Dictionary

mastectomy, modified radical Removal of the breast tissue and the axillary lymph nodes, which are under the arms.

mastectomy, Halsted A radical mastectomy. See mastectomy, radical.

mastectomy, double Removal of both breasts.

mastectomy A general term for removal of the breast, usually to remove cancerous tissue. The operation can be done in a hospital or in an outpatient clinic, depending on how extensive it needs to be. After a mastectomy, reconstructive surgery may be performed to restore a more normal appearance. In cases of nonmetastatic breast cancer,…

mastalgia Pain in the breast or mammary gland, whether serious or not. Mastalgia has many causes including injury, infection, and plugged milk ducts.

mast cell A granulocyte found in connective tissue whose normal function is unknown but that is frequently injured during allergic reactions. When a mast cell is injured, it releases strong chemicals, including histamine, into the tissues and blood. These chemicals are very irritating and cause itching, swelling, and fluid leaking from cells. They can also…

masseter The muscle that raises the lower jaw.

massage therapist A person who practices therapeutic massage. In many US states, massage therapists can be licensed after completing a specified training program. Licensed therapists may practice independently or in medical settings.

massage The therapeutic practice of manipulating the muscles and limbs to ease tension and reduce pain. Massage can be a part of physical therapy or practiced on its own. It can be effective for reducing the symptoms of disorders of or pain in the muscles and nervous system, and it is often used to reduce…

MASS syndrome Mitral valve/myopia, aorta, skeleton, and skin syndrome, a heritable disorder of connective tissue that is characterized by involvement of all those structures. MASS syndrome is due to a mutation in the fibrillin 1 gene FBN1, the same gene that is mutated in Marfan syndrome and is considered by some to be a form…

masochism The derivation of pleasure from one’s own pain. Masochism is considered a sexual disorder (paraphilia). Named after the 19th-century Austrian writer Leopold von Sacher-Masoch.

mask of pregnancy See melasma.