Your surgeon and breast radiologist will consult together to determine if a wireless localization device (sometimes known as Magseed) is appropriate for your particular case. The wireless localization can be scheduled well in advance of your surgery date and can be performed at The Center for Women's Imaging at Mercy and Mercy Personal Physicians at Lutherville.
A wireless localization is performed by a breast radiologist and technologist using either ultrasound or mammography guidance.
The skin is cleansed with an antiseptic solution. Local anesthetic is injected into the skin and breast tissue to numb the area.
Once the radiologist has visualized the area of abnormality, the sterile wireless device is then inserted into the abnormal area of tissue using a hollow needle device. A post-placement mammogram is performed to document accurate positioning of the wireless device. The patient may return home and resume all normal activities until the day of surgery.
Removal of the wireless localization device is performed at the time of surgery. The surgeon uses a magnetic detection probe to locate the seed and to guide the removal of the abnormal tumor or lymph node with the seed within it.
While in the operating room, an X-ray image of the removed tissue will be taken to document that the targeted tumor/node and device/Magseed have been successfully removed. That X-ray will be reviewed by both the surgeon and breast radiologist.