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NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms

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breast-sparing surgery  listen  (brest-SPAYR-ing SER-juh-ree)

  An operation to remove the breast cancer but not the breast itself. Types of breast-sparing surgery include lumpectomy (removal of the lump), quadrantectomy (removal of one quarter, or quadrant, of the breast), and segmental mastectomy (removal of the cancer as well as some of the breast tissue around the tumor and the lining over the chest muscles below the tumor). Also called breast-conserving surgery.

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Breast-conserving surgery; drawing shows removal of the tumor and axillary lymph nodes.