Therapeutic or Preventive Procedure
radical mastectomy Audio
rad·i·cal mas·tec·to·my [ rad-i-kuhl ma-stek-tuh-mee ]
Subclass of:
Mastectomy
Definitions related to mastectomy, radical:
  • (radical mastectomy) Surgery for breast cancer in which the breast, chest muscles, and all of the lymph nodes under the arm are removed. For many years, this was the breast cancer operation used most often, but it is used rarely now. Doctors consider radical mastectomy only when the tumor has spread to the chest muscles.
    NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • (radical mastectomy) The surgical removal of one or both breasts, including the areola, nipple, axillary lymph nodes, and pectoral muscles.
    NCI
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • Removal of the breast, pectoral muscles, axillary lymph nodes, and associated skin and subcutaneous tissue.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
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