Lumpectomy

Lumpectomy (aka: tylectomy) is a common surgical procedure designed to remove a discrete lump, usually a malignant tumor or breast cancer, from an affected woman's or man's breast. As the tissue removed is usually limited and the procedure relatively non-invasive, compared to a mastectomy, a lumpectomy is considered a viable means of "breast conservation" or "breast preservation" surgery with all the attendant physical and emotional advantages of such an approach.

According to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines, lumpectomy may be performed for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), for invasive ductal carcinoma, or for other conditions.^[1]

Ductal carcinoma in situ

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), or intraductal carcinoma, is breast cancer in the lining of the milk ducts that has not invaded nearby tissues. It may progress to invasive cancer if untreated.^[2]

After a lumpectomy is performed for DCIS, lymph node biopsy and radiation therapy may be performed. For DCIS, chemotherapy is not recommended, but tamoxifen may be recommended for tumors which contain an abundance of estrogen receptors^[3]

Invasive ductal carcinoma

For patients with invasive ductal carcinoma who have lumpectomies, lymph node biopsy and radiation therapy are usually recommended. Adjuvant chemotherapy is often recommended, but it may not be recommended if the tumor is small and there are no lymph node metastases. For larger tumors, neoadjuvant chemotherapy may be recommended.

References

External links

• Lumpectomy: What to Expect , 19 March 2013