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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
Lumpectomy (lum-PEK-tuh-me) is surgery to remove cancer or other abnormal tissue from your breast. Lumpectomy is also called breast-conserving or breast-sparing surgery because — unlike a mastectomy — only a portion of the breast is removed. During lumpectomy, a small amount of normal tissue around the lump (clean margins) also is taken to help ensure that all the cancer or other abnormal tissue is removed.
Lumpectomy helps confirm a diagnosis of cancer or rule it out. Lumpectomy is also a first treatment option for some women with early-stage breast cancer. In cases where cancer is found, lumpectomy usually is followed by radiation therapy to reduce the chances of cancer returning.
- Surgery for breast cancer. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_4X_Surgery_5.asp?sitearea=. Accessed Aug. 24, 2009.
- Morrow M, et al. Breast disease. In: Mulholland M, et al. Greenfield's Surgery: Scientific Principles and Practice, 4th ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2006. http://ovidsp.tx.ovid.com/spa/ovidweb.cgi. Accessed Aug. 17, 2009.
- Surgical treatment of breast cancer. In: Sabiston Textbook of Surgery, 18th ed. Saunders, 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/154656547-3/875806831/1565/335.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3675-3.50038-1--cesec62_1699. Accessed Aug. 17, 2009.
- Kass R, et al. Breast procedures. In: Souba W, et al. ACS Surgery: Principles and Practice. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: BC Decker Inc.; 2007.
- Carcinoma of the female breast. In: Doherty G, et al. Current Surgical Diagnosis and Treatment. McGraw-Hill's AccessMedicine. http://www.accessmedicine.com/popup.aspx?aID=2064014&pr. Accessed Aug. 17, 2009.
