SAN ANTONIO, Dec. 06, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Data presented this week on wire-free radar breast localization demonstrated it may be a practical approach for positive axillary lymph node localization prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy treatment (NAT) response.

The poster presented preliminary data from a subset analysis of an investigator-initiated, prospective study, documenting that among 24 node-positive patients, 100 percent had successful wire-free localization (WFL) placement with 0.0 mm migration throughout NAT on standard-of-care preoperative surveillance imaging (mammogram, ultrasound, MRI and PET/CT). Both the target lymph node and WFL were visualized on MRI and PET/CT imaging. WFL successfully supplemented sentinel lymph node surgery in the surgical cases completed to date (14/14).

“This subset analysis suggests that placement of a wire-free radar localization implant prior to NAT can be performed long-term prior to neoadjuvant treatment response when the lesion is clearly visualized on imaging—with no significant adverse effects or migration,” stated Mary K. Hayes, MD. “Since successful neoadjuvant therapy can result in a complete or partial response, a simpler pre-neoadjuvant, imaged-guided wire-free radar localization may replace the more difficult and less reliable wire localization currently done after NAT response.” Having served as the Medical Director of Women’s Imaging at Memorial Healthcare System in Hollywood, Fla. for nearly 20 years, Dr. Hayes has since expanded clinical and research work as a principal investigator at Envision Physician Services Scientific Intelligence teams.

“This may be a more precise method of identifying the biopsy proven positive lymph node following NAT and assuring its removal at the time of surgery,” commented Erica Bloomquist, MD, breast surgical oncologist and study investigator. “Older methods of localizing this lymph node could result in leaving it behind in the axilla at the time of axillary evaluation and consequently a higher false negative rate for targeted axillary dissection.”

Joining her colleagues as study investigator, Heather Wright, MD, Director of Breast Surgical Oncology noted, “If more studies continue to support these findings, we could see a paradigm shift in the standard of care for patients with known axillary disease and planned NAT.

“These promising results underscore why radar is the technology of choice for tumor localization both in the breast and now in lymph nodes,” said Mike Numamoto, Vice President of Marketing, Cianna Medical. “SCOUT® is uniquely suited for placement prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy treatment, as shown in this study.” It is important to note that SCOUT does not interfere with MRI imaging. This SCOUT and lesion visibility is important for standard-of-care pre-surgical planning.

Women's Health Homepage