Radioguided occult lesion localisation (ROLL) and surgical biopsy in breast cancer. Technical aspects.
BACKGROUND
The surgical management of non-palpable breast lesions remains controversial. At our Institute we have introduced a new technique, radioguided occult lesion localisation (ROLL) to replace standard methods and overcome their disadvantages. In this paper technical aspects of ROLL and results on a large series of patients are reported.


METHODS
We analysed 812 consecutive patients with 816 non-palpable breast lesions detected mammographically or ultrasonically. (99m)Tc-labelled particles of human serum albumin (7-10 MBq) in 0.2 ml saline were injected into the lesion under stereotactic mammographic or ultrasonic guidance. Mammography and scintigraphy were then performed. With ultrasound guidance only scintigraphic control was necessary. The excision biopsy was carried out with the aid of a hand-held gamma-detecting probe, and entire removal of the lesion was verified by X-ray of the specimen.


RESULTS
The tracer was correctly positioned initially in 772/816 (94.6%) cases and at second attempt in another 2. In 42/816 (5.1%) cases, lesion localisation had to be repeated using a traditional approach. X-ray demonstrated the lesion was entirely removed in 770/774 (99.5%) cases. Pathological examination revealed 367 (47.4%) benign lesions and 407 (52.6%) cancers. The cancers were treated by conservative breast surgery in 99.5% of cases.


CONCLUSIONS
We concluded that ROLL enables the surgeon to remove occult breast lesions easily and reliably.
Nuclear Medicine, Radiology, Senology and Pathology Divisions, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy.
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De Cicco
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Pizzamiglio
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G
Trifirò
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A
Luini
M
M
Ferrari
G
G
Prisco
V
V
Galimberti
E
E
Cassano
G
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Viale
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Intra
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P
Veronesi
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Paganelli
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D009382:Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010173:Palpation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin
D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin