title: Modified radical mastectomy.
abstract: This report describes our experience with a technique of modified radical mastectomy involving incision of the lower lateral fibers of the pectoralis major muscle and detachment of the origins of the pectoralis minor muscle. These maneuvers enable sufficient retraction of these muscles to provide excellent axillary exposure while minimizing the danger of traction injury to the neurovascular structures supplying these muscles. The operation has been performed in 20 patients; statistical analysis demonstrates at least as many nodes in these specimens compared to retrospective analysis of nodes recovered from 223 radical mastectomy specimens done during the previous 5 years. The final cosmetic results are superior to those obtained with standard radical mastectomy. These results suggest that this method of modified radical mastectomy should be considered, unless the proximity of the disease to the pectoralis muscles endangers the adequacy of the surgical margins.
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies