The American Journal of Surgery
Volume 199, Issue 4 , Pages 522-528, April 2010

Current status of radioactive seed for localization of non palpable breast lesions

  • James W. Jakub, M.D., F.A.C.S.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: 507-284-3629; fax: 507-284-5196
    • ,
  • Richard J. Gray, M.D., F.A.C.S.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
    • ,
  • Amy C. Degnim, M.D., F.A.C.S.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
    • ,
  • Judy C. Boughey, M.D., F.A.C.S.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
    • ,
  • Mary Gardner, M.D.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Radiology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA
    • ,
  • Charles E. Cox, M.D., F.A.C.S.

      Affiliations

    • Department of Surgery, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, FL, USA

Received 10 March 2009; received in revised form 26 May 2009 published online 03 December 2009.

Abstract 

Background

Wire-localized breast biopsy (WLBB) remains the standard method for the surgical excision of nonpalpable breast lesions. Because of many of its shortcomings, most important a high microscopic positive margin rate, alternative approaches have been described, including radioactive seed localization (RSL). This review highlights the literature regarding RSL, including safety, the ease of the procedure, billing, and oncologic outcomes.

Methods

Medline and PubMed were searched using the terms “radioactive seed” and “breast.” All peer-reviewed studies were included in this review.

Conclusions

RSL is a promising approach for the resection of nonpalpable breast lesions. It is a reliable and safe alternative to WLBB. RSL is at least equivalent compared with WLBB in terms of the ease of the procedure, removing the target lesion, the volume of breast tissue excised, obtaining negative margins, avoiding a second operative intervention, and allowing for simultaneous axillary staging.

Keywords: Breast cancer, Seed, Breast biopsy, Sentinel lymph node, Radioactive seed, Lumpectomy

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PII: S0002-9610(09)00521-2

doi:10.1016/j.amjsurg.2009.05.019

The American Journal of Surgery
Volume 199, Issue 4 , Pages 522-528, April 2010

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