Radioactive seed localization compared to wire localization in breast-conserving surgery: initial 6-month experience.
BACKGROUND
Wire localization (WL) of nonpalpable breast cancers on the day of surgery is uncomfortable for patients and impacts operating room efficiency. Radioactive seed localization (RSL) before the day of surgery avoids these disadvantages. In this study we compare outcomes of our initial 6-month experience with RSL to those with WL in the preceding 6 months.


METHODS
Lumpectomies for invasive or intraductal cancers localized with a single (125)iodine seed (January-June 2012) were compared with those using 1 wire (July-December 2011). Surgeons and radiologists did not change. Positive and close margins were defined as tumor on ink and tumor ≤1 mm from ink, respectively. Demographic and clinical characteristics and outcomes were compared between RSL and WL patients.


RESULTS
There were 431 RSL and 256 WL lumpectomies performed. Clinicopathologic characteristics did not differ between groups. Most seeds (90 %) were placed before the day of surgery. Positive margins were present in 7.7 % of RSL versus 5.5 % of WL patients, and 16.9 % of RSL versus 19.9 % of WL had close margins (p = 0.38). The median operative time was longer for lumpectomy and sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in the RSL group (55 vs. 48 min, p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in the volume of tissue excised between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
In the first 6 months of RSL, operative scheduling was simplified, while rates of positive and close margins were similar to those seen after many years of experience with WL. Operative time was slightly longer for RSL lumpectomy and SLNB; we anticipate this will decrease with experience.
Breast Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
James O
JO
Murphy
Tracy-Ann
TA
Moo
Tari A
TA
King
Kimberly J
KJ
Van Zee
Kristine A
KA
Villegas
Michelle
M
Stempel
Anne
A
Eaton
Jean M
JM
St Germain
Elizabeth
E
Morris
Monica
M
Morrow
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009366:Neoplasm Seeding; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013997:Time Factors
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes