simple mastectomy

simple mastectomy

n.

Surgical removal of the breast, including the nipple, areola, and most of the overlying skin.

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simple mastectomy,

a surgical procedure in which a breast is completely removed and the underlying muscles and adjacent lymph nodes are left intact, performed to remove small malignant neoplasms of the breast or as a palliative measure to remove an ulcerated carcinoma in advanced breast cancer. It also may be done prophylactically when the patient has severe fibrocystic disease and a strong family history of breast cancer. Compare modified radical mastectomy, radical mastectomy. See also mastectomy.

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simple mastectomy

Total mastectomy A mastectomy that removes the breast, but not muscle or lymph nodes; SM may be adequate therapy for in situ or intraductal CA which rarely spreads to lymph nodes. See Lumpectomy, Mastectomy, Prophylactic mastectomy. Cf Radical mastectomy.