Etymed
lumpectomy
Definition
Surgical procedure to remove a breast lump or tumor while preserving the surrounding breast tissue
Clinical context
A 42-year-old woman presents with a 2 cm palpable mass in her left breast that was detected on routine mammography. Core needle biopsy confirms invasive ductal carcinoma. The patient undergoes a lumpectomy to excise the tumor with clear margins while preserving the majority of her breast tissue. Her postoperative recovery is uncomplicated with no evidence of local recurrence at 18-month follow-up.
Mnemonic
LUMPectomy = Lumps get cut out, breast tissue stays put