breast-conserving surgery

Definition of breast-conserving surgery

breast-conserving surgery

(brest-kun-SER-ving SER-juh-ree)
Surgery to remove cancer or other abnormal tissue from the breast and some normal tissue around it, but not the breast itself. Some lymph nodes under the arm may be removed for biopsy. Part of the chest wall lining may also be removed if the cancer is near it. Also called breast-sparing surgery, lumpectomy, partial mastectomy, quadrantectomy, and segmental mastectomy.

Source: NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms