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Updated: May 8, 2026
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Single-Port Robotic-assisted Transaxillary Breast-conserving Surgery: A Prospective, Single-arm, Non-randomized Phase IIa Clinical Trial
Published on: August 19, 2025
Radioactive seed localization compared to wire localization in breast-conserving surgery: initial 6-month experience
James O Murphy1, Tracy-Ann Moo, Tari A King
1Breast Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
Annals of Surgical Oncology
|August 15, 2013
Summary
Radioactive seed localization (RSL) offers improved surgical scheduling for nonpalpable breast cancers compared to wire localization (WL). Margin status was similar between RSL and WL, with slightly longer operative times for RSL.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Surgical Oncology
- Radiology
Background:
- Wire localization (WL) for nonpalpable breast cancers on surgery day causes patient discomfort and impacts operating room efficiency.
- Radioactive seed localization (RSL) performed before surgery day offers a solution to these drawbacks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the outcomes of radioactive seed localization (RSL) with wire localization (WL) for nonpalpable breast cancers.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective comparison of lumpectomies performed using RSL (single 125I seed) versus WL (single wire).
- Outcomes including margin status, operative time, and excised tissue volume were analyzed.
- Patient demographics and clinical characteristics were compared between the RSL and WL groups.
Main Results:
- 431 RSL and 256 WL lumpectomies were performed with similar clinicopathologic characteristics.
- Positive margin rates were 7.7% for RSL vs. 5.5% for WL; close margins were 16.9% for RSL vs. 19.9% for WL (p=0.38).
- Median operative time was longer for RSL (55 min) compared to WL (48 min) (p<0.0001).
Conclusions:
- Early experience with RSL simplified operative scheduling while maintaining similar positive and close margin rates compared to WL.
- Slightly longer operative times for RSL are anticipated to decrease with increased surgeon experience.
