ABSTRACT

The development and extensive use of methods of breast imaging has increased the diagnosis of non-palpable breast lesions (NPBL). Although several methods have been applied in the localization of NPBL throughout the world, the technique of wire-guided localization is used as a standard. The aim of this study is to present the results of ROLL (Radioguided occult lesion localization), which is a new technique in our clinic for localization of NPBL.

We included 44 patients who had NPBL in the study. The lesions were localized preoperatively with TC-99m labelled human serum albumin. A gamma probe was used to determine the place of lesion and to guide the excisional biopsy. We assessed the duration of the localization, the excisional biopsy and hospital stay, the volume of the excised piece, the surgical margin in the malign facts, complication, cost calculation, and the comfort of the procedure from the points of view of the surgeon, radiologist and patient for every case.

We successfully localized and excised all lesions with ROLL. As a result of the pathologic evaluation, 54.4% of the lesions were reported as benign, 45.6% as malign. An adequate surgical margin was obtained in 71.4% of the malignant lesions.

ROLL is an alternative method to wire-guided localization for NPBL.