A novel ultrasound-guided electrosurgical loop device for intra-operative excision of breast lesions; an improvement in surgical technique

BackgroundThe rate of involved margins after the excision of breast lesions using standard surgical techniques has historically ranged from approximately 20% to 45%. The localization and excision of breast lesions using intraoperative ultrasound has provided significant improvement. The authors report their collective experience with a novel technique utilizing the Phantom flexible loop electrosurgical device under ultrasound guidance for the intraoperative excision of breast lesions.MethodsSeventy-nine breast lesions were excised using the Phantom device with intraoperative ultrasound. Rate of reexcision, excised specimen size, and size of the lumpectomy incision were reviewed.ResultsFifty-nine of 79 lesions were malignant. Fifty-one (86.4%) had noninvolved final margins; 8 (13.6%) involved margins. The average specimen size was 21.3 cm3, compared with a range of 60 to 100 cm3 in the literature.ConclusionsThese results demonstrate improved efficiency, a decrease in the volume of excision, smaller incision size, and very low need for reoperation secondary to involved margins using the Phantom device for real-time, ultrasound-guided lumpectomy.