Radioactive seed localization of nonpalpable breast lesions is better than wire localization.
BACKGROUND
The current study sought to validate radioactive seed localization (RSL) as an alternative to wire localization (WL) to facilitate the operative excision of nonpalpable breast lesions.


METHODS
One hundred consecutive patients underwent preoperative WL and the next 100 RSL. Margins were considered negative if > or =2 mm from in situ and invasive disease.


RESULTS
RSL resulted in 100% retrieval of the seeds and lesions. Sixty-eight percent of patients underwent RSL at least 1 day before surgery. RSL resulted in a 35% relative improvement in the rate of negative margins in the first specimen (P = 0.01) and a 62% relative improvement in the rate of reoperation for positive margins (P = 0.01). The sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification rate was 100% in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
RSL is effective and safe, and this procedure significantly improved the rate of negative margins in the first specimen and the rate of reoperation for positive margins compared to WL. We highly favor RSL over WL.
Department of Surgery, Section of Surgical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ 85259, USA. gray.richard @mayo.edu
Richard J
RJ
Gray
Barbara A
BA
Pockaj
Patricia J
PJ
Karstaedt
Michael C
MC
Roarke
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging