AbstractA retrospective study was carried out by reviewing the files of 100 patients who had undergone radical mastectomy and 100 patients who had undergone modified radical mastectomy from 1966 to 1975 for the purpose of comparing early and late complications. In each group, 80 patients were involved in long‐term follow‐up. Immediate postoperative complications—notably seromas, wound infection, and flap necrosis—were found to be considerably fewer following modified radical mastectomy. There was also a significantly lower incidence of late complications, such as limb edema and recurrent infection, after modified radical mastectomy. Since the cure rates achieved by the two radical mastectomy procedures appear to be similar, it is concluded that modified radical mastectomy is the procedure of choice in stages I and II cancer of the breast.