[Radioguided occult breast lesion location (ROLL)]

To obtain correct location of occult breast lesions by radiopharmaceutical methods.

Sixty-one patients whose ages ranged from 32 to 83 years (average: 57), with non-palpable breast lesions detected by mammography were studied. Six of them had a background of previous breast cancer. Sixty-three lesions were found. The lesions were classified into 34 clusters of microcalcifications, 25 nodules and 4 others parenchymal distortions. All patients received one dose of 0.3-0.5 mCi (11.1-18.5 MBq) of macroaggregates of 99mTc-labelled human serum albumin (99mTc-MAA) into the lesion under stereotactic mammographic or ultrasonography guidance. Anterior and lateral scintigraphic images were acquired in order to verify the correct location of the radiopharmaceutical. Intraoperative location of the lesion was performed using a gammaprobe. In case of microcalcifications, the entire removal of the lesion was verified by X-ray of the specimen.

Placement of the radiotracer was good in 60 of 63 (95.2%) cases. Sixty-one lesions were completely removed. Pathological examination revealed 29 (47.6%) breast cancers and 32 (52.4%) benign lesions.

Radioguided occult breast lesion location by radiopharmaceutical methods is a simple, safe and well-tolerated method by patients.