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Modified radical mastectomy

Illustration of modified radical mastectomy

Modified radical mastectomy removes the entire breast, including the breast tissue, skin, areola and nipple, and most of the underarm (axillary) lymph nodes (see the shaded area). It spares the chest wall muscles, thereby leaving a more normal chest wall contour. This procedure may be recommended for large tumors or if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.

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