Radical mastectomy

A radical mastectomy is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of the entire mammary gland, the underlying pectoral musculature (including the pectoralis major and pectoralis minor), and lymph nodes in the armpit as treatment for breast cancer.

In classic radical mastectomy, the pectoralis major and minor muscles are also removed. This type of mastectomy is also known as the Halsted operation or mastectomy, in honor of William Stewart Halsted, the American surgeon who popularized it.

In the modified radical mastectomy, the pectoral muscles are preserved or, at most, only the pectoralis minor is removed, (Patey's technical modification) preserving the major. Although it was the most frequent type of surgery in the treatment of breast cancer, at present this surgery tends to be more conservative.

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