KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Many women having surgical biopsies or lumpectomies for breast cancer must have a wire inserted in the breast beforehand. Now there’s an alternative. It’s a little seed that’s implanted.
Sandy Redford is having a surgical biopsy at the University of Kansas Hospital. A needle biopsy didn’t show breast cancer.
“They still have to go in and take a piece of tissue out because of where the tumor is. It’s high-risk for cancer cells,” said Redford.
The standard way for the surgeon to locate a tumor that can’t be felt is for a radiologist, during a mammogram, to place a wire into the tumor. It’s done the day of surgery. The wire sticks out. The patient is transported that way from radiology to surgery.
“My first thought was how archaic that is, and she (the surgeon) says, but there is a new procedure that’s out,” said Redford.
It’s called breast seed localization. Redford had a seed containing low dose radiation injected into the tumor. It was done a few days before surgery.
Dr. Jamie Wagner can use that as a map in the operating room. But she also has a probe. The higher the pitch that’s emitted from it and the number shown on a monitor, the closer she is to the radioactive seed and the tumor.
“That allows me to contour the specimen to be very precise as to where that tumor is,” said Dr. Wagner.
Dr. Wagner says studies so far show the seed technique is at least as effective as wire placement in helping the surgeon get all the cancer while leaving healthy tissue alone. So patients don’t need to have more surgery.
“The potential is phenomenal,” said Dr. Wagner.
The radioactive seed is removed in surgery along with the tumor.
Dr. Wagner says the technique allows for more efficient use of operating room space since they don’t have to wait on radiologists to finish placing a wire on the day of surgery.
