assessment of radio-guided occult lesion localization associated with sonography in nonpalpable breast lesions

conclusions radio-guided localization of non-palpable breast lesions is an acceptable method because of technical facilitation, accurate localization and complete excision with limited complications. so it can be recommended as an alternative method for wire-guided localization. results pathologic results were benign in 90.5% and malignant in 9.5% of patients. post-operative margin of lesion was clear in 100% of patients. no margin involvement was reported. mean duration of localization and surgical procedure was 1.80 ± 0.42 and 26.78 ± 8.10 minutes, respectively. fault in localization took place in 4 patients (9.5%) and there was a need to secondary surgery in 1 patient (2.4%). patients’ satisfaction level about post-operative cosmetic results was excellent in 33.3% and good in 66.6% of patients. mean excised tissue volume was 28.59 ± 27.96 cm in all patients and 23.54 ± 23.46 cm, in patients without fault of localization. methods in this study, 42 patients with non-palpable breast lesions, detected by ultrasonography, underwent radio-guided localization. phytate-tc-99m was injected into the lesion under the guidance of ultrasonography, 1-2 hours before surgery. excision of the lesion was performed according to radioactivity signal of lesion, detected by a hand-held gamma probe during surgery. after total excision, the resection bed was explored by gamma probe to detect any residual activity. so if there was no radioactivity signal, the excision was regarded as complete. the data of ultrasonographic characteristics, localization and excision procedure, complications, margin status and tissue volume were analyzed by spss 16. background several methods are in use for localization of non-palpable breast lesions prior to excision. the most common is wire-guided localization which is fraught with difficulties and possible complications. radio-guided localization of non-palpable lesions (roll) is a relatively new method which has been never used in our country before. we have for the first time investigated its diagnostic value for localization of non-palpable breast lesions in a teaching hospital in iran.