Definition

Noun: * A surgical procedure for breast cancer involving the complete removal of the breast (mammary gland), the underlying chest wall muscles (pectoralis major and pectoralis minor), and the lymph nodes in the armpit (axillary lymph nodes).

Usage

This term is used specifically in medical contexts to describe a historic and aggressive surgical treatment for breast cancer. It is now performed less frequently than less extensive procedures. * The radical mastectomy was once the standard surgical treatment for breast cancer. * Due to advances in early detection and therapy, a radical mastectomy is now typically reserved for cases where the cancer has invaded the chest muscles.

Advanced Usage

• Modified radical mastectomy: A more common contemporary procedure where the breast and lymph nodes are removed, but the chest wall muscles are preserved.
• The decision to perform a radical mastectomy involves careful consideration of the tumor's size, location, and stage.

Variants and Related Words

• Mastectomy (n): The general surgical removal of a breast.
• Modified radical mastectomy (n): A less extensive surgical procedure than a radical mastectomy.
• Lumpectomy (n): A breast-conserving surgery that removes only the tumor and a small margin of surrounding tissue.

Synonyms

• Halsted mastectomy (This is the specific name for the procedure, named after the surgeon who pioneered it).

Antonyms

• Lumpectomy (as it is a breast-conserving surgery, the conceptual opposite of removing the entire breast and surrounding tissues).

Noun

1. removal of a breast and the underlying muscles (pectoralis major and pectoralis minor) and lymph nodes in the adjacent armpit