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Published on: July 29, 2011
Handling of radioactive seed localisation breast specimens in the histopathology laboratory: the Western Australian
B F Dessauvagie1, F A Frost, G F Sterrett
11Department of Anatomical Pathology, PathWest Laboratory Medicine, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands 2School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Western Australia, Crawley 3Department of Anatomical Pathology, PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth 4School of Medicine, Notre Dame University, Fremantle 5Department of Medical Technology and Physics, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands 6School of Physics, University of Western Australia, Crawley 7Department of Medical Engineering and Physics, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth 8Breast Centre, Department of Radiology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands 9Department of Radiology, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth 10School of Surgery, University of Western Australia, Crawley 11Department of Surgery, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, QEII Medical Centre, Nedlands 12Department of Surgery, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, WA, Australia.
Abstract:
Radio-guided occult lesion localisation using iodine-125 seeds (ROLLIS) is a novel method of localisation for impalpable in situ and invasive carcinomas that has been the subject of a recent pilot study and pilot study extension in Western Australia. Robust protocols for radiation safety, specimen labelling, specimen tracking, seed retrieval and seed disposal were developed at two Western Australian laboratories to minimise the risk of seed loss. The processes are safe and effective with no significant radiation exposure to pathologists and with acquisition of all seeds intact and undamaged. The success can be attributed to developing specific seed retrieval techniques, suited to local preferences at each institution, with input from surgeons, radiologists and medical physics personnel. These techniques are now routine and will continue in the randomised control phase of the ROLLIS study.
