Radioguided excision of non-palpable breast lesions with simultaneous sentinel lymph node biopsy

As a result of mammographic screening nonpalpable breast lesions are found with increasing frequency. The surgical management of these lesions presents two main problems: (1) How to localize the lesion pre- and intraoperatively; (2) What should be the extension of the axillary dissection for malignant lesions. This study is aimed to evaluate the technical feasibility of radioguided excision of nonpalpable breast lesions and the possibility of performing simultaneous sentinel lymph node biopsy for malignant lesions. Radioguided breast excisions have been performed in our Department since November 2000. The basis of this method is that radioisotope labelled colloid is injected into the lesion under stereo tactic or sonographic guidance. A gamma-probe is used intraoperatively to locate the lesion and guide its excision. Dual agent guided technique is used for sentinel lymph node biopsy. Radioguided breast excision was performed on 85 patients (93 lesion) till February 2002. The localization and excision were successful in 84 patients (92 lesions) (99%). Multifocal lesions were successfully localized and excised in 7 patients. There were 61 parenchyma lesions (66%) and 31 microcalcifications (34%). Localization was performed under sonographic guidance in 44 patients (52%) and under stereotactic guidance in 40 patients (48%). There were 25 benign (27%) and 67 malignant (73%) lesions. Second surgical procedure (mastectomy) was needed in 4 patients (6.5%) because of histologically incomplete excision. Sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed in 50 patients. The biopsy was successful in 45 patients (90%). The sentinel lymph node was histologically positive in 2 patients (4.4%). Radioguided localization with the intraoperative use of a gamma-probe is an easy, rapid and highly accurate technique for removing nonpalpable breast lesions and allows simultaneous sentinel lymph node biopsy for malignant lesions.