Objective  To compare the efficacy of mini-invasive surgery using the Mammotome system and minimal-incision conventional surgery for treating nonpalpable breast nodules. Methods Medical records of 58 patients with nonpalpable breast nodules treated by mini-invasive surgery using the Mammotome system and 70 patients treated by minimal-incision conventional surgery were retrospectively analyzed. The two groups of patients were compared in terms of surgical incision size， surgery time， breast contour after surgery，surgical infection，subcutaneous hematoma and breast nodule recurrence during 3-month follow-up. Results A total of 87 nonpalpable breast nodules were removed from 58 patients using Mammotome minimally invasive surgery， and 119 nonpalpable breast nodules were removed from 70 patients using minimal-incision conventional resection. The Mammotome procedure was associated with significantly smaller surgical incision size and shorter surgery time （P<0.05）. The two procedures were associated with similar breast contours after surgery and similar rates of surgical infection， subcutaneous hematoma and breast nodule recurrence（P>0.05）. Conclusion Mammotome minimally invasive surgery may allow smaller surgical incision size and shorter surgery time than minimal-incision conventional surgery during treatment of nonpalpable breast nodules.