Comparison of wire-guided localization (WGL) and radio-guided occult lesion localization (ROLL) in localization of non-palpable breast lesions

Background: The number of patients with non-palpable breast lesions has increased gradually. This is because of the technological development in imaging techniques and the screening programs that lead to early detection of breast lesions. The number of patients with non-palpable breast lesions has increased gradually. This is because of the technological development in imaging techniques and the screening programs that lead to early detection of breast lesions. The aim of marking the non-palpable breast lesions is to achieve accurate lesion localization, to obtain the better cosmetic result with less tissue loss and to provide negative surgical margin.

Aim of the study: In the current study, we aimed to compare the wire-guided localization (WGL) technique with the radio-guided occult lesion localization (ROLL) technique to assess their accuracy and efficacy in non-palpable breast lesions localization.

Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted at Baheya center for Early Detection and Treatment of Breast Cancer from January 2018 and June2022,where 670 patients with non-palpable breast lesions underwent an excision were enrolled randomly in ROLL group (n = 320) and WGL (n = 350).

Results: Both the localization time and the time of operation were significantly decreased with the ROLL in comparison to WGL(P < 0.001). Complete lesion excision with clear margins were reported in 119/135(88.2%) of ROLL group and in 130/159 (81.8%) of WGL group and the difference was significant (P < 0.001). Reoperations (re-lumpectomy or mastectomy) were done as a second procedure on 16(11.8%) of the ROLL patients compared with 29(18.2%) in the WGL patients(P < 0.001).

Conclusion: This study shows that ROLL is as effective as WGL for non-palpable breast lesions excision. Also, ROLL improve the outcomes by decreasing the duration of surgery, localization time, achieving a higher percentage of clear margin in spite of lower specimen size and scar length.