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modified radical mastectomy

modified radical mastectomy

1 6.8
A surgery that removes a breast with nearby chest muscle and some armpit lymph nodes
  • noun
  • /ˈmɒdɪfaɪd ˈrædɪkəl mæˈstɛktəmi/
  • Specialized
translation icon : mastectomía radical modificada
  • After her diagnosis, she decided to undergo a modified radical mastectomy to treat her breast cancer.
  • underwent a modified radical mastectomy

Examples

  • Mrs. XYZ is a 56-year-old postmenopausal lady who underwent left side modified radical mastectomy for breast carcinoma.

    Academic text (2007)
  • The surgeon explained that a modified radical mastectomy would involve removing her breast along with some lymph nodes in the armpit.

  • What's known as a modified radical mastectomy.

  • Does such combined therapy yield survival rates equivalent to those achieved with modified radical mastectomy?

    Academic text (1993)
  • Her past medical history revealed that she underwent a modified radical mastectomy for breast cancer 5 years ago.

    Academic text (2007)
  • The patient underwent a modified radical mastectomy according to the FNAC report.

    Academic text (2007)
  • The rationale for its use after modified radical mastectomy is to reduce the risk of loco-regional recurrence (chest wall, axillary, supraclavicular, or internal mammary nodes).

    Academic text (1993)
  • The doctor recommended a modified radical mastectomy as the best option for ensuring all cancerous tissue was removed.

How Extensive

radical mastectomy
  • Specialized
3 6.1
modified radical mastectomy
  • Specialized
1 6.8
simple mastectomy
  • Specialized
4.3
lumpectomy
  • Specialized
8 6.1

Surface Forms

Morphology

modified + radical + mastectomy

Knowing 'mastectomy' gives the core meaning (surgical removal of the breast) and 'radical' + 'modified' signal an extensive procedure that has been altered, so a B1 learner can infer this is a specific, modified form of an extensive mastectomy. However the precise surgical details (which muscles or lymph nodes are removed) are technical and not derivable from the constituents alone, so the phrase is only partially predictable.

Etymology

Modified radical mastectomy breaks into parts: mastectomy means removal of a breast, radical once meant a very 'thorough' operation that also removed nearby tissue and small glands in the armpit, and modified shows the surgery was 'changed' to be less extreme so some muscle is kept. That's why today the term means a breast operation that removes the breast and some nearby tissue and glands but spares some muscle.