[The range of removing fatty tissue and lymph nodes by a modified radical mastectomy with preservation of the major and minor pectoral muscles].

Thirty five patients with mammary carcinoma were selected and completeness of lymph node dissection in modified radical mastectomy (MRM) was evaluated by two step procedures, i.e., MRM was performed at the first step and then standard radical mastectomy was added immediately following the first step. Complete axillary dissection was possible in all the cases with MRM, however, in some cases, excision of the other areas was insufficient, especially in an obese patient. There were number of cases in which the number of subclavicular lymph nodes and Halsted lymph nodes felt by palpation during the MRM operation did not correspond to the actual number of excised lymph nodes. MRM may be indicated in those cases where no metastasis is observed in the histological examination of the frozen section of axillary lymph nodes during operation and/or where there is no recognizable swelling of axillary lymph nodes under palpation when the size of breast lump is less than 2 cm in diameter.