Mastectomy

Traditionally, in the case of breast cancer, the whole breast was removed. Often the mastectomy was performed during the same operation in which the Biopsy was taken that confirmed the diagnosis. Nowadays the decision to do the mastectomy is usually based on the earlier performed biopsy. Also there is a trend to a more conservative approach to breast cancer. Practice has changed because of on the one hand improvements in Radiotherapy and Adjuvant Treatment (e.g. Chemotherapy or Hormonal Therapy ) which mean a wider excision no longer makes local recurrence less likely and on the other hand a recognition that breast cancer metastasises early. Radical excision will not prevent later distant secondary tumours arising from micro-metastases prior to discovery, diagnosis and operation. In developed countries, only a minority of cancers is still treated by mastectomy.

TYPES

Simple mastectomy (or "total mastectomy") illustration

Modified radical mastectomy illustration

Radical mastectomy (or "Halsted mastectomy") -- rarely done today illustration

Skin-sparing mastectomy illustration

Subcutaneous mastectomy PMID 11712794

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Mastectomy