Segmental excision of the breast (also called a lumpectomy, breast-conserving surgery, limited breast surgery, wide excision of the breast, and a tylectomy) is the surgical removal of the tumor and a small region of the surrounding, normal breast tissue. In many lumpectomies, some of the lymph nodes under the arm also are removed.
In order to reduce the risk of recurrence (i.e., re-occurrence) of disease, many patients who undergo segmental excision of the breast also receive radiation therapy after the surgery. |