Modified Radical Mastectomy (Patey)

Abstract

The term modified radical mastectomy has come to mean removal of the breast together with a variable number of axillary lymph nodes. Some surgeons take a few outer lymph nodes, some do a complete excision of the lateral third of the axillary nodes using the pectoralis minor muscle as the upper boundary for their dissection, some elevate the pectoralis minor and take a few lymph nodes deep to this muscle, while others do a complete axillary lymph node dissection to the level of the clavicle. Patey described an operation removing all of the breast tissue together with the underlying fascia of the pectoralis major in continuity with a total axillary lymphadenectomy. The pectoralis minor muscle also was excised.