most of the lymph nodes under the arm are also removed.
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Modified radical mastectomy; the drawing on the left shows the removal of the whole breast, including the lymph nodes under the arm. The drawing on the right shows a cross-section of the breast, including the fatty tissue and chest wall (ribs and muscle). A tumor in the breast is also shown.Enlarge this image in new window
Modified radical mastectomy. The whole breast and most of the lymph nodes under the arm are removed.
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