What is a mastectomy?

A mastectomy refers to the surgical removal of a breast, commonly performed as part of breast cancer treatment. This procedure may involve removing one breast (unilateral mastectomy) or both breasts (bilateral mastectomy), depending on the diagnosis, extent of the cancer, and patient preference. The main goal of a mastectomy is to eliminate cancerous tissue and reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.

Understanding the context of this choice clarifies why it stands out as the correct answer. The removal of malignant tumors from other parts of the body, such as the stomach, is not related to mastectomy and pertains to different procedures. Enhancing breast size signifies cosmetic surgery, which has no connection to cancer treatment. Lastly, while diagnostic tests for breast cancer are crucial in identifying the disease, they do not involve any surgical removal and are therefore unrelated to the definition of a mastectomy.